The Dawn of Soil Conservation in Early American Farming In the early years of American settlement, the nation’s farmers often took the vastness of the land for granted. As Mark …
Farming the Frontier: How Early Settlers Built America
Life Beyond the Mississippi As settlers moved west across the Mississippi River in the 19th century, they carried with them not only their hopes for a new beginning but also …
Pioneering the Midwest: How Settlers Turned Iowa’s Prairies into Farmland
The Great Migration West By the 1850s, America’s westward expansion had surged into a defining movement. Families from the eastern states packed their wagons and made the long journey toward …
Westward Expansion Transforms 1850s American Farming
The Great Migration Across the Mississippi In the 1850s, the United States witnessed a remarkable westward migration as settlers crossed the Mississippi River in search of new land and opportunity. …
How Draft Horses Powered American Farming
Before the mid-1800s, American farms depended on horses and oxen to provide the muscle for plowing, hauling, and powering early equipment. These animals were essential to agricultural productivity, but as …
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 …
Ag Hall of Fame: Honoring U.S. Agricultural Pioneers
A Tribute to America’s Agricultural Legacy Across the nation, countless halls of fame celebrate excellence — from sports and music to science and education. Agriculture, the backbone of America’s growth …
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
A Pioneering Moment in American Agriculture In 1873, Illinois farmer Fred Hatch built what is believed to be America’s first version of the modern silo. During this period, grain storage …
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
The Birth of Cargill: From Iowa Grain Storage to Global Agribusiness Surplus Grain Sparks Innovation In the mid-1800s, America’s agricultural landscape was changing rapidly. As grain production soared, farmers across …
The Birth of the FFA Blue Jacket: A Proud Tradition Since 1933
The Beginning of a National Legacy I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The history of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) is filled with traditions that have …
George Washington and Slavery: A Complex Legacy
George Washington’s Complicated Relationship with Slavery George Washington, the first President of the United States, had a deeply complicated relationship with slavery. Over his lifetime, he controlled more than 577 …
How Ralston Purina Revolutionized American Agriculture
Agricultural Expansion and Innovation As America moved into the late 19th century, farming continued to evolve beyond the grain fields that once defined early agriculture. By the 1880s and 1890s, …
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
Early Colonial Agriculture and Trade Before 1720, most colonists in the mid-Atlantic region lived through small-scale farming operations that provided both sustenance and a modest income. These family farms were …
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History Minute, most citizens relied on …