…farmer from Laton, California, has spent decades in the dairy business while also helping guide policy and strategy at the national level. Through his role with DFA—the largest dairy cooperative…
America’s Westward Expansion and the Transformation of Agriculture
…its value. This process became a pattern repeated across generations. A farmer would: Purchase inexpensive frontier land Clear timber and prepare fields Build a farmhouse and outbuildings Cultivate crops and…
Cannon Michael Highlights Farming Challenges; USDA’s Luke Lindberg Talks Trade Gains
…American producers. Michael, a sixth-generation California farmer, spoke candidly about the difficult conditions growers are facing as the 2026 season begins. Bowles Farming Company farms more than 11,000 acres between…
Six Generations of Farming: Cannon Michael on Water, Innovation, and the Future of California Agriculture
…In a recent interview, Cannon Michael, president and CEO of Bowles Farming Company near Los Banos, shared insights into his family’s six-generation farming legacy, the realities of farming on California’s…
Ethnicity’s Role in Early American Agriculture
…— hallmarks of German-American farm management. Keeping the Farm in the Family German-Americans also demonstrated a strong cultural commitment to maintaining family farms across generations. There was a long-term tendency…
Cannon Michael Warns West Side Farmers Face Major Challenges with 15% Water Allocation
…farmers on the west side of California’s Central Valley. Speaking with hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill, Michael discussed water allocations, rising regulatory pressure, and the long-term future of farming…
Fertilizer: The Overlooked Revolution in American Agriculture
…farming, producers were observing nature and learning through experience. It took farmers hundreds of years to put two and two together and recognize a simple but powerful truth: manure from…
Steve Hilton Lays Out Plan to Revive California Agriculture, Energy, and Water Policy
…farms out of the state. Hilton argued that California’s biggest problem is excessive government spending combined with overregulation. According to him, the state budget has nearly doubled in recent years,…
Steve Hilton: “Help Is on the Way” for California Agriculture
California is at a crossroads — and according to gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, the state’s farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and energy producers are carrying the heaviest burden. In a wide-ranging interview,…
Stephanie Nash: From California to Tennessee, Fighting for American Agriculture
…family’s legacy into a modern, diversified farm operation—while using her voice to defend an industry too often on the defense. In this interview, Stephanie shares her journey from California’s Central…
Stephanie Nash Advocates for Farmers and the Next Generation of Agriculture Leaders
…to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Nash to discuss her journey from California’s Central Valley to Tennessee and her growing role…
Sharing Knowledge on the Frontier: Early Agricultural Extension in America
…the latest farming practices. This system helped bridge the gap between formal research and everyday farm life, spreading innovations in soil management, crop cultivation, and livestock care. Pioneers of Agricultural…
Dave Roberts Says California Farmers Are Being Squeezed From Every Direction
…welcomed Dave Roberts of R7 Enterprises, a diversified grower in Woodlake farming cherries, citrus, lemons, pomegranates, Asian pears, avocados, and more. His message was clear: California farmers are doing everything…
R7 Enterprises: Dave Roberts on Water, Lemons & California’s Farming Future
…of R7 Enterprises shared what it really takes to survive in California agriculture today — and why the future of farming in the Golden State hangs in the balance. A…