Growers Edge: The One-Stop Free Resource For Farmers. But How?

You heard from a friend about this great resource for farmers called Growers Edge, so you go home to check it out on your computer.   You click on the “How it Works” tab and notice that Growers Edge offers a wide array of services including localized weather, daily market commentary, best price cash bid tools, and even text message alerts (just to name a few).  Then, you notice something strange: Growers Edge offers all of their services for free.

Some popular questions might pop into your mind: “How can Growers Edge possibly be free?”, or “How does Growers Edge make money?”, or my favorite, “What’s the catch?”

These are all valid questions.  Luckily, we have some valid answers.  How many of you have heard of Google?  Google is the most popular search engine in the world and it is completely free.  It is funded through advertising located throughout the Google search results pages.  Growers Edge runs off of the exact same concept. (Sign up in less than 2 minutes by clicking here.)

Growers Edge is able to bring you a one-stop resource to all things agriculture for free because we sell advertising space on our website.  We make sure that the advertisements are displayed in a non-intrusive way.  This means that there are not a bunch of pop-up advertisements.  We are also very picky in choosing which advertisements we display on our site.   The advertisers that we work with must share our passion and mission in helping farmers every day.  

Growers Edge is committed to always offering services without costs or subscription fees.  It is Growers Edge’s mission to make sure that every farmer, regardless of size, has access to the best information and research in the agriculture industry.   Growers Edge truly is the one-stop resource for all things agriculture, and we want you to be part of our growing community of farmers.

Sign up free today and get access to the best tools for your farming operation. It takes less than 2 minutes...

Click here now!

Check out our newest white paper, an article talking about the highlights of the June 16th Crop Progress Report by Gail Martel. See how this year compares to years past with charts, graphs, and extensive data. Also, take a peek at the forecasts predicted through the end of June!

CLICK HERE for your free report!

Pictures: Walking Through Our Farming Heritage in Iowa

Being from the Midwest, farming is in our blood, isn't it? We are surrounded by some of the most fertile soil in the world, growing a range of crops that feed people around the globe. While the focus of our national economy has shifted away from agriculture over the years, there was a time when farming was the way of life for over 70% of the U.S. population. Yesterday, we took a walk back to (and through) those times.

If you live in or around Iowa, a trip to Living History Farms near Des Moines is worth a trip. The interactive museum showcases Midwest farms from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s, complete with the 1850 town of Walnut Hill. Visitors can interact with museum staff actually working on the farms and in the shops in town. Taking a stroll by the local blacksmith's shop on your way to the 1850 prairie farm is like taking a step back in time, when a vast majority of families made their livelihood on the farm. Take a look at some of our pictures below. Have you visited Living History Farms? Do any of your farms resemble these pictures?

Reading up on the history of Ioway Indian farming on our way to the 1700 farm

A crop garden the Ioway Indians would have used in the 1700s

A rack used to dry vegetables in the 1700s

Entering the 1850 farm

An 1850 prairie garden

A small smoking hut where pioneers would dry meat 

Oxen on the farm! 

 And some muddy pigs looking to cool off...

We've made it to 1900! 

Beautiful view from outside the 1900 farmhouse

Windmill and barn under a blue sky 

Some of the equipment you might have used on your 1900 farm 

A 1900 farmer and his horse 

 More pigs!

Back in 1875 in the town of Walnut Hill, this would be your local pharmacy. Not exactly Walgreens... 

 Crossing a bubbling stream on our way to town

Overall, it was a great day full of farming, fun, and learning. It's good to appreciate the past every now and then... it makes you thankful for where you're at and where you come from. What do you miss about these times? What do you think is the biggest difference in farming today? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!