Dear Farming Magazine

            Thank you for a wonderful publication. We love it—it has such a great balance of farming information, politics, poetry, nature appreciation, etc. that we have really come to look forward to it. The only problem that I personally have with your magazine is that it is so engaging that when it arrives, I am likely to find my husband sitting on the bucket of the old tractor, on a bale of hay, or whatever is nearby—reading about farming instead of doing it! (This is especially true in the hectic spring and summer months on our small organic farm.)

            Keep up the important work!

             Cathy and Steve Cloud                  Martinsville, IL

Dear Staff at Farming:

            I see our subscription needs a renewal; find $45.00 enclosed for another two years. I really enjoy your magazine and I like to share back issues with friends. The only problem is, it seems they like them too. In fact, so much so, that often I don’t get the magazines back. Do you have a cure? J They could all subscribe themselves. We’d have no problem with that.)

            I’d like to thank you for the patience you have shown already the last four years when I paid with hints. Thanks.

            Currently I work in a furniture shop, but I’m badly needed at home on the farm. We milk goats, raise heifers, and pastured organic hogs, which is a new venture still on shaky ground. As a hobby I keep bees. I hope to return to the farm fulltime by January, 1 2008.

            Thanks for the interesting and helpful magazine.   

                       Sincerely,                            Jason Stoll                                 Springfield, ON

Dear Editor:

            I really enjoyed Bill Henning’s article on finding the “sweet spot” for one’s farm. In a society that stresses buying more stuff and getting bigger as solutions for debt and stress, his wise words ring so true for all aspects of life. Thank you for such a good article that has everything to do about success and enjoyment of life.

                       Mary Lou Shaw

                   Washington Courthouse, OH

Farming:

            We live in the city but love your magazine. We live the only life we know, but dream of a world like yours.

               Greg and Kathy Breunig  

                          Columbus, OH 

Dear Sirs:

            Thank you for a great magazine. I thoroughly enjoy all the articles but it seems to me that possibly all of us are being simplistic and living in a dream world. Let me explain. In April 2007 I lost my left hand in a terrible farm accident. My injury has progressed well even though I am also a diabetic who requires insulin injections each day. The short story from my injury—I didn’t have adequate health coverage because I could not afford it. The total bills from my accident are over $200,000. Some of this the hospital and doctors are lowering but my wife and I will be lucky to keep our home, our small farm, and a few head of beef cattle. But we still have hope that we will survive and keep on going with the help of the good Lord.

            What I am saying is this: how can you afford good health insurance on the income you get from a small farm? This seems to me just another nail in the coffin for small farmers because the large farmers are government subsidized and can afford insurance. Also, from what I have found out since my injury, many people think they have good health coverage until they get sick or get hurt and then the bills come in totaling thousands of dollars more than what their insurance will pay. I have always loved the simple life on a small farm but reality hits when you need medical care. 

                             David Keith

                            Smiths Grove, KY

Farming:

            Pete Hardin with The Milkweed tooted your horn so we thought we’d give you a try. 

                     Mike and Lisa Gaver

                      New Market, MD

Dear Farming,

            Thank you so much for a wonderful magazine. Please sign up these two dear family members in our name. We will move back to our land in eight years and look forward to expanding from a backyard garden!

                        Jen and Paul Adams

                            Denver, CO 

Dear Staff,

            I’d like to have a back issue of Winter 07 (your last issue). You have some very interesting cow and calf articles in there! Many thanks for a good, practical, down-to-earth magazine. If anybody has the time or material, sometime write a good article on hay mowers. What is the best, practical mower for a horse farmer nowadays, and not taking the horsepower of a discbine. Those work great, but are heavy and expensive.

            What I really like about your magazine is that it’s like the old-time farm magazines—something for everybody and for the diversified farm.

            Thanks again. 

                     David B. Fisher

                    Lincoln University, PA

Dear David,

            It’s always a treat to receive the latest issue of Farming Magazine. My 96 year old dad also likes it. My 91 year old mother emailed me several months ago: “Dad is sitting in his chair and reading Farming Magazine (that came today) and a can of Glucerna by him and then he told me that ‘This is what I call pure bliss.’ I guess I looked at him strangely, then he said ‘Total comfort.’ I thought that you might like to know how he enjoys the magazine.” I would say that’s a strong endorsement. 

                       Marty Schlabach

                        Interlaken, NY

Dear Farming Folks,

I confess to being the author of the poem “Autumner”—glad you liked it enough to print it with the author unknown.

            Here at Prairierth Farm in central Illinois we’re raising organic corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, vegetables, beef, broilers, and eggs, mostly for local wholesale markets. The high grain prices at present have gotten things a bit out of whack—anybody remember the 70s?—I have very clear recollections of the “correction” that took place at the end of that decade. Now’s probably a good time to get out of debt and a few bucks ahead.

            I read with interest an on-farm study by Iowa State University and organic farmer Ron Rosman. The study looked into finishing pastured beef cattle on a ration that includes a small amount of grain concentrate (0.5-1.0% of body wt.) while maintaining fatty acid values seen in beef that are finished only on grass. I have used a system similar to that for years with good results, using the 17% Fertrell layer ration (same formula that I feed the hens) at 1% of body weight. I don’t believe feeding this small amount of grain disturbs the rumen. The cattle gain well and remain in excellent all-around health.

            Keep up the excellent writing—I especially enjoy articles about creative ways farmers diversify their operations.

                             Dave Bishop

                               Atlanta, IL

Dear Farming Magazine,

            Please enter my two-year subscription for your magazine. I have really enjoyed reading Farming Magazine and look forward to each issue. I am amazed at the articles and feature stories such as the one about Dexter cattle in the Winter 07 issue. I met Stan Cass at the 2007 Ashland County fair. He spent several minutes with me explaining about Dexter cattle and was willing to answer any question I had about them. It’s that kind of article and the people in them that make Farming and the staff that put it together so great!

            Keep up the good work and may God continue to guide your efforts in maintaining His earthly kingdom. 

                      Sincerely,

                         George Topolski

                          Clear Cut Farm           

                        Independence, OH