Country-Yall.com

Keeping Appleton Alive

Garrett McCord — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:55:23 +0000

By Steph Larsen

Cuts in public spending lead to loss of services, especially for rural communities. While there’s little a community can do after it loses its school or post office to make up for that lost infrastructure, an NPR story set in Appleton, England tells of one town’s commitment to keep their “community shop”.

Listen here:

The shop serves as the small town’s grocery store, post office, bank, and gossip center. They’ve made their model work for 10 years, even as the “town cynics” said they wouldn’t last 6 months. Empowered and energized by their success of their store, they’ve begun a 10-year planning process to improve broadband access, retain their medical clinic, and build a playground.

I bet they’ll be successful in those areas too, because they have momentum in their favor - pride in their community, a furious desire to keep their town alive despite setbacks, and residents willing to take the time to make it happen and step into leadership positions.

This could be your town. Will you take the lead and make it happen?

Hand in Hand

Garrett McCord — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:32:26 +0000

By Lance Evans (Editor's note: We'd like to thank Lance for his hard work with us this spring and summer! Good luck, Lance!) Recently I was lucky to attended the Midwest Rural Assembly in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The Midwest Rural Assembly was a tw...

Did You Sell Corn To Verasun, Just Before Its Bankruptcy Filing

Garrett McCord — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:05:17 +0000

Verasun was one of the larger US producers of ethanol until late in October of 2008, when the financial collapse of the company threw it into bankruptcy court and it sought protection from its creditors. But instead of just playing defense with creditors, it began playing offense, and Cornbelt farmers were the target.

Exports: More Corn, Wheat, and Livestock Headed Abroad

Garrett McCord — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:22:54 +0000

Thanks to Cornbelt farmers the US balance of trade is improving. Agricultural exports typically outpace exports, and the difference will be widening both for the balance of the present fiscal year and for the 2011 fiscal year. The opportunity results from the drought in Eastern Europe which opens the door for more US corn and feed grains to be shipped abroad. What impact is that?

Reding Update: Feast or Famine

Garrett McCord — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:19:00 +0000

I’ve decided rain is either a stranger or an uninvited, intrusive guest. It’s been feast or famine this year – with a few exceptions. A couple weeks ago I found myself posting “Come on rain!” to my Facebook account. I know I am desperate for rain when I use a social networking site to ask the rain to fall! I’m pretty sure Facebook didn’t have any control over the situation, but the rain did fall and was beautiful music to my ears.

Of course the downside of rain is that my internet connection went out. Which of course reminds me of a story… For the first several years that we lived in Howardstown, the phone line would go out each time we had a significant rain. They finally fixed that issue about a year ago, but our only high-speed internet option is through satellite. (By the way, I find humor in the commercial where the guy is in the middle of the desert and can get internet, but we can’t get it in Howardstown!) So, when the clouds come, the signal goes. Perhaps my next book (after the one about things city girls should know when marrying a farmer) should be entitled “You Might Live in the Country If…”

Speaking of the county, I have included two bird’s-eye view pictures of the countryside. Aaron was invited to take a plan ride to view some of our fields. He graciously accepted the offer and took Josh along with him.

You might see that some of the corn has turned in those pictures. While it seems we just finished planting, harvest has already begun! We began combining last Friday. I have been out of town so I haven’t taken any pictures but will post those next time. It’s so hard to believe fall is here already! Andrew is so excited to get to ride in the combine. He has been asking to farm since we finished planting. It makes Aaron so proud to have a son who loves to farm.

In addition to harvesting corn, soybeans and wheat, we also harvest our own blueberries courtesy of several bushes in our backyard. This year, the harvest has gone on since the end of June and the blueberries are still coming! We have never in ten years had such a long blueberry season, and we just love it. I have included a couple pictures of Adam and Andrew picking blueberries. Andrew works very hard at picking, but won’t eat any. On the other hand, Adam doesn’t work hard and eats all he picks!

Along with fall comes back-to-school. I have included a shot of Kathryn on her first day. Our school began August 5, so we are fully back in the swing of things. In addition to the pictures mentioned, I have also included one example of how our resident-photographer Josh can make a dirty blade look cool (at least if converted to black and white.)

Buy Local Means More Than Food

Garrett McCord — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:18 +0000

By Lance Evans A few weeks ago I attended the Nebraska Energy Fair. It was a fantastic event! There were presentations on everything from helpful household tips to conserve energy at home to how to support legislation for renewable energy standards. If...

Why Did Farmers Not Sign Up For ACRE?

Garrett McCord — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:52:59 +0000

It is time to fess up. The secret is out. The jig is up. We now know why you did not sign up for the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program like Congress and USDA thought you would. They gave you the opportunity, but you said no, thanks, and now we know why. Gotcha!

