Superbowl Sunday is right around the corner and in preparation, I challenge you to have an all-pork SuperBowl Party. Enjoy pork fajitas, quesadillas, and sliders! But first, a few facts about pork: New pork internal cooking temperature is now 145 degrees. Not sure how to use a meat thermometer? Find out here. Cooking to 145 degrees ensures safe and tasty…
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Don’t Pay Extra for the “Raised without Hormones” Turkey!
If you are trying to decide what turkey to buy this year, here is my tip. Don’t pay extra for a turkey that has the label, “raised without hormones.” Why do I say that? Because ALL turkeys are raised without added hormones. Butterball has succumbed to the latest marketing campaign that has created food fear in consumers. Don’t worry, there…
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Who Are The Farmers?
People have different visions of what farmers are. Some still think farmers look like Grandpa Joe with bib overalls tending to his chickens and pigs. Rid that vision because farmers are different today. The real truth? There is no “typical” farmer stereotype. In fact, other farm bloggers have also talked about it. Yes, farmers are as different as songs on the…
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What are the Top Ways to Land an Ag Internship?
When I began college, I was just like almost every other 18 year old. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I “grow up”. I think I changed my mind almost every week! I knew I had a passion for agriculture, but the career paths were limitless. For that, I turned to internships. Looking back on the last…
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Why I Love County Fairs!
I love the county fair! I usually manage to make my way to the fair multiple times during the fair week. Okay, I will admit it, I am there every day! Yes, living in rural Minnesota, where the “big time” fair entertainment and exhibits that larger fairs have, is usually not available to us. But that’s okay. We live in…
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Simple Blueberry Coffee Cake
This recipe has been a personal favorite of mine and I have been making it for years. In my previous job, I always made this recipe on my birthday to share with my coworkers. I love making it with fresh blueberries. And it just doesn’t last long in our house! (Recipe is at the end) And just because it is…
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Are Today’s Farmers Good Land Stewards?
“Good farmers, who take seriously their duties as stewards of Creation and of their land’s inheritors, contribute to the welfare of society in more ways than society usually acknowledges, or even knows. These farmer produce valuable goods, of course; but they also conserve soil, they conserve water, they conserve wildlife, they conserve open space, they conserve scenery.” — Wendell Berry…
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Is Ractopamine Safe for Consumers?
Ractopamine has been in the news lately and you are probably wondering, what is ractopamine? And, if you are like me, I first wondered how to pronounce it. A quick little lesson – Rak TOE Pa Meen Ractopamine is a feed management tool used by hog farmers. PayLean is another name for ractopamine. It is a feed ingredient that…
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So God Made A Farmer – What It Really Means
“So God Made A Farmer” As I heard these words read by the one and only Paul Harvey, tears welled up in my eyes, my lips were quivering and I felt a big lump in my throat. I asked myself, why am I so emotional? It’s not that I haven’t heard these words before. And then, a huge overwhelming sense of pride. Yes,…
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What are the Top Concerns About Farm Corporations?
There seems to be a lot of myths in print and the Internet about farm corporations. First, let’s look at what is a farm corporation? According to the Minnesota Department of Ag, a farm corporation is: “Family farm corporation” means a corporation founded for the purpose of farming and the ownership of agricultural land in which the majority of the stock…
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