The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) have released the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey results from 2013.

A recent survey asked 353 Iowans questions to identify non-farm consumer attitudes regarding modern farms and food production. Highlights of the survey indicate 46 percent say they are “very knowledgeable” about how their food is produced (6 percent increase), while 49 percent are “somewhat knowledgeable.” This culminates in the highest overall percentage (95 percent combined) in the four-year history of the survey.

The question during winter months is not “Will you go to an ag trade show or association meeting,” but “How many ag trade shows or meetings will you go to?” Holy moly, there are more trade shows than tines on a wheel rake. It doesn’t take very many shows before trade show vendors feel a little tumbled with “leaf loss” themselves.

Jim and Connie Umble have been haying for about 20 years on the Wyoming-Nebraska border. During hay season, they systematically set their alarm clocks alternately throughout the night, taking turns waking up to check the humidity gauges to see if the dew has come and the hay is ready to bale.