Organic? Cage-Free? What 7 Food Labels Actually Mean
Certain terms, such as “organic” and “gluten-free,” are strictly regulated by agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Others are voluntary seal and certification programs. Still others are manufacturer-driven marketing strategies. Seven common terms that trip people up in the grocery store explained by guest-blogger Bethany Thayer, MS, RDN.
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Keeping the valley growing
Climb a farm structure, check Michigan corn, wheat and sugarbeet fields, ride in a combine harvesting wheat and step into a food processing facility in Frankenmuth with sixth-generation family farmer Justin Krick.
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How do we know if a product is really organic?
Have you ever asked your farmer or producer, “Are you certified organic?” The first thing to know about the term organic is that it is a regulated, legal term established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Read on to learn more!
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Is farming worth it?
Farming is a way of life…but is it worth it in today’s culture and business climate? One Michigan farmer tackles the topic and addresses the challenges when it comes to growing food for others.
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Farming with Dad
I didn’t spend a lot of time on the farm when I was younger, but once I left for college I realized how much I enjoyed farming & working alongside my dad. My dad is often a man of few words, but the conversations I share with him are the ones that I value the most in my life.
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What does it mean to be a farm owner?
What does it mean to be a farm owner in Michigan? One Michigan farmer shares about taking care of land and animals, the environment and supporting our local community.
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Farm work: Is it hard finding labor?
Over the past two decades, labor has been an increasing concern for the fruit & specialty crop farmers in Michigan. Learn more from a fifth-generation farmer who grows local fruit.
read moreWhat’s the Farmers Cost for Water Quality?
A farmer’s profitability and commitment to environmental stewardship often go hand in hand. So what are farmers doing to protect Michigan’s water and other environmental assets?
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Are there hormones in milk?
It’s hard to know everything about every food, so farmers are happy to answer about their own areas. I hope you enjoy a tall, cold glass of milk, an ice cream cone, or a pizza tonight – maybe all three!
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Encouraging more people to join a profession in agriculture
Agriculture includes farming. But agriculture is marketing, engineering, floral design, sustainability, and food science. It’s time to lose the stereotype that it is only cows, plows and sows.
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Sustainable tile
Field tile helps produce a perfect seed bed and strong root base for plants, plus helps equalize Michigan’s unique seasons from the soil’s perspective.
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Do farmers eat what they grow & raise?
More than once recently I’ve been asked why I farm. There’s no simple answer to the question. Honestly, on those days when things aren’t going well, I sometimes ask myself why I do this.
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Finances on a farm
Talking about finances for a household is complicated. Trying to explain finances for a farm is just as complicated, if not more so. My husband and I are dairy farmers and because of that we are selling our milk daily versus seasonal product sales like a lot of other farmers.
read moreWork-life balance: Motherhood and farming
I have humans relying on me for survival and I can’t commit the time I used to to the farm. There are only so many hours in a day. But I was once told, “The most important thing you’ll ever raise on a farm is your kids. Everything else can be sold or lost in a day.”
read moreAre cancerous tumors allowed by meat inspection?
Cancerous lesions or tumors are not allowed to enter commerce or the food chain. Jeannine Schweihofer, a Meat Quality Extension Educator and adjunct assistant professor at Michigan State University shares more here.
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Organic Farming: Low Risk, High Reward
What makes a farm organic? How do farmers achieve their goals using organic methods? Michigan farmer Amy Engelhard shares all in this Michigan grown blog post.
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Goals? You have goals in farming?
Everyone needs change in life, right? But as a farmer, I am not a big “resolution” person. Rather, I am a big goal person. So what are my goals? Read on to find out.
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What do farmers do in the winter?
While it’s true that crop farmers don’t have nearly the amount field work that we do in the growing season, all farmers still have a lot of work to do in the winter.
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Does a farmer have the same things to do year after year?
Just like everyone has chores, farmers have daily, weekly, seasonal and yearly tasks. Things on a farm are never, EVER the same!
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Christmas tree harvest
Have you ever wondered about where Christmas trees are grown before you’re able to buy them in your local area? Learn more today directly from a Michigan farmer!
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Beef project sale
How does a young farmer get started in raising animals? We talked with a Michigan farmer who raises beef cattle for youth projects and a local auctioneer to learn more.
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Growing up on a Michigan farm
Growing up on a dairy farm since I was 7 years old has been a blessing. Living on a farm with animals entails a large amount of responsibility even as a young person. When I was very young, my parents owned and managed a farm with beef cows. I loved walking through...
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Dry bean harvest
What do black beans look like on a Michigan farm before they’re in a grocery store? This dry bean harvest video with a local Michigan farmer shows it all!
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Wheat harvest
Virtually ride along with a Michigan farmer while he harvests wheat on his family’s farm.
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Breathing life into wildfire-devastated areas
Michigan farmers are truly committed to helping others. In March 2017, Michigan farmers breathed life back into communities that experienced great, unimaginable losses. They encouraged people to rebuild and get back to a routine of raising food for families across America and our world.
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Wildfire relief: Michigan convoy reflection
Michiganders are never more than six miles from a fresh water source. That’s not the case in southwest Kansas where water is consistently scarce and where wildfire relief efforts were needed in March 2017.
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Paying it forward
Farmers, ranchers and other people pay it forward simply when help is needed. That’s how communities operate, and in March 2017, Michiganders came out of the woodwork to help others who experienced loss in western wildfires.
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Tweetchat archive: Michigan farmer Allyson Maxwell
Did you miss our migrownmigreat Tweetchat with Michigan farmer Allyson Maxwell? No worries! We archived the conversation here.
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Thankful for my hands
When they’re wrinkled, dry and in need of a manicure, a Michigan farmer shares why she’s thankful for her hands. Read on to find out how your hands are similar in nature to those of a farmer.
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Corn harvest
We have a lot of choices when it comes to local foods in Michigan! Those choices start right on farms. Step inside a local farmer’s “office” for a tour during Michigan’s corn harvest.
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Soybean harvest
Ride along with a Michigan farm family during soybean harvest on their farm in southeast Michigan.
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Sugarbeet harvest
Virtually step inside the harvester cab with a Michigan farmer to hear about sugarbeet harvest.
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Planting wheat
Virtually ride along with a Michigan farmer who raises wheat on his family’s farm. He’ll show you around the monitors in his tractor, share how he’s protecting the environment and more – all while planting wheat!
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The truth about farming
A Michigan farmer shares background about 4-H experiences and the truth about farming.
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