Puckerbrush Dispatch

The Hall of Good Harvests

When the U.S. and China met in Beijing this week, the news pulled me back to the summer of 2017 to a country I remember in faces, not headlines.

May 15 • Joseph L. Murphy

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April 2026

Five Years Out on My Own

Five years ago today, I went out on my own.

Apr 26 • Joseph L. Murphy

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Lift off

When humans decided to simulate life on another world, they came to a place like this — 8,200 feet up on the slopes of Mauna Loa, where the volcanic…

Apr 1 • Joseph L. Murphy

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March 2026

The sweet passage of time

There is something about the sound of hooves in snow that slows time down.

Mar 13 • Joseph L. Murphy

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February 2026

Twenty-five seasons

Growing up in Forest City, Iowa, agriculture was always nearby — but it wasn’t necessarily where I thought my life was headed.

Feb 20 • Joseph L. Murphy

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January 2026

Ruts and Momentum

There’s something about this time of year that messes with creative momentum.

Jan 12 • Joseph L. Murphy

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December 2025

Looking Back to Move Forward

The cursor blinked as I scrolled through folders labeled by month: May 2025, June 2025, September 2025.

Dec 19, 2025 • Joseph L. Murphy

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Ready or Not Winter Is Here

Editor’s note: The recent cold snap was a reminder that winter is closing in and that for livestock producers, the work never pauses.

Dec 14, 2025 • Joseph L. Murphy

Taking the Long Way and Finding What We Needed

Snarled skies and uncertain forecasts forced a slight detour.

Dec 3, 2025 • Joseph L. Murphy

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November 2025

India's Changing Landscape

Last year, I travelled to India to see how the country’s rapidly developing infrastructure is reshaping its poultry and feed industry.

Nov 20, 2025 • Joseph L. Murphy

Remus Powers and the Gospel of Smoke

On any given weekend, the smell of hickory and oak seems to follow Ardie Davis like a friendly spirit.

Nov 10, 2025 • Joseph L. Murphy

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October 2025

Stella Thomas is Sowing Seeds of Change

Editor’s note: On the eve of the 2025 Borlaug Dialogue and the World Food Prize, it’s important to remember the farmers who strive to grow safe…

Oct 20, 2025 • Joseph L. Murphy

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