…every level—from PhDs designing new technology to farm workers learning to operate advanced equipment. Why Saving American Farming Matters Though not a farmer himself, Youtsey’s passion for agriculture comes from…
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
DepositPhotos image 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,…
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
…A Legacy Rooted in American Agriculture From a single grain flat house to a worldwide operation, the Cargill story embodies the resilience and ingenuity that define American farmers. The company’s…
The Birth of the FFA Blue Jacket: A Proud Tradition Since 1933
Courtesy of National FFA Organization 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…
George Washington and Slavery: A Complex Legacy
…supported both his personal wealth and the early American economy. George Washington and Slavery: A Complex Legacy Presidential Actions on Slavery As president, Washington navigated the tensions of a young…
Van Groningen & Sons: A Century of California Farming
…standards and strictest regulations in the best growing region on Earth.” The Yosemite Fresh Label: Quality You Can Trust The Yosemite Fresh label represents Van Groningen & Sons’ premium produce—most…
How Ralston Purina Revolutionized American Agriculture
…Impact on American Agriculture Today, the story of Ralston Purina stands as a cornerstone in the history of American agricultural innovation. From its humble beginnings in the 1890s to its…
Pumpkin Power and Precision Tech: California Agriculture Shines on AgNet News Hour
…the heart of American farming. Van Groningen, dubbed the “Pumpkin King of California,” joined the show from Manteca, where his family farm grows over 60 varieties of pumpkins ranging from…
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
…grow. As Mark Oppold notes in his American Agriculture History Minute, the mid-Atlantic’s agricultural story before the American Revolution is one of adaptation, opportunity, and global connection. What began as…
Verdant Robotics and Van Groningen & Sons Showcase Innovation and Tradition on AgNet News Hour
…across more than 30 crops and is rapidly expanding into both U.S. and Central American markets. In the second half of the show, the focus shifted from futuristic farming to…
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
Photo by Tom Fisk/Pexels image 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…
How Immigrant Farmers Shaped Early American Agriculture
Photo by Matt Richmond/Pexels image Ethnic Traditions and the Roots of American Farming In the early days of the United States, immigrant farmers played a defining role in shaping American…
Nat DiBuduo: Politics, Water & California Farming
…once rural farmland has since been transformed into suburban neighborhoods—a reflection of the urban growth that has reshaped California’s agricultural landscape. “It was a journey from Fresno back then,” DiBuduo…
Nat DiBuduo, the “Godfather of Grapes,” on the Future of California Wine and Farming
…of the grape industry,” DiBuduo reflected on growing up among vineyards where Copper River now stands — a reminder of how quickly farmland has disappeared under urban expansion. “Back in…