Living the Country Life

Make the most out of your small farm or acreage with tips and resources from Living the Country Life. This section contains information on raising animals, gardening tips, machinery maintenance, improving pastures, and maintaining ponds.

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Muddy water in ponds

If the fishing isn't good in your pond, the water might be too cloudy. If your pond is always murky, there are ways to clear it up.
Muddy pond water
Audio

Fee fishing

Fishing is increasing as a recreational pastime and people are looking for good places to go. Make some money by charging folks to fish in your pond.
Three men fishing off of a dock
Audio

Planting a strawberry bed

Strawberries are a dependable, popular fruit on U-pick farms as well as in the home garden. Learn how you can grow strawberry fields forever.
Strawberries draping over wood
Audio

Successful Farming TV Show

Low-hour John Deere 9620 RX tractors sell at auction

By Successful Farming TV Show
The hottest piece of machinery today are track tractors. Dave travels to an auction to check out prices on a pair of John Deere 9620 RX tractors.
Low-hour John Deere 9620 RX tractors sell at auction
Video

Top Shops

3 can-do farm shops

By Top Shops
Innovative structural changes and additions improve working conditions on 3 Midwestern farms.
Exterior of the Baker's farm shop
Article

Starting a sunflower u-pick

Sunflowers have become wildly popular and could be a good U-pick addition for an agritourism operation. Here’s what to consider.
Happy woman standing among sunflowers
Audio

Cleaning birdhouses

Many birdhouses will become nesting boxes before long. Have you cleaned yours out? Some birds like a clean home, others don’t care.
bird perched at the opening of birdhouse
Audio

Check the sump pump

A sump pump is the first line of defense for many homeowners to prevent water from seeping in the basement. Check on it now so you’re not surprised later.
Man inspecting sump pump
Audio

Flush salt de-icer from your trees

Too much salt isn’t good for you and it’s not good for your trees, either. If de-icing salt came in contact with your trees, flush them with water.
Bag of ice melt
Audio

When to retire a horse

As your horses age, they may be showing some health issues. Putting a horse out to pasture is one option, but there are many other retirement opportunities.
Brown and white horse
Audio

Soil for raised beds

A raised bed garden has a lot of benefits, but only if the soil is good. Keep the bags of potting soil for your containers, and work with your native soil
Raised bed garden
Audio

Tip of the Day

Agronomy Tip: Manage Increased Weed Pressure

A water hemp plant in a farmer's hand. Preventive planting in 2019 has led to increased weed pressure.

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