The Morrill Act of 1862 Creates a New Educational Model The history of American agriculture is closely connected to the development of the nation’s land-grant universities. In 1862, the First …
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor and the Future of West Side Farming
Joe Del Bosque: A Farmer’s View of California Agriculture California agriculture is facing a complicated combination of extreme weather, water shortages, labor challenges, rising costs, regulations and uncertain markets. Few …
Joe Del Bosque: California Farming Faces a Critical Future
California agriculture is facing a growing list of challenges, but Westside farmer Joe Del Bosque says the industry’s future depends on practical solutions, innovation, water and ensuring the next generation …
Shorthorn Cattle Helped Build Early American Agriculture
Shorthorn Cattle: The Versatile Breed That Supported America’s Westward Expansion As pioneers pushed westward and established farms across the expanding United States, one breed of cattle became an essential part …
Joe Del Bosque on Farming the West Side: Water, Labor and Resilience
The latest AgNet News Hour takes listeners to California’s West Side for an in-depth conversation with Joe Del Bosque of Del Bosque Farms, as “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni and …
Why Chickens Were the Backbone of Early American Farms
Chickens Were the First Livestock of the American Frontier When many people think about American agriculture in the 1800s, they often picture vast cattle ranches or large hog operations. However, …
Merced College Prepares the Next Generation of Ag Leaders
Merced College Is Rethinking Agricultural Education For students considering a career in agriculture, food processing, agricultural technology or industrial technology, Merced College is building an educational model designed to put …
Merced College Prepares Students for Agriculture’s Future
Modern agriculture needs more than farmers—it needs skilled professionals who understand technology, food processing, automation, marketing and the rapidly changing demands of the agricultural industry. On the latest edition of …
From Log Cabins to Lasting Homesteads: How Midwest Farmhouses Evolved in the 1840s
The Humble Beginnings of Midwest Farm Life As settlers pushed westward during the 1840s, the American Midwest became a center of agricultural expansion. Most pioneer families established farms of approximately …
Merced College Builds the Future of Agriculture
The latest AgNet News Hour with Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” and Josh McGill takes listeners inside one of the most innovative agricultural education programs in California. The program features …
Mid-1840s Iowa Farms: How Corn Created the Tall Corn State
What Iowa Farms Looked Like in the Mid-1840s American agriculture has undergone remarkable changes over the past two centuries, but the foundations of modern farming can be traced back to …
Business Leader Kyle Kirkland Outlines Vision for California’s Future
Congressional Candidate Discusses Agriculture, Water, Energy, and the Economy with “The Ag Meter“ As California’s 21st Congressional District prepares for the November election, businessman and community leader Kyle Kirkland says …
Kyle Kirkland Part 2: Water Reliability and Regulatory Reform Key to California Agriculture
Reliable water supplies and practical regulations remain two of the biggest issues facing California agriculture, according to congressional candidate Kyle Kirkland. In Part 2 of his interview on the AgNet …
The Hawkeye Riding Cultivator Helped Spark America’s First Agricultural Revolution
America’s First Agricultural Revolution Changed Farming Forever Between 1862 and 1875, the United States experienced what historians often describe as the first American Agricultural Revolution. This transformative period marked a …






















