Select Sampling of Books and Articles
Written by Curt Arens between 1996-2010

Field Editor – Farm Progress (Nebraska Farmer/Dakota Farmer) In April 2010, Arens took a field editor position with Farm Progress, writing mostly for Nebraska Farmer, as well as for Dakota Farmer and Wallace’s Farmer magazines. Here is a listing of his articles in those magazines over the years of free lancing, and more recently as field editor.

Nebraska Farmer
• “A Niche for Hogs”, Nebraska Farmer, October 2007, 45.
• “Ag Lab Celebrates 50th Birthday”, Nebraska Farmer, August 2007, 8.
• “British Whites Round Out Well on Grass Finish,” Nebraska Farmer, October 2009, 7.
• “Consider Fall Rye for Spring Pasture,” Nebraska Farmer, September 2007, 43.
• “Co-op Aims at Natural Market”, Nebraska Farmer, January 2007, 26.
• “CRP Tree Plantings Grow Big Benefits”, Nebraska Farmer, September 2006, 85.
• “Earn a Premium for Asoyia Soybeans,” Nebraska Farmer, August 2009, 22.
• “Emerald Ash Borer Poses Threat,” Nebraska Farmer, March 2008, 76.
• “EQIP Funding Helps Family with Switch to Organic Farming”, Nebraska Farmer, February 2006, 10.
• “Family Mission: Planting Trees to Protect Land”, Nebraska Farmer, May 2007, 26.
• “Family’s Bottled Milk Scores a Hit at Stores”, Nebraska Farmer, March 2007, 34.
• “Farmers Learn More About their Pastures by Going on a Walk”, Nebraska Farmer, August 2006, 44.
• “Farmers Seek Ways to Control Deer Herd,” Nebraska Farmer, January 2010, 64.
• “Fields are Popping in North Loup Valley,” Nebraska Farmer, November 2008, 26.
• “Goats Follow Cows to Manage Pasture,” Nebraska Farmer, November 2007, 58.
• “Got Ideas for Automatic Paddock Mover?” Nebraska Farmer, May 2009, 25.
• “Grazing Stalks Keeps Nutrients on the Land,” Nebraska Farmer, April 2009, 42.
• “Harvest the Wind on Your Farm,” Nebraska Farmer, May 2009, 38.
• “Irrigating Grass, Not Crops, Using NRD Cost-share,” Nebraska Farmer, August 2008, 44.
• “Know What to Do if an Injury Occurs”, Nebraska Farmer, March 2006, 81.
• “Low-cost Approach Lifts Profits,” Nebraska Farmer, February 2008, 60.
• “Lower Stress When Loading Out Hogs,” Nebraska Farmer, September 2009, 46.
• “Meet the New Carbon Farmers”, Nebraska Farmer, July 2007, 28.
• “Monitoring the Range,” Nebraska Farmer, November 2009, 68-69.
• “More Grass Options,” Nebraska Farmer, October 2009, 38.
• “New Group Looks to Future of Land on Missouri River”, Nebraska Farmer, February 2007, 61.
• “Nothing Corny About This FFA Project,” Nebraska Farmer, December 2009, 36.
• “Oats Give Value in Several Ways,” Nebraska Farmer, April 2008, 24.
• “Remote Sensing Brings Precision,” Nebraska Farmer, April 2009, 17.
• “Precision Ups Yields, Lowers N Rates,” Nebraska Farmer, March 2010, 5.
• “Protecting State Resources is a Family Tradition,” Nebraska Farmer, January 2010, 14.
• “Soaring Fertilizer Costs Turn Manure Into ‘Gold Mine’,” Nebraska Farmer, June 2008, 16.
• “State Soil Surveys Available on Web,” Nebraska Farmer, January 2008, 66.
• “Sticker Shock,” Nebraska Farmer, June 2008, 1.
• “Test for Yield-Robbing SCN after Harvest,” Nebraska Farmer, October 2009, 30.
• “Turning Manure to Compost Pays”, Nebraska Farmer, November 2006, 36.
• “UNL Grant Will Aid Farmers with Transition to Organic”, Nebraska Farmer, November 2006, 25.
• “UNL Researches Weed Flaming”, Nebraska Farmer, October 2007, 26.
• “Wind Takes Center Stage,” Nebraska Farmer, November 2008, 88.