Cattle Markets: Packer Concentration, GIPSA, And How We Got Here.

Garrett McCord — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:53:44 +0000

Since the late 1800’s cowboys have complained that stockyards and packers were taking advantage of them. When Congress looked into the allegations periodically new regulations were imposed on the packing industry. But the beef industry has also been pushed and pulled by market dynamics, court decisions, transportation, feed prices, and many other factors that have quickly made cattle either more or less profitable. One of the prime dynamics is the small number of packers that seemingly operate as a monopoly. And it takes time to determine whether it produces any desirable results or whether it is worth dismantling. As USDA and the Department of Justice grapple with the issue of greater transparency in formula pricing, let’s look at how we got here.

Will Farmers Increase Commodity Production Over The Next Five Years?

Garrett McCord — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:30:48 +0000

From day to day, different dynamics yank and tug on commodity markets, but in a larger perspective, many will have a positive push as others will have a negative pull. And from month to month those will change, creating a difficult task in making long term production and marketing plans for Cornbelt farms. But let’s try to get our arms around it.

Will Farmers Increase Commodity Production Over The Next Five Years?

Garrett McCord — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:30:48 +0000

The Scale of Our Daily Lives

Garrett McCord — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:12:23 +0000

By Aubrey Streit Krug (Editor's Note: We'd like to thank Aubrey for her work with us this summer! Her contributions to our blog have been much appreciated.) The sheer size of the crises that we face can be overwhelming. In addition to the earthquake in...

If A Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Were Built Nearby, What Would It Bid For Your Cornstalks?

Garrett McCord — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:17:25 +0000

Federal energy policy calls for it. Farmers are ready to haul corn stover and switchgrass into plants to make it. So when will cellulosic ethanol come about? Cellulosic ethanol apparently is not quite ready for prime time, since there may only be one commercially viable plant currently in operation, and researchers are feverishly working to perfect the process and make it economically successful.

Pork Prices? Corn Prices? Where Is The Equilibrium?

Garrett McCord — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:33:01 +0000

When corn is $2 per bushel, feeding it is usually more profitable than hauling it to town. But when corn is $4 per bushel, is it more profitable to feed it or haul it? Adding value to corn is quite dependent upon the price of livestock at the time, but where is the eqilibrium?

Trends Facing Small Commercial Farms

Garrett McCord — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:46:29 +0000

As we near the month of September, that becomes a significant symbol for the small commercial farm in US agriculture. It produces 22% of US farm output, but because of financial pressures and such a large number of them are managed by aging operators, the sun soon will be setting on many of them. Many are profitable, but many are not, and the days are growing shorter for that segment of farming.

Two Is Better Than One (Boys Like Girls/Taylor Swift Cover By…

Garrett McCord — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

http://www.gavinmikhail.com/freesongs - Gavin Mikhail performs his piano cover of Two Is Better Than One ( Boys Like Girls / Taylor Swift ). As the landslide winner of the "Lay It Down and Mix It Up In The UK" fan-vote contest, Gavin traveled to Peter Gabriel's England-based Real World Studios to begin work on his 3rd studio album. Stay tuned for studio footage, music, and interviews from the trip. FOR YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD OF GAVIN'S SONGS & VIDEOS, VISIT: http://www.gavinmikhail.com/freesongs Among Gavin's most recent offerings is his piano cover of Two Is Better Than One ( Boys Like Girls / Taylor Swift ) which has gained an audience with fans of Boys Like Girls and Taylor Swift. Other hits by Taylor Swift and Boys Like Girls include: Tim McGraw, Teardrops On My Guitar, Our Song, Picture To Burn, Should've Said No, Love Story, White Horses, You Belong With Me, Fifteen, Fearless, Half Of My Heart ( with John Mayer ), I Heart ?, Change, Breathe, You're Not Sorry, Crazier, American Girl, Today Was A Fairytale, I'm Only Me When I'm With You, Invisible, Umbrella, Hey Stephen, Tell Me Why, The Way I Loved You, Forever And Always, The Best Day, Jump Then Fall, Untouchable, Come In With The Rain, Superstar, The Other Side Of The Door, Breathless, Hero/Heroine, The Great Escape, Thunder, Love Drunk, Heart Heart Heartbreak, and She's Got A Boyfriend Now. WITH LYRICS: Two Is Better Than One I remember what you wore on the first day You came into my life and I thought hey you know, this could be something 'Cause everything you do and words you say You know that it all takes my breath away And now I'm left with nothing So maybe it's true that I can't live without you And maybe two is better than one But there's so much time to figure out the best of my life And you've already got me coming undone And I'm thinking two is better than one I remember every look upon your face The way you roll your eyes, the way you taste You make it hard for breathing 'Cause when I close my eyes and drift away I think of you and everything's okay I'm finally now believing That maybe it's true that I can't live without you And maybe two is better than one But there's so much time to figure out the best of my life And you've already got me coming undone And I'm thinking two is better than one Yeah, yeah I remember what you wore on the first day You came into my life and I thought, hey Maybe it's true that I can't live without you Maybe two is better than one There's so much time to figure out the best of my life And you've already got me coming undone And I'm thinking, I can't live without you 'Cause, baby, two is better than one There's so much time to figure out the best of my life But I figured out with all that's said and done Two is better than one, two is better than one Distributed by Tubemogul.
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Submitted By: Gavin Mikhail
Tags: Two Is Better Than One Boys Like Girls Taylor Swift Piano Cover Gavin Mikhail Lyrics Controversial Titles
Categories: Music & Dance

