…California shipped about 320,000 tons of raisins. Last season, that total fell to around 170,000 tons—nearly cut in half in less than a decade. Production this year is expected to…
How the Wealthy Apple Put Minnesota on the Orchard Map
…common belief: the state’s short growing season and harsh climate made apple production impractical, if not impossible. Early settlers and horticulturists struggled to find fruit varieties that could withstand Minnesota’s…
Kalem Barserian Sounds the Alarm on the Future of California Raisins
…increased competition for shelf space in grocery stores. Despite lower global production—down roughly 21 percent year over year—sales have not kept pace. California production is expected to land near 180,000…
Anna Baldwin and the First Milking Machine
AI image created by ChatGPT American agriculture has been shaped by countless innovators whose ideas laid the groundwork for modern farming. One such pioneer is Anna Baldwin, a largely overlooked…
California Pears vs. Argentina Imports: Chris Zanobini Sounds the Alarm on a Market Under Pressure
…pear industry is fighting for survival. Zanobini explained that California’s pear industry is relatively small, with only about 60 growers remaining—many of them fifth- and sixth-generation family farmers. Pear orchards…
Colorado’s Agricultural Turning Point
AI image created by ChatGPT As settlers moved westward across the Appalachian Mountains, many found fertile land and favorable farming conditions in states such as Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa….
California Pear Growers Sound the Alarm on Argentine Imports
…before production shifts north to Oregon and Washington. However, pears from Argentina—harvested in December and January—are now arriving in the U.S. well into the summer months. In recent seasons, heavy…
From Wagons to Pickups: The Evolution of Farm Transportation
…mechanized farm transportation. This innovation set the stage for the widespread adoption of motorized trucks on farms. Modern Farm Trucks Since the introduction of the Auto Wagon, farm trucks of…
Why California Agriculture Is Losing Ground Despite Feeding the World
…most pressing questions in American agriculture: why is California, the nation’s top agricultural producer, struggling to protect its farming industry? Mason, who farms in Indiana and Arizona and frequently works…
How Soybeans Became America’s Leading Crop
…during the war effort. From 3% to 76%: U.S. Share of World Production Between 1930 and 1942, America’s share of global soybean production jumped from a mere 3% to 47%….
Soil Health, Water, and the Future of Farming With Live Earth
…can still be made productive with the right tools. That’s where soil amendments like humates continue to fit. A Farmer-Focused Approach Taylor, a family farmer himself and the 2023 National…
California’s Budget Boom, Soil Solutions, and a Major Malaysia Trade Deal for U.S. Ag
The January 19 episode of the AgNet News Hour kicked off with plenty of energy as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill mixed farm talk, policy, and global trade into…
California Farmers in Focus at Farm Bureau Convention
…Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, where Ag Meter sat down with Shannon Douglas, President of the California Farm Bureau, for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. The interview highlighted both…
Shannon Douglas on California’s Big Five: Water, Labor, Regulations, Wolves, and the Future of Farm Tech
…How do California farmers survive under this many regulations? Douglas credited that survival to the toughness of the people who farm here. “California farmers adapt, they get creative, and they…