Contents

Roll out the barrels
Missouri is a worldwide leader in oak barrel production. Buyers as far away as France buy barrels from Missouri to age their finest wines. And the state isn't going to lose that reputation any time soon. By James D. Ritchie

Selling timber
Whether you've been managing and harvesting timber on your property for years or are thinking about it for the first time, you want to ensure a successful timber sale. Here are things to keep in mind. By Holly Hollenbeck

The unkindest cut
Clear-cutting looks bad. No doubt about that. But chip mills didn't invent clear-cutting. Blaming sloppy timber harvesting on chip mills is like blaming divorce on marriage. Chip mills simply turn logs into wood chips. By James D. Ritchie

Cattle volatility
Change is the only constant in the cattle industry. Whether it's reporting-structure dynamics, foot-and-mouth disease or checkoff controversies, cattle producers have to sit up and pay attention like never before. By Mike John

The Elsberry MFA
The former chairman of the board at Elsberry MFA is an eyewitness to history. As a boy, Moebius Gentry watched the cooperative's formation at the first farmer meetings in local schoolhouses. As an adult, he had a hand in that history, too. By Moebius Gentry

Columns:
Country Corner
Penny wise and pound foolish; a regulatory approach to life. By Chuck Lay

Crops
It's an excellent time to fertilize tall fescue pasture. By Dr. Paul Tracy

Country Humor
English lessons By Jack S. Bray

More Country Humor
Nagging wives By Mitch Jayne

Carrot recipes

Viewpoint
What happens in Washington happens on your farm as well. By Don Copenhaver