Americans are consuming about 45% more butter than they did 20 years ago. It was 4.7 pounds per person then and has reached a record 6.8 pounds today. The USDA also reported last week that butter production was up 8.5% year over year.
Americans are consuming about 45% more butter than they did 20 years ago. It was 4.7 pounds per person then and has reached a record 6.8 pounds today. The USDA also reported last week that butter production was up 8.5% year over year.
This owl landed on the tractor around 6 p.m. It returned the next morning. The owl didn't seem to mind the cows bellowing but left once some farm equipment started banging. The tractor is near a barn on an Organic Valley farm. There is a road on one side but plenty of woods and pastureland surrounding it. Maybe it has a nearby nest? Or do you think it just found a convenient perch overlooking a good hunting spot?
This owl landed on the tractor at about 6 p.m. earlier this week and returned the next day. The video was taken on an organic farm in central New York near a wooded area. Do you think it has a nest nearby, or did it just find a convenient perch overlooking a good hunting spot?
These are all over an organic farm in Wisconsin. Not 100% sure it's a leopard frog.
And does it become more of a condiment when it's soft enough to easily spread?
It was pretty hazy in north-central Wisconsin yesterday. How are everyone else's cows handling the air quality in the Midwest and Northeast?
Making it through 11 generations of anything is rare. It's been reported that less than 3% of family farms make it to the fourth generation, which makes the Casler family's story remarkable.
The family not only had roots in fine furniture making, but also a commitment to stewarding the land. They've managed to keep the farm going through changing markets and changing technology.
The history is intriguing and others interested in Upstate New York might agree:
3 Centuries and 11 Generations of Family Farming
Do you know of any other Upstate New York farms that have remained in the same family for multiple generations?
Have you seen the USDA-NRCS map showing where soil organic matter has accumulated? What do you think it says about your region?
Much of the history of agriculture is also a story of soil loss and degradation. In many places, land use depleted soil organic matter. Now there's a growing focus on rebuilding soil health and treating soil as the valuable, living ecosystem it is.
Gardeners and farmers, what's had the biggest impact on soil health where you live?
Happy June Dairy Month from Marathon County!
There is a lot to celebrate this Fourth of July. Along with the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4 is International Day of Cooperatives.
By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 delegates chose to break away from a system that no longer supported their vision of safety and happiness. They wrote about the right “to institute new government,” built on principles that better served the people.
That idea aligns with how cooperatives work today. Instead of power flowing from the top down, co-ops are built by people coming together to create something that works for them through shared ownership, shared decision-making, and shared benefit.
While the Declaration focuses on independence, the cooperative model leans into interdependence: people organizing around common needs, supporting each other, and creating stability as a group.
Both are rooted in the belief that systems should reflect the people they serve.
What language in the Declaration of Independence feels most “cooperative” to you?
Machine sorting eggs on a processing line for packaging
It’s listed as an endangered species in Washington due to major habitat loss. This video was taken on organic farmland in Lewis County that’s also home to other state and federally rare species, including thin-leaved peavine.
Oodles of Wisconsin products show up globally and it's not just beer and dairy. What unexpected Wisconsin products have you’ve seen overseas? Was reading this and it piqued curiosity: How Wisconsin is shaping the future of food and beverage - WEDC
President Harry S. Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law 80 years ago today, helping make milk a staple in school lunches. The goal was to support farmers while improving child nutrition after WWII.
Schools are still required to offer milk today, but the program has evolved. This includes the recent USDA final rule that allows schools to offer whole fat milk in schools.
This butterfly was in a field with threatened Kincaid’s lupine wildflowers in Washington. Google Lens gives mixed results depending on the angle. Do you know what it is? All help is appreciated.