The Back 40

As technology continues to play an increasing role in agricultural operations, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) launched the Water Quality Index for Agricultural Runoff (WQIag), which helps producers calculate how much impact their agricultural and conservation practices are having on water quality. Producers input information about a given field, such as slope and soil characteristics. They [...]

The United States has been experiencing an anti-meat movement as of late. Critics have deemed meat to be a contributor to obesity, illness, and negative environmental impacts. However, as the article below points out, rarely do we hear about the meat producers across the nation who care deeply about their animals, products, and the effects [...]

If you classify bacon as one of the world’s great treasures, I second that notion. Now, people who love their bacon … and ribs … and pork chops are  learning more about where their food comes from by taking butchering classes. Once restricted to the coasts, these classes are now offered at several locations in [...]

Japan has finally listed a ban on U.S. beef imports that it put in place in 2003 in response to the “mad cow” scare. Japan was the largest importer of U.S. beef in 2003, so this is great news for American beef producers. However, as the article below points out, it is a silver lining [...]

For decades, California cheesemakers have enjoyed a competitive advantage, because they milk they use to make their products was less expensive than milk in other states, allowing them to price their cheese much lower than products produced in other states. This is due to the fact that California sets its own milk prices when other [...]

The article below tells the story of the continual loss of family dairies in Oregon, which half dropped by half in the past 20 years. But, really, it’s a familiar story across the United States. For reasons such as economics, including fluctuations in milk and feed prices, and massive time commitments, farmers are leaving the [...]