Books
• A Year With Farm to Family: A Journal of Rural Life, Hartington, Neb.: Cedar County News, 2009. (110 pages)
• Down to Earth: Celebrating a Blessed Life on the Land, Skokie, IL: ACTA Publications, 2008. (112 pages) 1st place – Catholic Press Association Book Award in First Time Author of a Book Category, 2009
• A Family Guide to Finding and Growing Fresh Food, with Sandy Patton and Angie Tagtow, Plainview, Neb.: Northeast Nebraska RC&D, 2009.
• Making the Connection: A Toolkit for Starting a Radio and Web-based Local Food Campaign, with Sandy Patton, Plainview, Neb.: Northeast Nebraska RC&D, 2008.

Farm to Family – Weekly Column – www.farmtofamily.net
• From 2005 until 2010, Curt’s weekly column “Farm to Family” ran in the Cedar County News since January 2005. Curt penned over 275 columns.

Farm to Family Connection – www.farmtofamily.net
• Curt writes the weekly radio show about locally raised food – “Farm to Family Connection” which has aired on KKYA – 93.1 FM radio based in Yankton, SD, since March 2004. Curt has written over 300 of the shows and was the voice of the program for three years. The show currently airs on KKYA and KYNT AM each Thursday.

Farm to Family Connection – www.farmtofamily.net
• Curt founded and continues to write the weekly radio show about locally raised food – "Farm to Family Connection" which has aired on KKYA – 93.1 FM radio based in Yankton, SD, since March 2004. Curt has written over 200 of the shows and was the voice of the program for three years. The show currently airs on KKYA and KYNT AM each Thursday.
• Curt initiated a companion website – www.farmtofamily.net – that includes a local food directory, monthly local food and farm commentary, recipes, tips for consumers and farmers, farmers market information, audio clips and transcripts of the weekly radio program.

Awards, Positions and Grants
• National Food and Society Policy Fellow – 2003-2005
• Center for Rural Affairs – Pioneer Award – 2005.
• Nebraska Forest Service – Media Award – 2008.
• Director, Farm to Family Connection Project, SARE Program – 2004-2006.
• Assistant Director, Farm to Family Connection Project, Northeast Nebraska RC&D – 2006-2008.
• Northeast Nebraska Research and Extension Center/Northeast Nebraska Experimental Farm Association – Outstanding Contributions to Northeast Nebraska Agriculture Award – 2009
• Assistant Director, Neb. and SD Farmers Market Promotion Project, Northeast Nebraska RC&D, Lower James RC&D, Randall RC&D – 2009
• Field editor, Farm Progress publications – 2010.

Select Articles – Magazines
American Profile

• "Burwell, Neb., Loves a Rodeo", American Profile, July 1-7, 2001, 8.
• "For the Love of White Horses", American Profile, April 29-May 5, 2001, 4.
• "Honoring Old-Time Farming", American Profile, July 20-26, 2003, 9-10.
• "Nebraska’s Wild Kingdom", American Profile, March 17-23, 2002, 8.
• "Popping a Tasty Tradition", American Profile, April 7-13, 2005, 8, 11.
• "Prairie Dog Town", American Profile, April 11-17, 2004, 12.
• "Saving St. James", American Profile, March 4-10, 2007, 10-11.
• "Where Kolach is King", American Profile, May 27-June 2, 2007, 6-7.
• "Strut, Cluck, Cackle," American Profile, June 22-28, 2008, 10-11.
  Farm Journal
  
