The Land :: www.TheLandOnline.com Opinion

Land Minds: Bumps on the road to liberty

2010-03-12T15:41:56-06:00

I sense we are becoming a nation of entitlements. And in the process of this slide into socialism, I sense that we can no longer rely upon the “political process” to reverse this uncomfortable transition. “What’s in it for me?” seems to be the new mantra now embraced by many people including our elected officials.

Farm and Food File: USDA-DOJ seed competition workshop better work

2010-03-12T15:35:23-06:00

Holding the “first joint Department of Justice/USDA workshops ever on competition and regulatory issues” in Iowa, the heart of corn and soybean country, just weeks before every seed-buying farmer in America will be pedal-to-the-metal planting this year’s crop is bigger than Daytona, bigger than the All Star game and bigger than the Super Bowl.

Land Minds: All the news that’s fit to print

2010-02-26T11:30:05-06:00

To get a taste of what our friends in the big-time, mainstream media are up to, I try to keep an eye out for New York Times stories that deal with farming and agriculture.

Farm and Food File: Saul to Paul; Friedman to Keynes

2010-02-26T11:28:29-06:00

In a nine-page story for The New Republic, Judge Markets Rock declared himself Judge Markets Reek and in one Michael Jordan-like move, Posner dumped Chicago and Friedman for England and John Maynard Keynes.

Farm and Food File: U.S. cows, cowboys and wheat acres disappearing

2010-02-26T11:27:18-06:00

A quick peek at many of today’s operative numbers in American agriculture should raise rural eyebrows and maybe a few Capitol Hill curiosities. The latest cattle figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture illustrate what I mean.

Commentary: A chill hits wind power’s production

2010-02-26T11:26:09-06:00

The cost of the “free wind”? Projections are about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour — far higher than other energy sources. One of my neighbors has just invested $100,000 in a wind turbine. I think he’s wasted his money — and some of yours.

Land Minds: A winter for the ages

2010-02-12T03:14:00-06:00

I must have had a premonition that we would have a winter like this, since I bought my first snow blower last fall (thanks for the deal, John).

Farm and Food File: Consumers aren’t stupid, so stop ‘educating’ them on what they need

2010-02-12T03:13:00-06:00

Give customers a chance to pick between a pork chop “produced” by a pork “producer” or one raised with skill and husbandry by a hog “farmer,” and what chop will they take? Right; so give ’em what they want, not what you want.

Farm and Food File: Only a coincidence? You’ve got to be kidding me

2010-02-12T03:12:00-06:00

$4 million in taxpayer money headed your way at 10:30 and by 12:30 you’re headed to a plush Mexican beach playground for a five-day ‘marketing conference’ in the middle of the Midwestern winter.

Letter: Health care questions for Walz

2010-02-12T03:11:00-06:00

Would you explain just how the bill saves money on health care when you add 50 million to the number to be taken care of. Do you ration the use of tests or procedures, expensive drugs, etc.?