Here’s a breakdown of the articles we’ve featured in this podcast:

(1) They can sniff out drugs, cancer cells and bombs, and now dogs are being trained to sniff out potato diseases in the field and in storage facilities. Freelancer Heather Smith Thomas introduces us to the dogs’ handler to find out more about these unique capabilities.

(2) Grain teff has become a new crop option for farms in southern Idaho. It’s a high-paying crop and production can be contracted. Two producers in Twin Falls County share their experiences and challenges.

(3) Bestowing names (and ear tags) shouldn’t be complicated, but sometimes farm families like the Colemans just use up, recycle and reissue names generation after generation. So it’s understandably a little murkier for them. Michele Coleman explains why doctors, friends and even marriage officiators get confused by her family’s clan.

(4) Life has a funny way of holding us accountable – which in this case is accomplished through a dog’s loyalty or a brand on a calf hide … but it still holds us accountable. Humor columnist Paul Marchant leads us through the rancher’s philosophy of doing the right things for the right reasons.