In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a foundational chapter in U.S. farming history: the settlement of the Northwest Territory—a move that paved the way for westward agricultural …
Legacy Barns: A Testament to 19th Century Midwest Farming
By the mid-1800s, Midwest farm families were settling in and expanding. Once their land was cleared and crops established, many pioneers shifted their focus to building newer, larger homes. It …
Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin Revolutionized American Agriculture
In the late 18th century, a young Massachusetts farm boy named Eli Whitney unknowingly set the stage for a major turning point in American agriculture. At just 12 years old, …
John Deere’s Steel Plow Revolutionized Midwestern Farming
In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold takes us back to one of the most pivotal innovations in U.S. farming history—the invention of the steel plow. As pioneers moved …
America’s First Turnpike Sparked Rural Expansion in 1794
Mark Oppold shares a fascinating piece of history in today’s American Agriculture History Minute—a look back at the first organized road improvement in the United States. In 1794, the Philadelphia …
Steamboats, Settlers Drove American Agriculture Westward
By 1790, the western boundary of the young United States had reached the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains—roughly 255 miles inland from the Atlantic. With a population nearing 4 …
Daniel Halladay Revolutionized Windmill Technology in 1854
Windmills have long played a vital role in agriculture—grinding grain, pumping water, and powering essential equipment. But in 1854, a breakthrough in windmill design changed everything. That year, American inventor …
Oliver Family Legacy and the Evolution of Tractor Manufacturing
In the fast-paced world of early 20th-century agriculture, competition among tractor manufacturers was fierce. The Oliver family, pioneers in plow manufacturing, expanded their influence with the formation of the Oliver …
Oliver-Hart-Parr: A Legacy of Innovation in Tractor History
James Oliver revolutionized farming in 1855 with his innovative chilled plow design. But it wasn’t until decades later that his family’s legacy expanded beyond plows. In the 1920s, the Oliver …
James Oliver’s Chilled Plow Revolutionized Farming Worldwide
From Patented Innovation to Global Agricultural Impact In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a pivotal figure in farming innovation—James Oliver. While the Oliver name …
Three Sisters: America’s Oldest Crop Collaboration
How Corn, Beans, and Squash Worked Together to Feed a Nation In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights one of the most enduring and ingenious agricultural systems brought …
George Washington Carver Transformed Southern Agriculture
From Peanuts to Crop Rotation: Carver’s Lasting Legacy In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold shines a spotlight on one of the most transformative figures in …
Michael Kelly: The Forgotten Pioneer of Barbed Wire
How Early Fencing Challenges Sparked Innovation in American Livestock History In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a lesser-known but significant figure in agricultural innovation: Michael Kelly, a …
How Native Crops and European Grains Shaped U.S. Agriculture
The Crop Exchange That Built American Farming In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold revisits a pivotal moment in agricultural development—when cultures collided and crops crossed …