Purchasing a tractor requires a major expenditure and, before signing the sales contract, two questions need to be answered. Is the tractor really needed to make the operation more economically efficient? If so, are you buying the right tractor? There are many choices in choosing a tractor, and each one will determine purchase satisfaction.

To bloom or not to bloom, that is the question. There are differences of opinion as to whether farmers should allow their established alfalfa to bloom at least once each summer.

Many diseases caused by fungi affect alfalfa. Common leaf spot, leptosphaerulina leaf spot, spring black stem and leaf spot, and stemphylium leaf spot are among the more important foliar diseases often encountered in the Upper Midwest.

Different is OK. For instance, I like to see how many years and miles I can get out of a pickup (my current 12-year-old rig has almost 326,000 miles and 99 percent of everything still works), but I know a fellow who must have a new pickup every year.

Just because it can be done doesn’t make it a good idea. Time for a review of the basics of towing behind the trusty farm pickup.