Whitney Shannon Haigwood

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Whitney Shannon Haigwood

AgriCapture Part 1: Rice farmers use data to verify methane reductions and enhance revenue. At a GlanceThis is a three-part series on how rice farmers can produce a sustainable crop, reduce methane and prove carbon offsets. Rice farmers who adopt irrigation techniques, like alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and furrow irrigation (FIR) have a promising avenue for increased profitability. These practices, promoted through initiatives by AgriCapture, provide a dual benefit.

2 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Whitney Shannon Haigwood

Like it or not, farmers and data are married for better or worse. Data is the spouse you never knew you had. As a farmer, it bombards you from all sides. Your banker wants it. Private and public funding programs require it. You need it. And yes, data nags. When did you plant? What did you plant? Did you switch varieties? How did you irrigate? What was your fertility strategy? What was your yield and how many trips did you make across each field this year?

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Whitney Shannon Haigwood

Every farmer aims for the best outcome when marketing the crop of their hard-earned labor. Yet mistakes can present a huge setback, and with the current farm economy, farmers have little margin for error. Richard Brock, chairman of Brock Associates in Milwaukee, said the critical part of commodity marketing lies in great decision-making skills. It also requires getting away from bad habits.

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Whitney Shannon Haigwood

On Mar. 17, 2025, there was smoke on the horizon. The smoke plume on Highway 14 West was not due to crop burning or spring field preparation. Instead, it was evidence of an EF-4 tornado that tore through the area just three days before. Mike Jones farms just outside of Newport, in Jackson County, Ark. His long-time family operation was directly hit by the March 14 tornado that left miles of destruction at wind speeds up to 190 miles per hour.

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Whitney Shannon Haigwood

You have likely seen the iconic green sticker that says, “No Farms, No Food.” Those four capitalized words in bold white letters can be found on anything from truck tailgates to farm equipment and shop doors – and they concisely promote the mission of the American Farmland Trust. AFT is a non-profit organization that works to preserve and protect agricultural working lands, and it is rooted in what John Piotti, the organization’s president, describes as a “farm-centric” approach.