The View From Massies Corner Archive

  • Most farmers in Rappahannock County farm their land by selling grass. Not the kind of grass that President Clinton didn’t inhale, the kind of grass that cows eat. The cows eat the grass and produce milk that their calf suckles. When the calf is big...

    Column: Earth, wind, fire . . . spirits

    Most farmers in Rappahannock County farm their land by selling grass. Not the kind of grass that President Clinton didn’t inhale, the kind of grass that cows eat. The cows eat the grass and produce milk that their calf suckles. When the calf is big...

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  • Cattle farmers have had a tough winter, but so have the foxhunters. Snow pack and the wet ground have kept riders, horses and hounds in a restless state. Although I am not a foxhunter, I have many friends and family members who are. My father...

    Column: Jumping (fences) off the school bus

    Cattle farmers have had a tough winter, but so have the foxhunters. Snow pack and the wet ground have kept riders, horses and hounds in a restless state. Although I am not a foxhunter, I have many friends and family members who are. My father...

    Full Story

  • There is an unfortunate downside to conservation easement donations that is not much talked about. My purpose here is not to discourage landowners from donating easements, but rather to inform them of possible negative consequences. When landowners donate a conservation easement, they give away some...

    Column: What’s conserved, and what’s not guaranteed, by easements

    There is an unfortunate downside to conservation easement donations that is not much talked about. My purpose here is not to discourage landowners from donating easements, but rather to inform them of possible negative consequences. When landowners donate a conservation easement, they give away some...

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  • By Mike Massie For the past several years the Rappahannock News has done a good job of reporting on what the newer farmers here are doing. I hope and expect the paper to continue doing this. However, I feel that the old-time farmers have not...

    Column: How blaming cows for the Bay’s woes could hurt us all

    By Mike Massie For the past several years the Rappahannock News has done a good job of reporting on what the newer farmers here are doing. I hope and expect the paper to continue doing this. However, I feel that the old-time farmers have not...

    Full Story