Agriculture’s Early Roots in America Agriculture has always been at the heart of America’s growth. Long before tractors, hybrid seeds, or modern irrigation systems, farmers and thinkers were searching for …
Henry A. Wallace: Innovator, Journalist, and Statesman
A Pioneer in Agriculture Henry A. Wallace is widely celebrated as the father of hybrid seed corn and the founder of the Pioneer Hybrid Seed Company. His groundbreaking work in …
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 …
Henry A. Wallace: Father of Hybrid Corn
A Young Innovator in Iowa In 1904, a 16-year-old high school student in Iowa began experimenting with corn in the hopes of boosting crop yields. That student, Henry A. Wallace, …
The Roots of U.S. Forest Management
Early Recognition of Forest Stewardship Even as America’s early settlers were clearing land to establish homesteads and plant crops, the government recognized the importance of protecting and managing the nation’s …
USDA Extension Service: A Legacy of Education and Support
The Roots of Agricultural Support The Department of Agriculture was first established in 1862, but it would take more than 50 years before one of its most impactful programs came …
Lewis B. Schmidt and the First Agricultural History Course in America
Farm Families and the Birth of Agricultural Policy As farm families moved westward and settled across the American heartland, they were unknowingly shaping the foundation of U.S. agriculture. Their struggles, …
Horsepower to Tractor Power: A Turning Point in American Agriculture
The Shift That Changed Farming Forever I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The story of American farming is filled with innovation, but one of the most transformative …
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 …
Founding Fathers, Farming, and the Rise of Agricultural Education
Leaders Who Were Farmers First In 1776, the successful leaders who helped shape the new nation were also among its most accomplished farmers. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson stand out …
The Birth of the USDA and Land-Grant Universities
The Establishment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture In 1862, a pivotal year for American farming and education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was officially established. This came 42 …
History of Land-Grant Universities in U.S. Agriculture
The Origins of Land-Grant Universities in American Agriculture The Morrill Act of 1862 and Its Impact In 1862, the United States passed the First Morrill Act, a historic piece of …
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 …