• “Graze Maize to Cut Costs: Two Nebraska Farmers Started Grazing Cattle on Corn to Get More Profit Per Acre,” Farm Journal, March 1999.
• “Textiles in the Trees: Mulch Fabrics and Drip Irrigation Boost Success in Shelterbelt Plantings”, Farm Journal, February 2000.
• “Wild About Oats: Grain, Silage, Hay, Bedding, Grazing Crop-How Good Can You Get?” Farm Journal, March 2000. Living Here
• “Bluebirds Across the Missouri River”, Living Here, Spring, 2005, 38-41.
• “Heading for the Hills: Niobrara State Park”, Living Here, Summer, 2005, 18-24.
• “Long Ride Home: The Story of Korean War Soldier Daniel Steffen”, Living Here, Spring 2007.
• “O Christmas Tree: Local Growers Bring the Season’s Symbols to Life”, Living Here, Winter, 2004, 14-17.
• “Pioneer Power: Vintage Tractors, Threshing Demonstrations and Living History Keep Rural Heritage Alive at Menno”, Living Here, Fall, 2005, 6-11.
• “The Grapes of Bow Valley: The Nissen Brothers are Planting More than Corn and Beans”, Living Here, Vol. 2, No. 2, Summer, 2004, 16-21.
• “Where the Buffalo Roam: Buffalo is What’s For Dinner at Wilfred and Donna Tramp’s Place”, Living Here, Spring 2004, 10-13. Nebraska Farmer
  
• "A Niche for Hogs", Nebraska Farmer, October 2007, 45.
• "Ag Lab Celebrates 50th Birthday", Nebraska Farmer, August 2007, 8.
• "Consider Fall Rye for Spring Pasture," Nebraska Farmer, September 2007, 43.
• "Co-op Aims at Natural Market", Nebraska Farmer, January 2007, 26.
• "CRP Tree Plantings Grow Big Benefits", Nebraska Farmer, September 2006, 85.
• "Earn a Premium for Asoyia Soybeans," Nebraska Farmer, August 2009, 22.
• "Emerald Ash Borer Poses Threat," Nebraska Farmer, March 2008, 76.
• "EQIP Funding Helps Family with Switch to Organic Farming", Nebraska Farmer, February 2006, 10.
• "Family Mission: Planting Trees to Protect Land", Nebraska Farmer, May 2007, 26.
• "Family’s Bottled Milk Scores a Hit at Stores", Nebraska Farmer, March 2007, 34.
• "Farmers Learn More About their Pastures by Going on a Walk", Nebraska Farmer, August 2006, 44.
• "Fields are Popping in North Loup Valley," Nebraska Farmer, November 2008, 26.
• "Goats Follow Cows to Manage Pasture," Nebraska Farmer, November 2007, 58.
• "Got Ideas for Automatic Paddock Mover?" Nebraska Farmer, May 2009, 25.
• "Grazing Stalks Keeps Nutrients on the Land," Nebraska Farmer, April 2009, 42.
• "Harvest the Wind on Your Farm," Nebraska Farmer, May 2009, 38.
• "Irrigating Grass, Not Crops, Using NRD Cost-share," Nebraska Farmer, August 2008, 44.
• "Know What to Do if an Injury Occurs", Nebraska Farmer, March 2006, 81.
• "Low-cost Approach Lifts Profits," Nebraska Farmer, February 2008, 60.
• "Lower Stress When Loading Out Hogs," Nebraska Farmer, September 2009, 46.
• "Meet the New Carbon Farmers", Nebraska Farmer, July 2007, 28.
• "New Group Looks to Future of Land on Missouri River", Nebraska Farmer, February 2007, 61.
• "Oats Give Value in Several Ways," Nebraska Farmer, April 2008, 24.
• "Remote Sensing Brings Precision," Nebraska Farmer, April 2009, 17.
• "Soaring Fertilizer Costs Turn Manure Into ‘Gold Mine’," Nebraska Farmer, June 2008, 16.
• "State Soil Surveys Available on Web," Nebraska Farmer, January 2008, 66.
• "Sticker Shock," Nebraska Farmer, June 2008, 1.
• "Turning Manure to Compost Pays", Nebraska Farmer, November 2006, 36.
• "UNL Grant Will Aid Farmers with Transition to Organic", Nebraska Farmer, November 2006, 25.
• "UNL Researches Weed Flaming", Nebraska Farmer, October 2007, 26.
• "Wind Takes Center Stage," Nebraska Farmer, November 2008, 88.
  Nebraska Life
  
