Supply is still the driver for this fall’s corn and soybean markets.

Years ago I had my first exposure to weeds that had become resistant to herbicides. As my agronomy center’s first responder to complaints about underperforming herbicide applications I was stumped as to why a single weed species had survived.

MADELINE ISLAND, Wis. – Foreclosures, natural disasters, policies that destroy markets and businesses. In recent years many families have needed to leave farms and farming – not by choice but by necessity. It’s not a new trend. It’s something that has gone on worldwide for centuries. The loss of connection to the land and the natural world is felt in families for generations. It’s a hurt felt to the quick of one’s soul. Many need a way to heal.

OPINION  An alliance of groups representing farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates have unveiled an unprecedented set of recommendations to guide the development of federal climate policy.

The majority of the crops have been harvested during the past two weeks in our area. With a warm spell of 70-degree weather and ideal soil conditions, harvest and tillage progressed rapidly.

Well another year is almost in the books. The last stretch of dry weather we had was long enough that almost everyone completed their harvest. As I drive around the countryside fields with crops in them are the exception not the rule anymore. Talking to a few folks, they can’t remember the last time they were washing combines this early – and such warm temps.

OPINION  The U.S. Grains Council recently submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative highlighting significant trade barriers facing exports of U.S. coarse grains, ethanol and co-products. The council has contributed comments on the topic to the U.S. Trade Representative for more than a decade, detailing constraints the organization works to address in its export market-development activities and recommending complimentary U.S. government action.

The fields of November have come to north-central Wisconsin. A summer breeze characterized conditions before this crop report – and then a cold front moved in Nov. 9. The front came with more than an inch of rain, saturating newly harvested fields and quieting leaf rustle on the woodlot floor where the acorn harvest is unimpeded by the rain. Creeks are running high. I keep hearing the term “wintry mix” when I hit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather-radio forecast button. Our brief “Indian summer” was delightful but fleeting.

After our repair on the combine in October we hit another snag after only two days of being back at harvest. The radiator drain plug was damaged years ago by a storm; it decided to let loose while Rich was combing. The antifreeze drained; the engine heated and died. He figured out what had happened and sent Ellie to fetch 2 gallons of hot water so the Gleaner could limp to the yard. We pulled the radiator and found a local guy who said he could repair it that very day. We were back in business in 26 hours from start to finish of repair. It was a fantastic turnaround on that!

Weather is always one of the variables in a farming operation, and taking a long-term view is helpful in making decisions. However, creating a five-year average could cause a headache.

ALGONA, Iowa — There's nothing quite like fresh pumpkin pie to top off a great holiday meal, but few people actually make a pumpkin pie from scratch using a real pumpkin.