…supplied the West Indies with essential commodities like corn and flour. This trade helped balance the colonial economy and created early commercial links between the American colonies and international markets….
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
Photo by Tom Fisk/Pexels image America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History…
How Immigrant Farmers Shaped Early American Agriculture
…agriculture. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History Minute, ethnicity influenced how settlers worked the land, managed livestock, and produced food in the New World. Farmers from Germany,…
Ethnic Roots of American Agriculture: How Immigrants Shaped U.S. Farming
The Immigrant Influence on American Agriculture I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Ethnic Roots of American Agriculture: How Immigrants Shaped U.S. Farming Ethnic groups played a vital…
How Railroads Transformed American Agriculture
The Iron Tracks That Changed Rural America I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. How Railroads Transformed American Agriculture Railroads dramatically changed the face of agriculture and rural…
How Rural Electrification Transformed U.S. Farms
…a year later, President Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act (REA), providing low-interest federal loans to cooperatives so communities could build power lines and infrastructure. This groundbreaking policy marked the…
California Raisin Leaders on Trade, Water & Future
…raisin purchases. The Market Access Program (MAP), which has provided about $3.5 million annually since 1984 to support generic advertising of California raisins in overseas markets. Crop insurance programs administered…
Raisin Industry Legends Warn of Challenges and Chart a Path Forward
…icons of the raisin world: Kalem Barsarian, longtime president of the Raisin Bargaining Association, Dwayne Cardoza, current vice chairman of the RBA, and Mark McCormick, CEO of National Raisins. Barsarian…
California Trucking: Costs, Rules & Roadblocks
…exhaust fluid (DEF) regulations to California’s push for electric trucks, the trucking industry is facing pressure from every angle. To break down these issues, Papagni spoke with Mark Woods Jr.,…
Freight Crisis, Regulations, and the Future of Trucking in California
The September 23 edition of the AgNet News Hour zeroed in on a topic not often heard on farm radio: freight. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Mark Woods…
California Almond Harvest 2025: Prices and Yields
…state of the 2025 almond harvest. With the season well underway, farmers, processors, and marketers are assessing yields, pricing, and quality—and what these factors mean for California agriculture moving forward….
Henry A. Wallace: Innovator, Journalist, and Statesman
…left a lasting mark on American agriculture and public life. Wallace exemplified how expertise in one field—agriculture—can influence broader social and political arenas, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire….
Horsepower to Tractor Power: A Turning Point in American Agriculture
…Changed Farming Forever I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The story of American farming is filled with innovation, but one of the most transformative shifts was the…
Angus Bulls Introduced to America
…to introduce Angus cattle left an enduring mark on American agriculture. Today, Angus cattle are known for their adaptability, strong genetics, and high-quality beef, a direct testament to Grant’s foresight…