The October 31 edition of the AgNet News Hour brought a spirited mix of Halloween humor and serious ag talk as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Kevin Kester, …
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
The Civil War’s Wheat Boom During the Civil War, wheat became one of the most valuable crops in the United States. With soldiers and civilians alike needing bread and other …
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
The October 28 edition of the AgNet News Hour tackled the global marketplace head-on, as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill examined how trade policy, retail pricing, and foreign imports continue to shape the …
Beef Plan, Spray Tech, and AI: California Ag Eyes Relief and Reinvention
The October 24 edition of the AgNet News Hour blended policy, technology, and on-the-ground perspective to close out a packed week for California agriculture. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill …
Gage A. Kent and the Birth of Kent Feeds
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 …