…but quickly encountered a harsh and unforgiving environment. At the time, much of the region was labeled the “Great American Desert,” a term used to describe the dry, unpredictable conditions…
Cesar Chavez Controversy & Immigration Reform Shake Agriculture
…rest of the story.” He pointed to historical accounts and interviews from farmworkers alleging intimidation, retaliation, and coercion during the height of union activity. According to Cunha, these stories include:…
Fire Ant Control Timing Critical for Protecting Almond Yields
…understanding both the impact of infestations and the timing of control measures is essential for protecting yields. Mays noted that the effects of fire ant feeding can escalate quickly under…
Manuel Cunha Discusses Cesar Chavez Controversy and Labor Challenges Facing California Agriculture
…agriculture being treated as a priority issue rather than a political one. As discussed on the show, food production impacts every American, and policies affecting farmers and ranchers have far-reaching…
From Soldiers to Sodbusters: How Union Veterans Settled Kansas
At the close of the Civil War, a new chapter in American agriculture began across the Kansas prairie. Through government homestead programs, Union Army veterans were offered land as an…
From Mail-Order Roots to Rural Retail Giant: Tractor Supply’s Rise
A Humble Beginning in 1938 American agriculture has always depended on innovation—not just in the field, but in how farmers access the tools they need. In 1938, Charles E. Schmidt…
California Cattle Under Pressure: Katie Roberti Speaks Out
…Roberti delivers one of the most honest and insightful conversations about California cattle today. 👉 If you care about where your food comes from—or the future of American agriculture—this is…
From Failed Crops to the Wheat State: Early Kansas Agriculture
…laid the foundation for Kansas’s enduring identity as a wheat powerhouse — a legacy that continues to shape American agriculture today. I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute….
Daniel Morgan Boone and the Struggle of Early Kansas Farming
…Native American communities already living in the region. Language barriers and cultural differences made cooperation difficult in many cases. These challenges complicated the transfer of knowledge and slowed the development…
Ellis-Chalmers: Steam Power and the Machinery Behind Early American Agriculture
Reviving a Bankrupt Manufacturing Company American agriculture has long been tied to machinery innovation, and one small but important story in that history begins in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the mid-19th…
Inside Agriculture’s Turning Point: Mike Johanns on Policy, Profitability, and the Future
Mike Johanns American agriculture is at a crossroads—and few voices carry more insight than former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the former Nebraska governor, and now he’s the chairman of Ag…
Fire Ant Control and Farm Policy Take Center Stage; Mike Johanns Shares Insight for Growers
…American farmers risk losing ground to countries that are rapidly increasing production and investment. For California growers, the episode highlighted a clear theme: success in today’s environment requires both strong…
Colonial Fur Trade and Wheat Demand Shaped Early American Farming
…international markets. In the early 1700s, demand from Europe for both natural resources and food helped drive economic growth across several regions of the American colonies. From the booming fur…
Early American Farmers and the Cycle of Moving West
American agriculture has always been shaped by the land—and by how farmers chose to use it. In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, agricultural broadcaster Mark Oppold highlights the work of…