• "A Conversation with President Ford", Nebraska Life, March/April 2007, 57.
• "A Day at the Farmer’s Market: For the Brunssens of Randolph, Gardening is a Way of Life", Nebraska Life, July/August 2006, 52-56.
• "A Different Row to Hoe: Tom Larson of St. Edward is No Ordinary Farmer", Nebraska Life, September/October 2002, 53-56.
• "A Prairie Dog Town", Nebraska Life, November/December 2002, 19-23.
• "Black Jack Pershing’s Lincoln Legacy", Nebraska Life, Vol. 10, No. 2, March/April 2006, 42-47.
• "Border Tales and Outlaw Trails: From South Sioux City to Valentine, Highway 12 is a Scenic Byway with a Colorful Past", Nebraska Life, May/June 2005, 16-21.
• "Elgin’s Plantation House", Nebraska Life, March/April 2005, 31-33.
• "Famous Trees: Hanging Trees, Treaty Trees, Hand-planted Forests. Trees are Rooted in Nebraska", Nebraska Life, March/April 2000, 6-10.
• "From Woolworth Avenue to the White House: For His First 16 Days, Gerald Ford’s Home Was Omaha", Nebraska Life, Vol. 5, No. 5, July/August 2001, 38-44.
• "Full Circle at White Horse Ranch", Nebraska Life, January/February 2001, 6-11.
• "Gauging the Wind with the Flying Hoffmans: Huffy’s Airport Windsocks are Made on Spencer’s Main Street…and in a Hog Barn", Nebraska Life, March/April 2006, 28-32.
• "Generations of Growth: In an Industry Dominated by Giants, Hooper’s Hoegemeyer Hybrids Thrives as a Family Seed Business", Nebraska Life, Vol. 7, No. 4, May/June 2003, 33-38.
• "Home on the Range: Nebraska’s Pioneers Built Homes with Whatever They Could Find", Nebraska Life, May/June 2000, 36-42.
• "Homecoming for the Ho-Chunk People: Mindful of their Heritage, the Winnebago Tribe Looks to the Future", Nebraska Life, Vol. 9, No. 2, January/February 2005, 18-23.
• "In the Shadow of Chimney Rock: The Spirit of the Oregon Trail is Alive and Well in Bayard", Nebraska Life, January/February 2004, 25-30.
• "Lincoln’s Anniversary Mansion," Nebraska Life, September/October 2009. 38-46.
• "Lincoln’s Homemade Ice Cream", Nebraska Life, September/October 2003, 25-27.
• "Logging Nebraska Prairie", Nebraska Life, March/April 2004, 46-49.
• "Lost Towns of the Missouri River: Searching for Tales and Ruins Along Nebraska’s Northeast Border", Nebraska Life, Vol. 8, No. 6, September/October 2004, 19-23.
• "Nebraska’s Baddest Land", Nebraska Life, November/December 2001, 58-62.
• "McCook’s Courageous Senator: George Norris Spoke His Mind, Whether Voters Liked It or Not", Nebraska Life, Vol. 8, No. 4, May/June 2004, 38-42.
• "Nebraska’s Ku Klux Klan: The Hate Group Once Had Klaverns Across the State", Nebraska Life, January/February 2003, 59-62.
• "Nebraska’s New Homesteaders: Crowded by Urban Sprawl, Amish Families Seek New Homes in Nebraska", Nebraska Life, March/April 2005, 57-61.
• "Nebraska’s Sea of Grass", Nebraska Life, September/October 2000, 40-45.
• "Old Mill Town", Nebraska Life, November/December 2003, 50-54.
• "Old Soldier’s Never Die: Veterans Find Rest in Fort McPherson National Cemetery", Nebraska Life, November/December 2000, 46-50.
• "Our Big Trees", Nebraska Life, March/April 2001, 39-42.
• "Ponca State Park: Through the Lens of Fran Kingsbury", Nebraska Life, May/June 2002, 16-22.
• "Secluded Wonders: The Waterfalls of Nebraska", Nebraska Life, May/June 2001, 5-9.
• "Shade Tree Classrooms", Nebraska Life, March/April 2002, 53-55.
• "Testing Tractors for the World in Lincoln," Nebraska Life, July/August 2008, 80-85.
• "The Five Droughts of John Leader", Nebraska Life, July/August 2002, 19-22.
• "Threshing Tradition: Old Iron Draws Rural People Like a Magnet", Nebraska Life, September/October 2001, 53-55.
• "Valley of Death: One Man Finds His Long Time Dreams in the Ashes", Nebraska Life, January/February 2000, 6-10.
• "Voice of the Commoner: Nebraska’s Silver-Tongued Orator, William Jennings Bryan", Nebraska Life, Vol. 6, No. 2, January/February 2002, 30-35.
• "West Point", Nebraska Life, September/October 2006, 60-67.
• "Your Son: Letters Home to Nebraska From Our Soldiers in WW I", Nebraska Life, Vol. 3, No. 6, September/October 1999, 32-36.
  New Holland News
  
