…multiple businesses, including restaurants, and understands firsthand how regulations impact payroll, compliance, and day-to-day survival. Water: Build Storage, Increase Deliveries Water remains central to California agriculture. Hilton contends the state…
Stephanie Nash Advocates for Farmers and the Next Generation of Agriculture Leaders
…in public conversations. She decided to use social media to explain what farmers actually do, debunk myths about food production, and share honest stories about life on a dairy farm….
Sharing Knowledge on the Frontier: Early Agricultural Extension in America
…The Morrill Act and the Birth of Extension Services A major turning point came with the passage of the Morrill Act in 1862. This legislation provided federal funding for the…
Dave Roberts Says California Farmers Are Being Squeezed From Every Direction
…to get better” because people depend on safe, nutritious food. For California farmers listening, the episode was more than an interview — it was a reflection of the real-world pressures…
R7 Enterprises: Dave Roberts on Water, Lemons & California’s Farming Future
…remains one of Roberts’ biggest concerns. While recent wet winters helped replenish supplies, the implementation of SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act) could permanently reshape farming in the Central Valley. Roberts…
More Than a Million Strong: How FFA Is Shaping America’s Future
…community. Members regularly volunteer at food pantries, build community gardens, support humane societies, and mentor younger students. The organization’s motto — Living to Serve — is visible in action every…
Kern Oil: Rickey Bird on California’s Energy, Community, and the Human Cost
Rickey Bird California stands at a pivotal crossroads, where energy policy, agriculture, and local economies collide. Few understand this better than Rickey Bird, director and writer of the new documentary…
Missouri’s Mule Legacy in American Agriculture
…westward expansion. They were used on western trails, where endurance and resilience were critical. Unlike horses, mules were often better suited for long, demanding journeys across rugged terrain. Their sure-footedness…
Kern Oil Documentary Highlights Human Cost of California Energy Policy
…oil is with agriculture. From fuel for tractors and irrigation pumps to freight transportation and fertilizer production, energy costs impact every step of the food supply chain. As Papagni noted,…
California Freight in Crisis: Wildwood Express on the Pressures Facing Trucking and Agriculture
California’s freight and agricultural sectors are under unprecedented strain, and few know the pressures better than Mark Woods and Jose Nunez of Wildwood Express. From skyrocketing regulations to rising equipment…
From Fresno Legend to Propane Pioneer: Lance Shebelut on Farming Smarter
…it just makes you feel better,” he said. In July’s high heat, propane pumps ran without disruption while electric systems were vulnerable to rolling brownouts — a critical factor when…
St. Louis: Gateway to America’s Agricultural Expansion
…river systems powered trade. And no city was better positioned to capitalize on that reality than St. Louis. Riverboats Ruled the 1850s By the late 1850s, railroads were just beginning…
Don’t Cut Fertility After a Tough Year
…Rogers explained that fertility decisions made this season directly impact next year’s crop. Permanent crops such as almonds, pistachios, and other tree nuts begin determining future bud development well before…
Missouri’s Early Agricultural Roots: River Commerce and Opportunity
…Tennessee. These migrants brought experience, capital, and ambition. They envisioned building commercial agricultural enterprises that would take full advantage of the region’s fertile soils and river access. Commercial Agriculture and…























