Latest News From Rural Life

Drag the planters out of the shed, fire up the seed tenders, update the field maps and start your engines. This season, as you enjoy your packed lunch at 10 a.m., ponder the lessons learned from the hardwoods.

Roger Reaves forged the most astounding farm life of modern times. Row crops to moonshine to marijuana to cocaine, he was the highest paid narco-pilot in history.

NBA superstars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith learned how to hand milk a cow on live television thanks to a Madison, Georgia dairy farm, Big Sandy Creek Farm.

It’s important the friends, family, and business professionals close to farmers are prepared and able to effectively communicate in a mental health crisis.

William Christman, 19, saved his family’s farm and paid with his life.

We've all had one of those horrible, no good, very bad days.

Crackle, whine, beep, and buzz, Andy Thaxton metal detects farmland, hunting coins, keys, bullets, bells—and one more holy grail.

Wearing a different hat every day, it would take 319 years to get through Scott Legried's collection.

From improved telehealth services to reimagined small-town hospitals, the National Rural Health Association is working to help folks in farm country tap into more and better medical care options.

A few decades back, stopping at a Stuckey's during a holiday road trip wasn't uncommon. Today the company is eyeing a business comeback by focusing on its farming roots and leveraging quality Georgia pecans.

On Nov. 19, 2023, Iowa farmer Joe Rempe suffered severe injuries from an anhydrous leak while in the field. His fiance, Kendra Vander Leest, not only helped save Joe, but she's been caring for him since.

At 96 years young, Paul Dotterer still runs the chopper during harvest season on his family's dairy farm - and he enjoys every minute of it.

Tom Askjem disappears under farmland, descends to depths of 13’-plus, and returns to the surface with treasure—bottles and glassware from agriculture’s past.

A traditional Thanksgiving feast reflects two current trends in food-at-home economics: increased retail food costs vary by category and the supply chain is back to pre-COVID patterns.

Maybe it’s because I’m a farm kid at heart, but I think the best Halloween costume ideas come straight from the farm. And I'm not the only one on our team here at Farm Journal who feels that way.

God bless grain cart drivers. They are great mind readers, understanding all those hand signals that are hard to interpret and hard to see, and the person who generally takes all the blame.

Grilled cheese is a staple food for children across America. But two Wisconsin brothers decided to take their version of grilled cheese sandwich to the next level.

Aerial Rug and Boundri use satellite imagery to create custom farm products - the most popular being rugs.

On October 8th, 2019, local farmer Jerry Schwarzrock was entrapped in his grain bin. His sons found him, and immediately called 911. That one call then sparked a new calling for the local fire department.

Three safety tips to follow near power lines and railroad crossings this fall.

A few things you can count on if you make your way to Des Moines, Iowa for the Iowa State Fair—corn dogs, livestock shows and the iconic Iowa State Fair butter cow. 

Purdue reports a 40.7% increase in U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities from 2021 to 2022.

Family farmers understand sustainability and strive for long-term success through innovation and freedom in decision-making. The farm isn’t just an asset, it’s an inherited legacy to be passed on to descendants.

Osage, Iowa was able to raise enough money, without raising taxes, to build the Cedar River Complex, which features an indoor pool, fitness center, walking track, basketball courts, 600 seat theatre, museum and more.

Precision Mazes is able to turn a blank space into a crop art masterpiece with meticulous detail. Their latest project transitioned a harvested wheat field in Missouri into a larger than life welcome to Taylor Swift.

Andy Griffith actually grew up in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, but many people refer to it as Mayberry. Today, visiting the North Carolina town is like stepping onto the TV set decades ago.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office, a California man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison due to his involvement in a nearly $9 million cow manure Ponzi scheme.

“Food inflation has definitely started to slow down, and this is good news for consumers. However, it still won’t be cheaper to celebrate the Fourth of July,” says Dr. Michael Swanson, Wells Fargo Agricultural Economist

An intrepid Kansas mother and her Johnny-on-the-spot son found one of the most stunning Indian artifacts of recent history. Welcome to the impossible tale of the Oehm Blade.

We recently asked farmers what’s the most random thing they’ve found in their fields. Here are a few of the responses. 

Art Johnson’s farm has been in the family for nearly a century. What was once a tobacco farm in Kernersville, NC, is now a thriving agritourism business that attracts up to 1,000 people each day during the spring.

An Illinois pig farmer and his family will be starring in a Super Bowl commercial. Here's why Chad Bell of Viola, Ill., continues to say "yes" when it comes to being a voice for agriculture.

“People are concerned about food inflation right now,” says Dr. Michael Swanson, Wells Fargo Chief Agricultural Economist. "Some premier celebration foods have actually dropped from a year ago."

If you address a letter to Santa, chances are the letter arrives in Santa Claus, Alaska. This is the story of a family who somewhat by accident became associated with Christmas.

Grizzly bear, deer, museum items and a beer bottling line sending bottles down the track near where you visit with the tellers are all part of the offerings at The State Bank of Faribault.