Trade pressure on American specialty crop growers and an innovative approach to California dairy production highlight the latest AgNet News Hour. Mike Joyner of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association…
USDA: From Lincoln’s “People’s Department” to a Modern Agriculture Agency
The Birth of the U.S. Department of Agriculture The history of American agriculture is closely connected to the history of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which was established…
USDA Provides $7.5 Million to Improve Food Assistance Cold Storage
…products. Food Assistance Storage Funding Supports Equipment The food assistance storage funding will help nonprofit organizations purchase equipment needed to safely store and distribute perishable foods. Eligible products include meat, dairy,…
Can Raisins Be Great Again? Jeff Smutny on California’s Raisin Future
California’s raisin industry is at a crossroads, facing declining acreage, rising labor and production costs, global competition and the challenge of attracting the next generation of farmers. But Jeff Smutny,…
Jeff Smutny Part 2: Reinventing California Raisins for a New Generation
On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Jeff Smutny, president and managing director of the Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC), returned for Part 2 of his conversation about the future…
Native American Agriculture Predates European Colonization
The Agricultural Roots of Early America Long before European colonists arrived in North America, Indigenous peoples were developing sophisticated ways to obtain food from the land. While agricultural practices varied…
USDA Trade Push Meets a Changing California Raisin Industry
On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, two conversations offered a look at both the opportunities and challenges facing American agriculture. USDA Under Secretary Luke Lindberg discussed agricultural trade…
USDA and the Birth of America’s Land-Grant Universities
The Agricultural Roots of American Higher Education The history of American agriculture is closely connected to the development of higher education, and two major milestones came in 1862: the establishment…
California Figs Find New Momentum as Demand Grows
California figs are making a comeback, and the momentum is growing from Central Valley orchards to consumers around the world. “The Ag Meter” host Nick Papagni welcomed Kris Caputo, Marketing…
California Figs Make a Comeback as Growers Respond to Rising Demand
On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Kris Caputo, marketing director for the California Fig Advisory Board and California Fresh Fig Growers Association, discussed renewed momentum for California figs…
Land-Grant Universities Transform American Agriculture
The Morrill Act of 1862 Creates a New Educational Model The history of American agriculture is closely connected to the development of the nation’s land-grant universities. In 1862, the First…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor and the Future of West Side Farming
Joe Del Bosque: A Farmer’s View of California Agriculture California agriculture is facing a complicated combination of extreme weather, water shortages, labor challenges, rising costs, regulations and uncertain markets. Few…
Joe Del Bosque: California Farming Faces a Critical Future
California agriculture is facing a growing list of challenges, but Westside farmer Joe Del Bosque says the industry’s future depends on practical solutions, innovation, water and ensuring the next generation…
Shorthorn Cattle Helped Build Early American Agriculture
…that are bred for a single purpose, early Shorthorns excelled in several areas that were critical for frontier families. They were highly regarded as: Excellent milk producers for supplying dairy…