…history in Missouri—it is a living, enduring foundation of the state’s identity. Missouri’s Deep Agricultural Roots: From French Settlers to Today That’s today’s American Agriculture History Minute. I’m Mark Oppold….
From Cattle Drives to Cold Storage: How Kansas City Became a Meatpacking Powerhouse
The Midwest’s Industrial Shift After the Civil War Between the end of the Civil War and the conclusion of World War II, the American Midwest experienced one of the most…
Robert Thomas and the Birth of the Farmer’s Almanac
…it more explicitly to tradition—something deeply valued in American agriculture. A Lasting Agricultural Legacy Robert Thomas’s work represents more than just a publication. It reflects the early American spirit of…
St. Louis: Gateway to America’s Agricultural Expansion
The River City That Shaped American Agriculture “I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute…” The importance of St. Louis when looking at the history of American agriculture cannot…
Missouri’s Early Agricultural Roots: River Commerce and Opportunity
…edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights how geography, migration, and commerce shaped Missouri’s early agricultural identity. Agriculture in Late 18th and Early 19th Century Missouri During…
Stephanie Moreda-Arend Warns Point Reyes Dairy Families Are Being Forced Off Generational Land
…the very farms that produce local, organic food. As Moreda-Arend put it, protecting small family dairies isn’t just about one region — it’s about preserving the backbone of American agriculture….
The Missouri River: The Longest River in America and Its Agricultural Legacy
When most Americans think of the longest river in the United States, they immediately name the Mississippi. But that distinction actually belongs to the Missouri River — a powerful and…
Michigan’s Rise: Mining, Farming & Autos (1855–1908)
…important pillars of Michigan’s economy during this period. Vast forests supplied timber for construction and industry, fueling local growth and national expansion. At the same time, fertile farmland supported a…
Luther Burbank and the Potato That Changed Agriculture
A Lasting Figure in U.S. Agricultural History Luther Burbank holds a respected place in American agriculture history for his extraordinary contributions to plant development and crop improvement. As highlighted by…
Leo Burnett and the Birth of the Jolly Green Giant
Mark Oppold with An American Agriculture History Minute highlights a surprising and influential chapter in U.S. agricultural and marketing history—one that connects food production, consumer tastes, and one of the…
Record Pistachio Crop, Global Demand, and California’s Water Reality
Rich Kreps on Pistachios, Policy, and the Path Forward American pistachio grower and industry leader Rich Kreps joined Ag Meter for a wide-ranging conversation that covered everything from a record…
How 19th-Century Technology Transformed Corn and Wheat Farming
Labor, Land, and Innovation: How 19th-Century Farming Became More Efficient American agriculture in the 19th century underwent a profound transformation as new tools and techniques reshaped how crops were planted,…
World Ag Expo Week Begins as John Duarte Talks Almond Innovation, Water, and California’s Future
…expanded beyond almonds into water policy, where Duarte was especially blunt. He criticized decades of mismanagement that have forced productive farmland out of production while surface water flows are sent…
Michigan’s Early Path to Statehood: From the Northwest Territory to Michigan Territory
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute, and the history of the state of Michigan is an interesting one. Long before Michigan became a state, its land passed…