• "Alfalfa Rules Where Hay is King", New Holland News, July/August 2001, 10-15.
• "Dry-Year Grazing Just Improved: Oats and Turnip Tops Add Valuable Forage and Extend the Grazing Season", New Holland News, January/February 2003, 16-19.
• "Dairy Farm Success: Everybody Working, Every Resource Utilized", New Holland News, January/February 2000, 11-16.
• "Family Farming Goes Organic", New Holland News, April 2002, 16-19.
• "Finding a Way to Farm Small", New Holland News, March 2003, 10-11.
• "Goats Get a Free Ride", New Holland News, May/June 2005, 18-20.
• "Grass to Milk: Milking in the Meadow", New Holland News, November/December 2004, 4-8.
• "Green, Green Grass of Managed Grazing", New Holland News, October 1999, 20-22.
• "History in the Hunt", New Holland News, July/August 2007, 18-20.
• "Hogs Living High on the Straw", New Holland News, October 2000, 10-14.
• "Pork Power: Hogs are Starting to Light Things Up in the Neighborhood," New Holland News, July/August 2008, 16.
• "The Doctor Who Came to Country and Stayed: House Calls and Hug Therapy Helped Put the Country into this Country Doctor", New Holland News, September 2002, 17-
• "The Heritage: Immigrant Farmers Passed on their Love of the Land to their Children", New Holland News, July/August 2002, 21-22. South Dakota Magazine
• "In the Footsteps of York: A Valley Springs Sculptor Brings Black Heroes to Life", South Dakota Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 2, July/August 2002, 73-75.
  Successful Farming
  
• "Adding Value From Grass: Farmer’s Market Sales Boost Long-Term Direct Sales at the Farm", Successful Farming, February 2006, 28.
• "Bergland Looks Back: An Agriculture Secretary Who Took Office 30 Years Ago Has Very Modern Ideas", Successful Farming, April 2007.
• Continuous CRP", Successful Farming, August 2006.
• "Insuring Agritourism", Successful Farming, November 2006.
• "Niman Ranch Pork", Successful Farming, May 2008
• “Quick Turns: Mob Grazing,” Successful Farming, March 2009.

 

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