From Dust to Renewal: How the Great Depression Sparked U.S. Soil Conservation When the winds of the 1930s carried dust across America’s plains, it wasn’t just soil that disappeared—it was …
Corn Shelling Bees: How Early Americans Processed Corn by Hand
Corn Shelling Bees: A Cornerstone of Early American Agriculture Corn has played a vital role in American agriculture since the nation’s earliest days. Long before modern machinery transformed farming, corn …
National Corn Husking Association: Preserving the Tradition of Hand-Harvested Corn
A Tradition Born from Necessity From the 1920s to the 1940s, harvesting corn by hand was more than a skill—it was essential for farmers across the United States. Before modern …
Ohio State University: The Land-Grant Vision That Shaped Ohio’s Agricultural Legacy
Ohio State University, one of the nation’s leading public research universities, has its roots deeply embedded in agricultural and mechanical education. Founded in 1870, the university was established as a …
The Louisiana Purchase: How Thomas Jefferson Secured America’s Agricultural Future
Introduction: A Turning Point in American Agriculture In the early years of the United States, few decisions carried as much long-term impact as the Louisiana Purchase. While often remembered for …
How Weather Shaped Early American Agriculture
An American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold Early American farming was never just about the land—it was about the weather. In this American Agriculture History Minute, agricultural historian Mark …
Largest Barns in the United States
Exploring the Debate Over the Biggest Barns in the United States By Mark Oppold – American Agriculture History Minute When it comes to American agriculture, size has always mattered—and few …
How Hay Baling Began: The First Hay Presses and Early Innovations
The practice of baling hay is central to modern agriculture, but its roots extend back to the mid-19th century, when inventive mechanical solutions began to reshape how farmers stored and …
The Westward Expansion of American Agriculture: Wheat, Corn, and the Rise of Dairy Farming
Agriculture’s Early Push Toward the West As America grew in its earliest decades, farming advanced steadily alongside the movement of settlers. In an American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold explains …
How Early Agriculture Shaped Ohio: Insights from Mark Oppold
Pioneers Moving West and the Unexpected Settlement of Ohio As early American settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains in search of new opportunities, many expected to continue westward through the Great …
The Missouri River: A Key Chapter in American Agriculture History
The Missouri River: A Pillar of American Agriculture History Early Settlers and the Great Plains The Missouri River has played a pivotal role in shaping American agriculture and westward expansion. …
The Legacy of Land-Grant Universities in American Agriculture History
The Morrill Act of 1862 and the Birth of Land-Grant Universities Land-grant universities have played a defining role in shaping American agriculture, research, and education. As Mark Oppold explains in …
The Louisiana Purchase: How $15 Million Reshaped American Agriculture
A Landmark in American Expansion In 1803, the United States completed one of the most important land acquisitions in history: the Louisiana Purchase. For just $15 million, approximately $18 per …
Kansas State University: The First Morrill Act Land-Grant College and Its Civil War Origins
A Pioneering Beginning During the Civil War Kansas State University—originally named Kansas State Agricultural College—was formally established on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. As described in Mark Oppold’s American …