…accurate corn planting, a critical factor in maximizing yields and reducing wasted seed. The solution came through an innovative partnership that would leave a lasting mark on agricultural history. Recognizing…
California Trucking, Fuel Costs, and Agriculture’s Future: What Mark Woods and Ellington Smith Want Farmers to Know
Ellington Smith (left) and Mark Woods (right) California’s farmers and truckers are facing some of the toughest economic conditions in decades. Rising fuel prices, increasing insurance costs, growing regulations, and…
California Trucking Industry Grapples with Rising Fuel Costs and Regulatory Pressure
…News Hour. During the program, Wildwood Trucking owner Mark Woods discussed the difficult business environment facing transportation companies that play a critical role in moving California’s agricultural products across the…
The California Trail and America’s Agricultural Expansion West
…explained by agricultural historian Mark Oppold, many early pioneers initially stopped along the Missouri River and settled in areas that are now part of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. These regions…
International Harvester: The Company That Helped Mechanize American Agriculture
…company quickly expanded its influence beyond domestic markets, building an international presence that helped spread American agricultural technology globally. Revolutionizing American Farming In the early 20th century, American agriculture was…
Trails to the West: The Hidden Routes That Shaped American Agriculture
…farmland, opportunity, gold, and a new life. However, according to agricultural historian Mark Oppold, these well-known trails were only part of a much larger transportation network that played a critical…
Popcorn’s Remarkable Journey Through American Agricultural History
…to becoming an affordable staple during the Great Depression, popcorn has played an important role in both farming and food culture across generations. According to agricultural historian Mark Oppold, popcorn’s…
Oregon Trail Helped Shape American Agriculture
…thousands of settlers seeking farmland, opportunity, and a new life in the American West. As highlighted by agricultural historian Mark Oppold in this edition of American Agriculture History Minute, the…
Sweet Beginnings: How Candy in America Grew from Colonial Agriculture
…many other industries that became part of everyday American life — including candy-making. According to historian Mark Oppold in today’s American Agriculture History Minute, the roots of candy in America…
The Ohio River: A Lifeline in American Agriculture History
…River near Cairo, the Ohio River remains one of the most important waterways in the United States. As highlighted by agricultural historian Mark Oppold in his American Agriculture History Minute,…
Buried Treasure in an Iowa Cornfield: Farmer Unearths Rare 1850s Silver Coins
…American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold, Iowa farmer Robert Ellis made a discovery that stunned historians, collectors, and treasure hunters alike. While plowing a field near the Missouri River…
The Colorado River: Lifeline of the American West
…more than a scenic natural wonder — it is one of the most important water sources in North America. According to American Agriculture History Minute host Mark Oppold, the Colorado…
When Rural America Waited for Power
…A Turning Point in American Agriculture Rural electrification marked one of the most significant transformations in American agricultural history. Access to dependable electric power helped modernize farms, strengthen rural economies,…
How Franklin Roosevelt Helped Bring Electricity to Rural America
…communities still relied on kerosene lamps, wood stoves, and hand-pumped water systems. According to historian and broadcaster Mark Oppold in this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, the push…