…out how misguided environmental regulations have crippled the state’s most productive farmland—transforming once-thriving communities into shadows of their former selves. Despite sacrifices made to protect species like Delta smelt, populations…
Marietta, Ohio: First Settlement of the Northwest Territory
A Landmark in Westward Expansion: 1788 and the Northwest Territory In the annals of American history, 1788 marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s westward expansion. As settlers moved beyond…
California’s Half-Billion Dollar Rodent Crisis: A Looming Threat to Tree Nut Growers
…residential areas and push into adjacent agricultural land. It’s a growing and spreading issue, one that’s exhausting both financial and labor resources. Later in the show, we hear from Roger…
How Pioneers Hunted and Preserved Food After 1776
…faced the pressing challenge of feeding themselves in an untamed land. How Pioneers Hunted and Preserved Food After 1776 Survival Through Hunting For these early settlers, hunting was not just…
Robert McCormick and the Birth of American Agricultural Innovation
McCormick’s reaper meant that families could farm more land. USDA NRCS Texas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Robert McCormick was a successful farmer in Virginia who owned a substantial 532-acre…
Heritage Roots of American Farming Communities
…promise of land and opportunity. These settlers often grouped together with people of similar cultural backgrounds, and their farming practices and traditions were carried into their new lives. English immigrants…
California Dairy in the Spotlight: Generations of Dedication and a Future of Uncertainty
…area. A third-generation dairyman, Bakker shared his journey in agriculture, managing over 6,000 cows and farming 2,000 acres with his family. His deep ties to both the land and the…
Land for Service: How Revolutionary Soldiers Were Paid in Acres
…The result was a forward-thinking offer: land in exchange for military service. Congress Offers Land for Enlistment Recognizing the need for a stronger and more committed fighting force, Congress passed…
Strawberry Volumes Rise, But Growers Still Lag Behind
…modest financial cushion. However, the rising cost of production and persistent labor shortages continue to strain growers across the board. From land acquisition and plant materials to harvesting and packing,…
New Tax Provision Eases Capital Gains Burden for Farmers
…on farmland over four installments, over four years,” said Wilfert. This offers strategic flexibility for farm owners who are looking to transfer or sell land prior to death, rather than…
Homegrown Organic: Stephen Paul on Fruit, Figs, Farming Future
…making a comeback.” While fig orchards once dotted the California landscape, much of that ground was lost to development. Still, Paul believes figs are perfectly suited for the region: “They…
How the Erie Canal Transformed Early Agricultural Trade
…carried over land—slowing the trade of animal pelts and agricultural goods. How the Erie Canal Transformed Early Agricultural Trade As time progressed, larger rowboats replaced smaller canoes. These new boats…
Wade Kirschenman on Grapes, Potatoes & Policy
…vertically integrated produce business. The company not only grows but also packs and ships its own potatoes, watermelons, and table grapes. They’ve established international markets across Asia, Australia, New Zealand,…
Nick Foglio on Hay Markets, Water Scarcity, and the Future of California Ag
…transport. Water Scarcity and Solar Land Use Debates The looming Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) deadlines—set for full enforcement by 2030—add urgency to California’s water crisis. Foglio painted a grim…