…finally gave way to endless miles of tallgrass prairie, marking the true beginning of the Great Plains. This transition would profoundly shape both the land and the lives of those…
Homestead Act and America’s Westward Expansion
…to the Mississippi River, marking a major milestone in the nation’s expansion. At its heart stood St. Louis, Missouri—the largest town on the frontier and a hub for trade and…
The Rise of Plantation Agriculture in Early America
…historian Mark Oppold explores how plantations transformed the nation’s economy, society, and agricultural identity—from the first tobacco crops to the rise of cotton cultivation in the 19th century. The Birth…
How Radio Transformed American Agriculture History
…shipments more effectively, aligning their operations with real-time market information — something previously unimaginable in isolated farm regions. Radio’s Rapid Expansion and USDA Market Reports By 1922, just one year…
From Barley to Cotton: How America’s Early Crops Shaped Agriculture
…challenges unlike anything they had known in England. According to Mark Oppold in American Agriculture History Minute, these settlers initially relied on the seeds they brought from their homeland—planting barley…
Ethnic Roots of Early American Agriculture
…to a distinctly American way of life — one grounded in hard work, adaptability, and respect for the land. Ethnic Roots of Early American Agriculture I’m Mark Oppold, with an…
Westward Expansion: The Harsh Beginnings of America’s Frontier Farmers
…farms, towns, and industries that would later shape the nation’s growth. Westward Expansion: The Harsh Beginnings of America’s Frontier Farmers I’m Mark Oppold, with an American Agriculture History Minute. Sponsored…
How Early Farmers Learned to Protect Their Soil
…As Mark Oppold explains in this American Agriculture History Minute, early settlers “tended to be careless with the use and care of their soil.” With the seemingly endless frontier before…
Farming the Frontier: How Early Settlers Built America
…hopes for a new beginning but also the foundation of American agriculture. This westward migration marked a period of great expansion, where families carved out farms from untamed land and…
Electrostatic Spraying: On Target’s AgTech Revolution
…spraying at scale in the agricultural market. Its loyal customer base continues to grow as more producers see tangible improvements in efficiency and performance. Try Before You Buy: A Hands-On…
Pioneering the Midwest: How Settlers Turned Iowa’s Prairies into Farmland
…the forests and prairies of the Midwest were transformed into plowed fields, marking the beginning of a powerful agricultural tradition that would feed generations to come. Iowa: Where Forest Meets…
Westward Expansion Transforms 1850s American Farming
…Mississippi River in search of new land and opportunity. Families journeyed to Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, transforming the frontier into fertile farmland. This expansion marked a turning point in…
How Draft Horses Powered American Farming
…American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold. How Draft Horses Powered American Farming Sponsored Content Let’s Talk Livestock Risk Protection For Those Beef On Dairy Animals – Matt Ramsey November…
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
…wheat than ever before. Fields that once held diverse crops were converted to wheat production in hopes of capturing the booming wartime market. However, the prosperity didn’t last. The Post-War…