Have you heard of crop rotation? Farmers use crop rotation, which means planting different crops on the same plot of land, to improve the soil. Rotating crops helps maximize the soil's nutrients while combating pests. It's a common practice that has been used for decades.
Midwestern agriculture looks different than it did just ten years ago. In fact, modern farms across the globe are more efficient than ever. This change is due to all of the incredible technology available today. These advanced tools have helped farmers become more efficient and profitable. According to the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, many modern farms use technology like, GPS, robots, and temperature and moisture sensors.
America's Heartland, formally known as The Midwest, is famous for farming. Although Texas holds the trophy for 'State with Most Farms', many states in the Midwest, like Indiana and Michigan, account for a large portion of the farms that feed America.
Pretend you are on the moon, gazing at the earth. Look at the magnificent blue oceans and the green lands that provide food. Much of the world is made up of farms. In fact, it's estimated that there are more than 570 million farms!
In the Midwest, it is common to see large farm equipment. You may even get caught behind a slow-moving vehicle when a farming vehicle hits the road.
A farmer's work is never done...not even when the land sleeps under the thick quilt of snow. Winter is the season when corn and soybeans have been harvested and stored. Yes, the workload lightens. But farmers continue working, even in the winter.
Farmers are busy during fall harvest. In the Midwest alone, there are "127 million acres of agricultural land", meaning a lot of variety and crops that provide Americans with the nutrition, fibers, and supplies that keep us going (climatehubs.usda.gov).
Here in The Region, there is so much corn that it can even feel suffocating to live here at times. For some reason, many people get irritated with the fact that so much corn grows here. What they don't realize, is that the farming industry is NWI is why we have business coming and going in the area
We had a fantastic presentation and discussion at our 2019 Winter Meeting. Be sure to watch this video to find out what was done and what's in store for this year!
The soybean plant is a legume related to clover, peas, and alfalfa. Soybeans are typically planted in the late spring and when they flower, in the summer, they can produce up to 80 pods. Each pod contains 2-4 pea-sized beans, which are high in protein and oil.