e d i t o r’ s DESK®
ACROSS THE
LIFELONG LEARNERS
THE LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE OFFER A LOT TO
PEOPLE – YOUNG AND OLD.
P
utting out a magazine to 400,000 subscribers every month
is a privilege and takes some courage, to be honest. Are we
delivering the information you need? That’s why I relish
the feedback many of you give me.
I get handwritten letters, emails, tweets, and phone calls
from dozens of you every month, and I respond to every one. Some
are critical, some are very complimentary, and some are nostalgic
memories of your farm.
A recent email I got from a retired teacher really struck a chord
with me, since we write our stories – magazine articles, web sto-
ries, TV shows, and more – for a farmer audience. But Jan Cross
Cubbage, who taught economics and ag science, found stories in
every issue that she could use to educate her classes.
“I must tell you that many of my lesson plans have come from
within the articles published in Successful Farming magazine,”
writes Cubbage of Marion County, Florida. “Students whose studies
focus on agriculture do not get the big picture of USA agriculture’s
grand scope of production and its influence on both the U.S. and
world economies without specific structured readings, critical think-
ing, analysis of offered statistics, and then group discussion. The
science of agriculture is bursting with new research and applica-
tions. How does a teacher keep abreast of the news? I hope that, like
myself, they subscribe to Successful Farming magazine.”
She cited a recent article, “Exporting U.S. Ag Is Big Business”
(July 2019, pages 26-31), as a “superb example of an article I would
use to produce at least three lesson plans.”
Cubbage says our editors provide more timely information that is
available to teachers, since, according to her, a majority of teachers
are using outdated textbooks.
“Thanks for putting out a magazine that widens the world view
for farmers, teachers, and students,” she closes. That compliment
made my day!
I hope she and others find our eight-page section called “Soil
Health Digest,” on pages 45-52, just as informative. I know our team
spent many hours of interviews scouring Extension specialists,
scientists, and farmers to share 20 top ques-
tions and answers about soil health, cover
crops, and tillage. Can it work on your farm?
Take a look. I hope you learn as much as Ms.
Cubbage’s students did.
Here’s to a safe and successful August.Dave Kurns
Editorial Content Director
[email protected]
Twitter: @davekurnsSUCCESSFUL FARMING
®
EDITORIAL
Successful Farming Magazine, 1716 Locust Street/LS257,
Des Moines, IA 50309-3023 | Email: [email protected]
EDITORIAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Dave Kurns
ART & PRODUCTION
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Matt Strelecki
COPY & PRODUCTION MANAGER Janis Gandy
NEWS & BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Betsy Freese
MARKETING EDITOR Mike McGinnis
DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Natalina Sents
MACHINERY
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Dave Mowitz
CONTENT EDITOR Paula Barbour
AG TECHNOLOGY
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Laurie Bedord
AGRONOMY & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Megan Vollstedt
CROPS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Gil Gullickson
CROPS EDITOR Bill Spiegel
FAMILY
FAMILY & FARMSTEAD EDITOR Lisa Foust Prater
AUDIO & VIDEO
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jodi Henke
SENIOR PRODUCER & CUSTOM SOLUTIONS David Ekstrom
EDITORIAL OFFICE COORDINATOR Diana Weesner
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Gene Johnston, Al Kluis, Dan Looker,
Cheryl Tevis, John Walter
PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION / ADVERTISING SALES
NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Tyler Smith, Tom Hosack, Ali Peltier
REGIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brian Keane, Collin Coughlon
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Jessie Scott
DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Alyssa Dixon
DIGITAL CAMPAIGN SPECIALIST Jana Timmerman
CUSTOMER INSIGHTS ANALYST Lucy Hermann
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER Catherine Wootten
MEREDITH AGRIMEDIA CUSTOM STUDIO
EXECUTIVE ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Doug Stark
CONTENT DIRECTOR Justin Davey
CONSUMER MARKETING MANAGER Karlee Morgan
BUSINESS MANAGER Darren Tollefson
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Jim Nelson
DIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST Christopher Sprague
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY Joseph Kohler
VICE PRESIDENT AND GROUP PUBLISHER Scott Mortimer
MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP
President, Meredith Magazines DOUG OLSON
President, Consumer Products TOM WITSCHI
President, Chief Digital Officer CATHERINE LEVENE
Chief Revenue Officer MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN
Chief Marketing & Data Offi cer ALYSIA BORSA
Marketing & Integrated Communications NANCY WEBER
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS
Consumer Revenue ANDY WILSON Research Solutions BRITTA CLEVELAND
Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER Digital Sales MARLA NEWMAN
Direct Media PATTI FOLLO Product & Technology JUSTIN LAW
Strrategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production The Foundry MATT PETERSEN
CHUCK HOWELL
VICE PRESIDENTS
Finance CHRIS SUSIL Business Planning & Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE
Consumer Marketing STEVE CROWE Shopper Marketing CAROL CAMPBELL
Brand Licensing STEVE GRUNE
Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR
Director, Editorial Operations & Finance GREG KAYKO
MEREDITH CORPORATION
President & Chief Executive Officer TOM HARTY
Chief Financial Officer JOSEPH CERYANEC
Chief Development Officer JOHN ZIESER
Chief Privacy Officer FARAH ZAMAN
President, Meredith Local Media Group PATRICK McCREERY
Senior Vice President, Human Resources DINA NATHANSON
Chairman STEPHEN M. LACY Vice Chairman MELL MEREDITH FRAZIER
FOR SUBSCRIPTION HELP: Visit Agriculture.com/myaccount;
email [email protected]; or call 800/374-be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive information from these companies by mail or by Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected firms whose products may
phone, please let us know. Send your request along with your mailing label to Magazine Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508.
August 2019 | Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 1