My first visit to a farm seems a million years ago and yet it also seems like yesterday. The farmer to host me for my first real farm visit, while I was in graduate school was Mr. Ray Young. I can’t imagine how often he and his wife Mrs. Dorothy have come to mind over the years. This post will… Read More
Y is for Yams or Are They Sweet Potatoes? What’s the Difference Anyway?
I met Will Kornegay through social media and love that he offered to help me with my “S” post. See, Will grows sweet potatoes and was willing to help me out. But I have worked in the seed business for 15 years and really felt that I had to say S is for Seed. BUT I LOVE sweet potatoes. Ask… Read More
Hurricane Isaac Dumps a Foot of Rain on Louisiana Farms and It’s Still Raining
For those of us who know and love the land and people of South Louisiana and Southern Mississippi, it has been hard watching what Hurricane Isaac is doing to the farms there from afar. At the same time, the ability to stay up-to-date with what’s really happening through social media rather than simply hearing from the major media who pick… Read More
Southern Farmers Try to Get Crops Harvested Before Hurricane Isaac Hits
It is really hard for those of us from farming communities in the Mid-South to talk about what’s happening this week as the nation watches Hurricane Isaac set its course on a path that takes aim on New Orleans. There are a couple of big reasons you won’t hear much from farmers publicly tonight. The biggest is the need to… Read More
Looking at the Flood’s Impact a Week after the Mississippi River Crested
As more folks learned more about the flooding in the Mississippi River basin, Some cities & towns are breathing sighs of relief that this flood that is close to a century in the making wasn’t worse and others are fighting a long battle. Wednesday as I drove along the river, I took a little time to observe and document. Downtown… Read More
Louisiana Flooding: A Chance Conversation About the Morganza Spillway on My Flight Home
My flight out of DC back to Memphis was loaded. The noon flight had been cancelled and that let a long list of standby passengers congregate hoping for a seat. With that in mind, I was glad to get an operator on the 800 line to find me a window seat so I got out of the middle. Little did… Read More