…former National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president, to discuss Argentina trade tensions, beef pricing, and the high stakes of Proposition 50. Kester joined from his family ranch in Parkfield, California,…
Building the Future of Ag Education at Merced College
…beacon for agricultural innovation and workforce development. Dean Cody Jacobsen, who oversees the Agriculture and Industrial Technology Division, brings a unique perspective to the role — part educator, part farmer,…
Merced College Dean Cody Jacobson Champions the Future of California Ag Education
The October 30 edition of the AgNet News Hour spotlighted one of the most promising voices in California’s agricultural education — Cody Jacobson, Dean of Agriculture and Industrial Technology at…
How Draft Horses Powered American Farming
…and powering early equipment. These animals were essential to agricultural productivity, but as machinery advanced during the 1850s and 1860s, farmers quickly discovered the limits of their existing livestock. Oxen,…
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
…animals, which could then be sold at a profit, creating a more diversified and sustainable system. This shift not only helped stabilize farm incomes but also reshaped the agricultural landscape…
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
…updates on the Argentine beef dispute. The hosts replayed comments from Ethan Lane of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, who discussed concerns that Argentine imports could drive down U.S. cattle…
Ag Hall of Fame: Honoring U.S. Agricultural Pioneers
…for his pioneering agricultural research and promotion of crop rotation. Thomas Jefferson, a visionary farmer and advocate for agricultural education. George Washington, who emphasized farming as the foundation of national…
Building the Future of Farming: Insights from UC ANR’s Gabe Youtsey at FIRA USA 2025
Gabe Youtsey California agriculture sits at the center of both national food security and global innovation. At FIRA USA 2025, Ag Meter sat down with Gabe Youtsey of UC Agriculture…
From Citrus Greening to Ag Robotics: California Faces the Future of Farming
…said. “If we lose the ability to produce our own food, we lose part of our national identity.” He also emphasized that farmers remain the best environmental stewards. “They’re not…
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
…precedent for agricultural innovation that endures to this day. Early Silo Designs: Brick, Wood, and Cement Hatch’s design was both simple and brilliant. He constructed a rounded silo from brick…
Beef Plan, Spray Tech, and AI: California Ag Eyes Relief and Reinvention
…state’s defining challenge. Boyd said UF is investing heavily in agricultural AI—building an applied AI center with new state and federal support—and scouting technologies that can retrofit existing equipment, target…
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
…old granary. Image by veloliza/DepositPhotos Surplus Grain Sparks Innovation In the mid-1800s, America’s agricultural landscape was changing rapidly. As grain production soared, farmers across the Midwest began facing an unexpected…
GUSS: Transforming Orchard Spraying Through Autonomy and Innovation
…that’s rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about names in agricultural automation. Thompson’s journey began far from Silicon Valley’s tech scene. Raised in Arizona’s dairy industry, he learned early about…
The Birth of the FFA Blue Jacket: A Proud Tradition Since 1933
Courtesy of National FFA Organization The Beginning of a National Legacy I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The history of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) is…