Revolutionizing Cattle Feeding in the 1920s In the mid-1920s, central Iowa cattle feeder Gage A. Kent recognized that raising superior cattle required more than care—it required proper nutrition. While most …
Kevin Kester on Ranching, Trade, and Ag’s Next Generation
Life in Parkfield, California Kevin Kester is a fifth-generation rancher from Parkfield, California, a small ranching community northeast of Paso Robles in southeast Monterey County. Known as the “earthquake capital …
Kevin Kester on Cattle, Wolves, and the Fight to Keep Family Ranches Alive
The October 1 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured a wide-ranging conversation with Kevin Kester, a fifth-generation rancher from Parkfield, California, and former president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef …
Freight Crisis, Regulations, and the Future of Trucking in California
The September 23 edition of the AgNet News Hour zeroed in on a topic not often heard on farm radio: freight. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Mark Woods …
Beef Prices, Prop 12, and Holiday Meat Trends on AgNet News Hour
The September 22 edition of the AgNet News Hour kicked off the week with a focus on California agriculture’s staple proteins — beef, pork, poultry, and turkeys — as hosts …
Beef Supply Shortages and Meat Prices: Darren Hill of JD Food
A Return to the Conversation Nick Papagni recently welcomed back Darren Hill, Sales Manager at JD Food and former five-star chef, to discuss the current state of the meat industry. …
John W. Tyson: Missouri Farmer Builds Poultry Legacy
Seizing Opportunity During the Great Depression The Great Depression challenged countless rural American families, yet it also offered opportunities for those in the right place at the right time. In …
Angus Bulls Introduced to America
A Visionary in American Agriculture In 1873, George Grant brought four Angus bulls from Scotland to Victoria, Kansas. His goal was ambitious—introduce this new cattle breed to American cattlemen and …
George Grant and the Introduction of Angus Cattle to America
The Vision of George Grant In the history of American agriculture, few individuals stand out like George Grant, a Scottish immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1873. Accompanied …
Role of Shorthorn Cattle in American Agricultural History
Shorthorn Cattle and Early American Farms The holds a significant place in American agricultural history. As settlers pushed westward, Shorthorns became the most common cattle breed found on farms and …
Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Chickens in American Agriculture
Chickens: The Early Livestock Staple of Pioneer Farms Cattle and hogs are widely recognized today as major livestock staples on American farms and ranches. However, during the mid-1800s, it was …
Dairy, Family, and Football: Joseph Bakker’s Life in the Central Valley
Carrying the Family Legacy In Tulare County, where agriculture and community are woven together, Joseph Bakker stands as the third generation in a long line of dairy farmers. His family …
Inside Hanford Dairy Life with Farmer Case Anker
A Legacy Rooted in the Dairy Industry In Hanford, California, dairy farmer Case Anker continues a proud family tradition that began in the 1940s. His grandfather immigrated from the Netherlands …
Ticks to Tech: The Evolution of Cattle Ear Tags
A Persistent Pest Problem in the Mid-20th Century In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, cattle producers across the southern United States faced a major challenge: the Gulf Coast …