Life on the Farm Before Electricity As late as the mid-1930s, nearly nine out of every ten rural homes in America still lived without electric service. While cities across the …
How Franklin Roosevelt Helped Bring Electricity to Rural America
The Beginning of Rural Electrification In the early 1930s, much of rural America lived without electricity. While cities were rapidly modernizing with electric lights, refrigeration, and indoor plumbing, many farming …
When Power Reached the Farm: Rural America’s “Zero Hour”
Life Before Electricity on the Farm By 1930, rural life in America looked vastly different from what we know today. More than 90% of rural homes still relied on kerosene …
Rural Electrification: Powering America’s Farms and Future
A simple introduction to a powerful turning point in rural America. The arrival of electricity to farms in the 1930s didn’t just bring light; it transformed agriculture, rural economies, and …
Dena Maldonado Talks Farming, Crime, and California’s Future in Congressional Run
California business owner Dena Maldonado says the Golden State is at a breaking point — and she believes voters, farmers, and small business owners are finally ready for change. During …
Rural Electrification: The Moment That Transformed American Farms
The Early 1900s: Electricity as a Luxury In the early 20th century, electricity was not the everyday utility we know today—it was considered a luxury. As shared by agricultural broadcaster …
California Policy, Meat Industry Concerns, and Governor Race Take Center Stage for Agriculture
The AgNet News Hour focused on major policy concerns impacting agriculture, including rising scrutiny of the meat industry, ongoing debate over California’s leadership, and the broader economic pressures facing farmers …
Monterey County Agriculture at a Crossroads: Water, Labor, and the Future of America’s Salad Bowl
In a compelling interview with “the Ag Meter” host Nick Papagni, sits down with Norm Groot of the Monterey County Farm Bureau to unpack the realities facing one of the …
Fertilizer Costs, Policy Debate, and Water Challenges Take Center Stage for California Agriculture
The highlighted major issues shaping agriculture right now, including rising fertilizer costs, ongoing political debates in California, and serious water challenges facing growers in key production regions like Monterey County. …
California Crossroads: McClintock on Water, Policy & Ag
California agriculture sits at the center of a growing policy debate—and in a recent interview with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni, Congressman Tom McClintock lays out a sweeping case for …
California Agriculture Left Out of Governor Debate as Leaders Push for Policy Change
The AgNet News Hour highlighted growing frustration across the agricultural community after a recent California governor debate failed to address key issues like farming, water, and food production, despite their …
USDA’s Fordyce: Policy, Pressure & Promise for Farmers
American agriculture is at a crossroads—and few understand that better than USDA Undersecretary of Farm Production and Conservation, Richard Fordyce. In a compelling conversation with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni, …
Ag Council President Highlights Regulatory Pressure, Plastics Policy, and Political Uncertainty for California Farmers
The AgNet News Hour continued its conversation with Agricultural Council of California President Emily Rooney, diving deeper into the growing regulatory challenges, political uncertainty, and real-world pressures facing farmers across …
California Agriculture Faces Policy Pressure, Weather Challenges, and Critical Election Year
The AgNet News Hour focused on a wide range of challenges impacting California agriculture, from political pressure in Sacramento to unpredictable weather patterns and rising input costs heading into a …