…in the field,” he said. “That’s the kind of innovation I can get behind.” Wetli, who grew up on a corn and soybean farm near Purdue University, said he’s seen firsthand…
Early American Farmers and the Lost Art of Soil Stewardship
…the same respect and sustainability that define modern agriculture. Today’s producers take pride in soil conservation practices, using science-based management to maintain soil fertility for generations to come. But historical…
Inside FIRA USA 2025: California’s AgTech Future
…and Workforce Innovation Turning to FIRA USA, Johnson described the event as a showcase of cutting-edge agricultural automation—technology she jokingly referred to as “fun toys,” though she emphasized their serious…
California Table Grapes: A Strong, High-Quality Season
…year demands renewed effort, innovation, and market development to maintain California’s global leadership. Innovation and New Varieties Shaping the Future Nick reflected on how dramatically the industry has changed. Once…
Ian LeMay Shares California Table Grape Success Story Amid Global Competition
…in both innovation and consistency. “We’re growing more than 80 varieties of table grapes now,” LeMay said. “Since 1982, the Commission has partnered with the USDA to bring new, longer-lasting,…
How Settlers Transformed the Heart of American Agriculture
…prairie into productive farmland. This challenge directly inspired one of the most important innovations in agricultural history: the creation of the steel plow. Designed to slice cleanly through the dense…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
…remain stagnant, and producers have little room for financial risk. Yet innovation is not optional. Farmers, he said, face the constant pressure to innovate or die. But innovation doesn’t always…
From Barley to Cotton: How America’s Early Crops Shaped Agriculture
…across the South, the evolution of early American farming reveals how adaptability, innovation, and cultural exchange defined the nation’s agricultural roots. The lessons passed down from Native Americans and the…
Edward Ring on California’s Water Crisis: Fixing a Broken System
…clear: California’s prosperity depends on restoring balance — between environment and economy, between regulation and innovation, and between perception and reality. Political Reality and Policy Gridlock in California In a…
AI and Automation Drive Florida’s AgTech Revolution
Innovation and Collaboration Take Center Stage at FIRA 2025 Nathan Boyd (left) with Nick Papagni “the Ag Meter” at FIRA At the FIRA 2025 Agricultural Robotics Expo in Woodland, California,…
Don Wagner on Restoring Integrity, Water, and Common Sense to California
…in Hella Hydrants—specialized fire hydrants designed for helicopters to refill water tanks during wildfires. “It’s a simple but powerful innovation,” Wagner said. “We used the lesson from LA to make…
How Early Farmers Learned to Protect Their Soil
…and respect. Their evolving understanding laid the groundwork for future advances in agricultural science and conservation policy. This early awareness of soil health set the stage for generations of innovation…
Don Wagner Calls for Common Sense in Sacramento: Ag, Water, and the Future of California
…faster during wildfires. That’s the kind of practical, local innovation California needs more of.” When asked about the upcoming Proposition 50, Wagner warned that the measure could silence rural California….
Electrostatic Spraying: On Target’s AgTech Revolution
On Target Spray Systems: Revolutionizing Agriculture with Electrostatic Technology Willie Hartman (left) with the Ag Meter at FIRA At FIRA 2025 in Woodland, California, agricultural innovation took the spotlight as…