Contents

MFA recollections
Vernon Renner witnessed the beginning of Vandalia's MFA. By James D. Ritchie

A letter and a snapshot
Former associate editor Glenn Hensley remembers MFA's farm magazine.

Taking a page from pioneers
Hard work and attention to management helped reclaim this Ozark farm. By James D. Ritchie

Making a market for small-diameter trees By James D. Ritchie

The path to new generations
New-generation cooperatives, startups and prospects alike, feel their way up the agricultural value chain. By Steve Fairchild

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world
BSE in the United States offers lessons in the intertwined world of food safety, public relations and the inevitability of more onerous traceability. By Steve Fairchild

Meat traceability in Japan
Consumer trust via traceability may mean rising above the commodity market By Roxanne Clemens

COLUMNS:
Country corner
One man's vision and interested farmers made MFA and history. By Steve Fairchild

Crops
Soybean fungicide seed treatments can pay. By Dr. Paul Tracy

Country humor
Dogged desperation By Jack S. Bray

More country humor
Infrequent flyers By Mitch Jayne

Italian dishes

Viewpoint
BSE subdues catlle-country holidays but highlights industry strengths By Don Copenhaver