…diminished, prompting farmers to become more efficient stewards of this vital resource. Western Farmers Push for Bold Water Infrastructure Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” sat down with Andrew Leimgruber, a…
Legacy Barns: A Testament to 19th Century Midwest Farming
By the mid-1800s, Midwest farm families were settling in and expanding. Once their land was cleared and crops established, many pioneers shifted their focus to building newer, larger homes. It…
Labor Crisis Still Looms Over California’s Fresh Fruit Industry
…of the most pressing issues in California agriculture: the ongoing farm labor shortage and its ties to immigration policy. Labor Crisis Still Looms Over California’s Fresh Fruit Industry Hopeful—but Realistic—Outlook…
USDA Unveils 7-Point National Farm Security Action Plan
…and domestic vulnerabilities. 1. Protecting American Farmland Ownership At the forefront of the plan is a push to prohibit foreign adversaries from purchasing U.S. farmland. Secretary Rollins emphasized the importance…
Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin Revolutionized American Agriculture
In the late 18th century, a young Massachusetts farm boy named Eli Whitney unknowingly set the stage for a major turning point in American agriculture. At just 12 years old,…
Chad Bianco: “California Is in Crisis—And Agriculture Is Paying the Price”
…AB-1156, a bill allowing solar panel development on farmland in Central California. “You’ve got to be a moron to combine solar panels and farming and think that’s okay,” he said….
California Fresh Fruit Industry Faces Crisis
…frustration over farmland being converted to solar fields due to lack of water. “Farmers don’t want to put solar on prime land—they’re forced to,” he said. He stressed that the…
AgNet News Hour: Citrus Expo Preview, USDA Snap Crackdown, and Chad Bianco’s Bold Vision for California Ag
…interview with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who’s running for Governor of California. Sheriff Bianco lays out his farmer-first agenda, takes on misguided solar development on farmland, and calls out…
California Fruit Leader Calls Out Regulations Hurting Growers
…where many politicians seem disconnected from the day-to-day realities of farming. “Asinine” Regulations Driving Up Costs Hartwig didn’t hold back in his response. “When you look at some of the…
AgNet News Hour Thursday, 07-10-25
…1156, which allows pauses on the Williamson Act and enables the conversion of ag land to solar farms. Hilton calls it “heartbreaking,” emphasizing that farmland in California, especially the Central…
Farming Innovation and Rural Sustainability: Inside The Reservoir
…on innovation and sustainability. The conversation spotlighted how this venture is working to reshape farming for long-term viability—both economically and environmentally. Farming Innovation and Rural Sustainability: Inside the Reservoir Reducing…
AgNet News Hour Wednesday, 07-09-25
…the nation. From Washington D.C. to the fields of Salinas and the Central Valley, this episode covers some of the most urgent and transformative issues impacting farmers today. Leading the…
Farming Isn’t Easy—But It’s a Story Worth Telling
Imperial Valley farmer Andrew Leimgruber recently spoke with Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” about the increasing challenges faced by producers and the importance of telling agriculture’s true story. Farming Isn’t…
Immigration Plan Proposed to Keep Undocumented Farm Workers
President Donald Trump has signaled a major shift in his approach to immigration—proposing that undocumented farm workers be allowed to remain in the U.S. if their employers vouch for them….