National Car Rental Smoking Policy

heybert00 — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:42:23 +0000

Post from: country music videos National Car Rental Smoking Policy I was told over the phone by a person at National Car Rental In Dayton, Ohio, that smoking is banned in the entire National Fleet. On the site though, it says you can call and request a smoke free car??????

ACRE: What Spurred The Decision To Sign Up Or Not?

Garrett McCord — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:12:38 +0000

Did you enroll in the ACRE program? “Of course not, it was too complex to figure out!” OK, how about you over there, did you enroll in the ACRE program. “You bet, I needed it to manage my risk.” Which of the two neighboring farmers did you align with?

CelebTV.com – Kenny Chesney Cheats on His Girlfriend with ESPN’s Jenn Brown!

Garrett McCord — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

CelebTV.com The country star was snapped on the beach in Mexico with the sports reporter while girlfriend, former Miss Tennessee Amy Colley was back home.
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Submitted By: Hulu
Tags: Kenny Chesney Jenn Brown Cheating Cheats Girlfriends ESPN Reporters Amy Colley Mexico Beaches Affair Romantic Getaway Celebrity And Gossip CelebTV.com
Categories: Entertainment

What Is The Rationale For Seed Prices?

Garrett McCord — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:02:51 +0000

Instead of ordering seed for your 2011 crop just because it will produce a corn stalk, you probably are ordering seed corn because of the bugs it kills, what herbicides won’t touch it, and the stresses it will withstand while producing a profitable yield. Many farmers buy seed based on its traits, rather than yield, but how do companies price such a product?

Will 2011 Be Profitable For Your Farm Operation?

Garrett McCord — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:48:22 +0000

Crops across the very southern stretches of the Cornbelt are maturing, and corn is probably already being harvested in Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, and maybe the southern reaches of Illinois and Missouri. With harvest in the central Cornbelt focused on Labor Day, many farmers will soon realize they need to finalize plans for the 2011 crop, because fall fieldwork and fertilizer application may be less than two months away. In preparation for market watching, calculate your budgets and compute a breakeven price for 2011.

Jennette McCurdy Chases Her Nashville Dream

Garrett McCord — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:18:28 +0000

For the thousands of young adults who are college-bound this fall, Jennette McCurdy's "Not That Far Away" is sure to resonate. However, this fresh-faced 18-year-old has already established herself with a budding acting career in Nickelodeon's iCarly. Now she's hoping to find her way into the country field with a contract on Capitol Nashville and [...]

Kenny Chesney’s Song Made a Football Fan of Me

Garrett McCord — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:45:39 +0000

I've blogged before that I'm not all that interested in sports. Not as a spectator. Not as a player. And I think part of that stems from living in a neighborhood where people are so completely over-the-top about sports. You can't just sign your kid up for a baseball team at the local park district, [...]

Carrie Underwood, Mike Fisher Settle Into Ottawa

Garrett McCord — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:53:34 +0000

I know Carrie Underwood is crazy about her new husband, Mike Fisher, but is she seriously letting him handle the interior design of their new house in Ontario? That is true love right there. That's what Us Magazine is reporting about the new house Mr. & Mrs. Mike Fisher are building in Ottawa, where Fisher [...]

Director Roman White Gives the Scoop on "Mine"

Garrett McCord — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:57:33 +0000

Roman White is the man behind the new Taylor Swift video, "Mine." You can scour the Internet for details on the shoot (what designer was wore, how hot was that guy in it, is there some kind of kissing scene, where did they shoot it), and you will never find more comprehensive scoop than in [...]

Rosanne Cash Has Composed Compelling Memoir

Garrett McCord — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:45:10 +0000

Rosanne Cash's music has remained one of the constants in my life as a young adult. I've always felt a connection to her songs, even though I've never felt that "Seven Year Ache" or escaped from a hectic life by "Sleeping in Paris." After reading her new memoir, Composed, it seems that we also share [...]