America is often called the “land of opportunity,” and for one immigrant that is certainly proving to be true.

Managing 2,000 acres of alfalfa and hay crops, corn fields, livestock and a multiple family farm operation make for busy days for Paul Gustad, his father Bud and brother Dean.

Lime is used to raise soil pH levels when soil tests reveal levels below the optimal range. Defined, pH is the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration. More simply stated, lime (calcium hydroxide) is used to knock hydrogen off of the soil nutrient exchange sites.

The organic market is growing in size and scope. In 2008 the sales of organic foods reached $22.9 billion, which represented 17.1 percent growth for the market.

There is a small community a little over 20 miles southeast of Birmingham, Alabama, that takes God’s involvement in their lives, and the land they till, very seriously. Their guiding principle is applied to everything they do.

First-place corn silage
“Luck and paying attention to details. We watch the health of the crop, water, proper nutrients and soil fertility.

“I think getting it here would be a great thing for the industry. We need it for producers to be able to hit that premium market with new stands of hay.

Nick Robbins, a welder from Buhl, Idaho, says he heard about how hay haulers, dealers and producers use hand probes to test the moisture content of hay bales. They stick the bale once and move on.