New Book Review

What I've Learned From No-Till, Cropping Secrets From 58 Highly Successful No-Tillers,  

            by Ron Ross, 2007           
               Published by Lessiter Publications, Inc, 
                P.O. Box 624
                Brookfield, WI  53008

     This is a comprehensive compliation of interviews with farmers from all over the U.S. who practice No-Till (also known as Direct Seed) Farming.  It is well written, well laid out, and has good photos to accompany the interviews. 

     Each of the farmers address situations and issues which are specific to their region, their farm and their land.  While one farmer's methods may not pertain to another's, it is interesting to learn how farmers do things in different parts of the country.  The entire book of all the interviews builds a broad resource for anyone who has already begun No-Tilling or who is interested in converting their operation to No-Till.

     After reading this book, a person will have real knowledge of this method of soil conservation farming, and will have practical information for different situations and issues on their own farm.  The ideas shared by all these farmers about retaining soil moisture, erosion reduction, plant residue, planter adjustments, sprayer nozzles, light bars, fertilizer application and weed control are so practical, most every farmer will enjoy this book, whether he is a No-Tiller or Minimum-Tiller.

                                                                   Posted by Robin W.L. on August 17, 2013

Magazine Review - Edible

 

The WeeLaddie and I were meeting Mom and a few other ladies at a funky coffee shop in town the other week, and I saw a stack of edible magazines on the shelf. It looked interesting, so I snagged a copy. Boy, am I glad I did! What a great little magazine!

Edible publishes regional food-oriented magazines all over the country, focusing on locally grown and produced foods and crafts. The edition I have is about Southern Idaho. They publish issues quarterly, and are a good resource for finding local foods and other products.

The Summer 2013 of Edible: Southern Idaho included articles on new, sustainable restaurants in the Treasure Valley, an organic farm in Bellevue, canning yummy jams and jellies, irrigation, a local wooden spoon maker, the Boise Co-op's 40th anniversary, specialty whole-wheat flour, medicinal herbs, and much more!

The layout of the magazine is lovely, with lots of pictures, and good, heavy, non-glossy pages. There is even a fun, graphic page that I'm going to pull out, frame, and put up in my kitchen!

You can find out more about Edible magazines by heading to their website: www.ediblecommunities.com. You can find the publication in your area, or even start one up if there isn't a magazine for your region yet!

Regional publications also have their own websites, with a lot more information about food in the area. Southern Idaho's is www.edibleidahosouth.com.

New Book Review

The Farmer's Earthworm Handbook, Managing Your Underground Money-Makers, by David Ernst, Published by Lessiter Publications, 1995.  

Everything you always wanted to know about earthworms, but didn't know who to ask, is all found in the 112 pages of this valuable handbook.  This book is for the full-time farmer or the home gardener, or for anyone who wants to learn more about how our soil produces, how to make it healthier.

This book deals with all aspects of managing earthworms more profitably in your operation.  It cites hundreds of rigorous scientific research results from leading scientists around the world, as well as practical on-the-ground ideas from farmers; people who believe in what earthworms can mean in the way of increased yields, reduced costs and higher profits.

You will learn how earthworms allow more air and water to penetrate the soil, improve fertility and help plant roots grow deeper and increase crop productivity.

This is a fine book, enjoyable, and a fast read.
                                                                                          Submitted by Robin W.L.     April 29, 2013

Farming Book Reviews

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
     published a number of books on farming which were apparently well received.

THE RURAL SCIENCE SERIES
     Approximately 54 books, from soil to nuts
     Published about 1910, edited by L.H. Bailey
     Price, $1.50 each bound book

    THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE
     A textbook for schools and Rural Societies
     Edited by L.H. Bailey, 1910

    DRY FARMING
     A system of Agriculture for Countries Under a Low Rainfall
     John A Widtsoe, A.M., PhD.  1911



RURAL TEXT-BOOK SERIES

     ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE
     G.F. Warren, Professor of Farm Management and Farm Crops
     New York State College of Agriculture, at Cornell University
     1910,  $1.50

PRINCIPLES OF IRRIGATION PRACTICE
     John A. Widtsoe, A.M., PhD
     President of the Utah Agricultural College, 1914

   








These books, of which I have read only a few, are a snapshot of agriculture 100 years ago.  They represent the state of the art by the best of the best at that time.  As such, they represent a benchmark for modern agriculture.  They are a good base on which to build.  I think they were published, some with many printings, to get information into the hands of remote farms and farmers many miles from communication.  Horses and mules were leaving the fields.  This was the beginning of  the use of the internal combustion engine; the start of the age of oil.  One mention in one book describes a new fangled gadget - a portable gasoline engine with a pump one can actually take into the field.

     These books give the reader the opportunity to reflect on the immense changes that have come about in farming in the past 100 years.  Punctuated Equilibrium was the term the brilliant Steven Jay Gould said about evolution which also applies to changes in farming.  I think that means periods of relative uniformity between giant leaps or changes.  We often are so close to our work we do not realize the changes happening all around us.  Some say we don't see the forest for the trees.

     So, the thoughtful part of this is, where will farming be 100 years from now?  Will each farm be self energy sufficient?  Will we be finished with the internal combustion engine?  Will your great-great grandson laugh when he sees a picture of you actually driving a tractor in the field?

     Today, you are deluged with new information.  It's almost too much.  Sometimes there is a tendency to do what Dad did.  "If it was good enough for Dad, then it's good enough for me."  There is a lot of value in that.  But, on the other hand, you may wonder, "Am I keeping up?"

     These old books then, are valuable, to get a sense of what does and does not change in 100 years.

                                                                                                                Submitted by James R. Wylie