Cultivating Fuel on Farms and the Growth of the US Farm Digester Industry
Revenue-generating renewable methane is real and a growing industry. My encounter with MAAS Energy Works at Simpson University in Redding, California earlier this month, was a homecoming for Biomass Rules. The importance of this topic was reenforced with the American … Continue reading →
Just a Kid in a ‘Biogenic Methane’ Candy Store
While at visiting Simpson University’s Operation Management’s class last week, I received a welcomed education! The day I was visiting Simpson University’s Business Department, so was MAAS Energy Works. Wow! Such a happy convergence. Twenty years ago, through Biomass Rules, … Continue reading →
Lessons of Living Shared with Simpson University Macroeconomic Students
I really enjoyed spending a recent class period with macroeconomic students at Simpson University in Redding, California. Simpson is a private, faith-based college similar to Greenville University where I taught for eight years. One constant over my 45-year career, is … Continue reading →
Eight Percent of US Farms Are Associated with Renewable Energy
The farm-based renewable energy information in the 2022 Census of Agriculture is informative, but the data available is rather course. This Census data is not available anywhere but in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. It does not, however, include capacities … Continue reading →
2022 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology Volume 2 Has Arrived
The USDA released the initial 2022 Census of Agriculture files in February 2024. We had to wait 18 months to get the farm typology data released in August of 2025. It is the same data, but it is organized by … Continue reading →
Local Agribusiness Economic Study Delivered to St. Louis Agribusiness Club
Monday, September 22, 2025, the 2025 Agribusiness Economic and Jobs Study, 2025, results were presented to the St. Louis Agribusiness Club. The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) agribusiness economic impact has grown since the last study in 2019. Based … Continue reading →
US Peace Corps is 64 Years Old, A Secret Weapon of World Peace
Service in the US Peace Corps in 1982 to 1984 was a 27-month investment in my life more than 40 years ago that continues to pay dividends today. A significant life lesson for me has been that substantive improvements in … Continue reading →
The Best Part of the Farm Progress Show is the People
People drive the agricultural industry. AgriCULTURE is built on culture. Every year the Farm Progress Show provides a forum for learning about the newest and best technology in production agriculture – mostly crop production. But my experience is that it … Continue reading →
Authentic Fun with Arrival of First Copies of My First Book
First time author, book arrival moment. It was authentically gratifying! Late the other night, my wife, Tracy Hall, made a comment about the cameras catching the delivery truck. I said, “what delivery truck?” Well, what do you know? A box … Continue reading →
Our Community Loves to Support Our Junior Livestock Show – Secret Life of Rural Communities
Every August our Bond County rural community loves to love up the young livestock show youth. During the County Fair the show animals are auctioned off in an interesting combination of bragging rights (for who purchased – bid the highest … Continue reading →