…Michigan as a national leader in both agriculture and manufacturing. Mining Discoveries Spark Economic Growth The mid-to-late 19th century marked a turning point for Michigan, particularly in the Upper Peninsula….
Luther Burbank and the Potato That Changed Agriculture
…Mark Oppold in an American Agriculture History Minute, Burbank’s work reshaped farming and horticulture in the United States, leaving a legacy that continues to influence agriculture today. From Limited Schooling…
Leo Burnett and the Birth of the Jolly Green Giant
Mark Oppold with An American Agriculture History Minute highlights a surprising and influential chapter in U.S. agricultural and marketing history—one that connects food production, consumer tastes, and one of the…
How 19th-Century Technology Transformed Corn and Wheat Farming
…History Minute, presented by Mark Oppold. Sponsored Content Let’s Talk Livestock Risk Protection For Those Beef On Dairy Animals – Matt Ramsey November 4, 2025 CIR Agriculture Harvester Products November…
Michigan’s Early Path to Statehood: From the Northwest Territory to Michigan Territory
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute, and the history of the state of Michigan is an interesting one. Long before Michigan became a state, its land passed…
Michigan Agriculture: A National Leader in Diversity, Cherries, and Innovation
…leadership in fruit farming. Michigan cherries are used in everything from juices and dried fruit to baked goods and specialty food products, supplying both domestic and international markets. Top Rankings…
John Holmes and the Birth of Agricultural Education
…on improving agricultural practices and promoting education, marking a major step toward institutional support for farming in Michigan. Founding the Agricultural College Building on this progress, John Holmes went on…
Early Innovations That Transformed American Agriculture
…and varied widely in quality and effectiveness. Farming during this period was labor-intensive, limited in scale, and largely focused on meeting immediate needs rather than producing surplus for broader markets….
When American Farming Shifted From Hand Power to Horsepower
…1862–1875 Between 1862 and 1875, American agriculture entered a pivotal transition period. This era marked a decisive move away from hand power and toward horse-drawn and early mechanical technology, fundamentally…
How Minneapolis Mills Produced Nearly All of the Nation’s Flour
…food system. As Mark Oppold explains in this American Agriculture History Minute, the state—driven by milling giants in Minneapolis—became the flour capital of the United States, producing nearly all of…
How Mechanization Transformed Corn Farming in America
…In this American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold outlines how corn production efficiency evolved between 1850 and 1930—revealing how fewer labor hours and less land dramatically increased productivity. Corn Production…
Colorado Agriculture: Mining, Railroads, and Early Farms
…nearly worthless. “After a long dry trek, they saw little or no value when crossing over to what is now Colorado,” explains Mark Oppold in American Agriculture History Minute. The…
Anna Baldwin and the First Milking Machine
…but critically important figure in dairy history. As highlighted by Mark Oppold in this American Agriculture History Minute, Baldwin’s work represents a turning point in how milk production was imagined…
Colorado’s Agricultural Turning Point
…to national markets, making it easier to transport crops, livestock, and supplies. Improved transportation helped agriculture gain a foothold and encouraged long-term settlement. Building Agricultural Institutions With new growth came…