Tag Archives: Latham Hi-Tech Seeds

Sweet & Sour: This Recipe Describes Our Spring Weather, Too!

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You might say that farming is in Ben Rein’s blood. His great, great grandfather homesteaded around Highland, Minnesota, in 1884. Farming is a tradition that has continued throughout the generations.

“I’ve been farming for as long as I can remember,” says Ben, who grew up on a family farm and started farming full time in 1997 by custom baling hay and renting 160 acres. He shared equipment with his dad and uncle, who were farming together at that time. They ran a 100-sow, farrow-to-finish operation. They also raised 200 registered Angus cows, selling bulls and heifers. In 2005, Ben’s dad went to work for him. Today they grow corn and alfalfa. They also milk 65 cows and finish fat cattle.

Ben said he wanted to try Latham® products because the company is independent and family owned. He’s stayed with the company because the corn really yields. “I’ve been planting Latham for two years and have had a great experience,” he says. “The people I work with are very knowledgeable and accessible. The seed corn I used last year yielded 200 to 230 bushels, and it was the only corn that stood against the wind and rootworm issues we dealt with.”

While Ben tends to the crops and livestock, his wife Amber stays busy on the home front. The couple lives on the farm Ben’s grandfather bought in 1952, and it’s where they’re raising their five children: Steven, 14; Jaime, 12; Nora, 10; Kimberly, 8; and Rachel, 4.

“Living on a family farm allows us to spend time together working and playing,” says Ben. “It’s the perfect place for kids to develop a good work ethic and to discover their interests. Some of our kids are interested in horses while others enjoy working with calves. There are just so many different things our kids can explore.”

The Rein children are also involved in a lot of activities at school. During the summer months, they enjoy camping. During the winter months, Ben enjoys restoring antique John Deere tractors.

Like most farmers, Ben enjoys promoting the products he raises. Today, in honor of May Beef Month, the Reins are sharing one of their family’s favorite recipes for Sweet and Sour Meatballs. Crock-pot recipes like this are perfect for the spring planting season, so give it a try and let us know what you think!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs. ground beef
  • ¼ c crushed butter crackers
  • 2 T Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 c. chopped onion
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Sweet & Sour Sauce

  • 15 oz. can of chunk pineapple
  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1/2c brown sugar
  • 2 T apple cider vinegar
  • 2 T Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 green pepper, chopped

NOTE: Add water if you like thinner sauce.

Directions:

  • Shape into meatballs and place in slow cooker.
  • Pour sauce over meatballs.
  • Cook on low for 6 hours.

Industry NewsConsider Traits & Chemistries in Your Crop Rotation

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A soybean-corn crop rotation allows farmers to spread out spring and summer fieldwork and provides a larger window for harvest. Plus, a soybean-corn rotation can lead to energy savings during production and when handling, drying and conditioning of stored grain, according to recent issue of “Advance” published by the ISA On-Farm Network.

“Studies show us that corn yields are higher following soybeans. The advantage of a soybean-corn rotation still centers on yield. The positive impact is probably due to several factors,” says Ed Anderson, Iowa Soybean Association senior director of supply and production systems. “Soybeans break disease, insect and weed cycles and provide a nitrogen credit for corn the following year.

It’s true that crop rotation can help achieve higher yields, as well as reduce risk ranging from volunteer corn to weed resistance. Other benefits include better soil health, less disease pressure and higher profits are a few of the benefits that come from rotating corn and soybeans if farmers are careful about rotating traits and chemistries. Plus, crop rotation can be one of the best management practices to control CRW.

However, it’s no longer enough for farmers to merely rotate crops. Farmers also must rotate between herbicide chemistries, as well as hybrid/variety traits. Rotating between various herbicide traits is important from the standpoint of reducing weed resistance. It also has been proven that it helps in overall herbicide performance.

Rotating traits, especially insect resistance traits in corn, is especially important for the same reasons – to decrease the risk of insects becoming resistant to those traits and also to improve overall trait performance. As newer traits become commercially available in soybeans, the same will be true. We will need to be good stewards of these traits and rotate them whenever possible!

One advantage of working with family-owned and independent Latham Hi-Tech Seeds is that we can help you select the trait packages needed to change up your modes of action. Latham offers the industry’s broadest, deepest seed lineup – which makes it more convenient for farmers to get all their seed needs met.

Industry NewsCount Your Blessings, One by One

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“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
By Larry Sailer

I am a rich man. No, I’m not talking about being a rich farmer. That I’m not! But, I am rich in the ways that matter most.

The tragic events that unfolded this past week – from Boston to West Texas – caused me to pause for a moment and think about how good life really is here in the Heartland. For example, yesterday was Earth Day. Such a day reminds me of what a wonderful world God has created! I also caused me to reflect upon the change Janice and I are making as we transfer our memberships to the church she attended as child.

Thinking about Janice’s childhood then caused me to reflect upon my own childhood. I was born to farm! From the time I was a toddler, I literally followed in the steps of my great grandfather, my grandpa and my dad. Fifty years later, I’m still proud to call myself a farmer – but it hasn’t always been easy.

In the 70s, I was one of what they called the “Young Tigers.” I reached my goal of farming 1,000 acres, which at that time, was worth $1,000 per acre. I spent all my available hours working on the farm. As a workaholic, I was focused on the wrong goals!

My way of thinking changed a decade later. On my 30th birthday, I married Janice and had an instant family. We joked that “something had to go” to make room for four kids, so I sold my airplane. During the 1980s Farm Crisis, I sold off some farmland. Janice ran the farming operation, including doing hog chores, while I took an off-farm job working construction. We built hog units across the Midwest, so I was gone from home too much of the time. We did what we was required to provide for our growing family at the time, and we were all thankful when I could return to farming full time.

Over the last 30 years, I’ve become very wealthy in a non-material way. Our family has brought us so much joy! The past two weeks have been particularly enjoyable: our grandchildren Jessica and Zach went to prom; and grandson Devin finally was healed enough to play some great football in Iowa State’s spring game!

 

I mentioned in a previous blog post that each of our grandkids has his/her unique talents and interests. Some, like Devin and Jessica, have a passion for sports. Carlie enjoys writing and dancing. Darin enjoys hunting, fishing and gardening. Zach is interested in wood working and mechanics. Hallie, Lindi and Jessica are very artistic. Sydney is an avid reader, while Quinten is a computer guru.

Today I’m showing some of my favorite photos of each. While it’s not exactly a “Wordless Wednesday” post, it’s about as close as this proud grandpa can get!

Hopefully, looking through family photos will help you remember to take time to count your blessings. I can’t think of anything better to do, especially on a gray day!