Early Settlers vs. Harsh Realities The promise of the Great Plains as fertile, open land for farming drew many settlers westward in the 19th century. However, as Mark Oppold highlights…
Marietta and the Birth of America’s Northwest Frontier
…that would sustain both local communities and growing markets. Marietta became a model for organized westward settlement under the Northwest Ordinance, a landmark policy that established how territories could transition…
America’s Westward Expansion and the Transformation of Agriculture
…to distant markets. Together, land expansion and transportation innovation created unprecedented opportunities for American agriculture. Cheap, Fertile Land — At a Cost For ambitious farmers, the expanding frontier offered a…
Ethnicity’s Role in Early American Agriculture
…American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights how German-Americans, Scottish settlers, and Irish immigrants each contributed uniquely to the agricultural foundation of the United States. German-American Agricultural Traditions German-Americans brought…
640 Acres and a Fresh Start: Early Tennessee Land Grants
…the United States. 640 Acres and a Fresh Start: Early Tennessee Land Grants Today’s American Agriculture History Minute. I’m Mark Oppold. Sponsored Content CIR Agriculture Harvester Products March 1, 2026…
Sharing Knowledge on the Frontier: Early Agricultural Extension in America
…one vital resource—their neighbors. Learning from Those Around You As Mark Oppold notes in his American Agriculture History Minute, “Early settlers relied on friends and close neighbors for information on…
St. Genevieve: Early French Farming on the Mississippi
…American Agriculture History Minute. I’m Mark Oppold. Sponsored Content CIR Agriculture Harvester Products March 1, 2026 Let’s Talk Livestock Risk Protection For Those Beef On Dairy Animals – Matt Ramsey…
Missouri’s Mule Legacy in American Agriculture
…small group of traders and feeders, raising and marketing mules provided a full-time livelihood. These individuals specialized in breeding, feeding, and preparing animals for sale in regional and national markets….
Missouri’s Deep Agricultural Roots: From French Settlers to Today
…history in Missouri—it is a living, enduring foundation of the state’s identity. Missouri’s Deep Agricultural Roots: From French Settlers to Today That’s today’s American Agriculture History Minute. I’m Mark Oppold….
John Deere Showcases New 25-HP Compact Tractor at World Ag Expo
At this year’s World Ag Expo, John Deere highlighted new equipment designed to make life easier for California farmers—especially those managing smaller properties or needing versatile support equipment. Mark Davey,…
California Freight in Crisis: Wildwood Express on the Pressures Facing Trucking and Agriculture
…with Wildwood Express For those wanting to learn more or seek guidance, Mark Woods and Jose Nunez are available via email at markjr@wildwoodex.com and jose@wildwoodex.com. Based in Kingsburg, California, Wildwood…
Freight Crisis Deepens as California Trucking Companies Warn of Industry Collapse
…Mark Woods and Jose Nunez of Wildwood Express. Their message was urgent: without meaningful policy changes, the trucking industry that agriculture depends on may not survive. Woods, who operates a…
Freight Industry Warning: California Trucking Companies Say Costs and Regulations Are Reaching a Breaking Point
…and Josh McGill devoted the program to a candid and urgent conversation with Mark Woods and Jose Nunez of Wildwood Express, who say the state’s trucking industry is approaching a…
St. Louis: Gateway to America’s Agricultural Expansion
…the commercial bridge between the expanding western frontier and established eastern markets. 1845: A Defining Year for Commerce and Communication The year 1845 marked a major milestone in St. Louis…