…were able to bring life to otherwise barren land. This innovation transformed agriculture in Colorado. What was once considered unsuitable for farming became highly productive, setting the stage for rapid…
From Soldiers to Sodbusters: How Union Veterans Settled Kansas
At the close of the Civil War, a new chapter in American agriculture began across the Kansas prairie. Through government homestead programs, Union Army veterans were offered land as an…
California Cattle Industry Faces Predator and Policy Challenges; Katie Roberti Continues Conversation on Wolves and Ranching
…the importance of agriculture in managing land, reducing wildfire risk, and supporting rural communities. Grazing, once criticized, is now being recognized as a valuable tool for maintaining healthy landscapes. The…
California Cattle Under Pressure: Katie Roberti Speaks Out
…many in agriculture, her roots run deep—built on hard work, family, and a connection to the land. Through programs like 4-H, she developed leadership skills early on, eventually finding her…
California Cattle Industry Faces Growing Pressure; Katie Roberti Discusses Wolves, Water, and Policy Challenges
…evolving landscape. One of the most pressing issues discussed was the rapid expansion of wolf populations in Northern California. While wolves have been present for over a decade, recent activity…
From Failed Crops to the Wheat State: Early Kansas Agriculture
Settlement and the Promise of Kansas Farmland Early agriculture in the state of Kansas was not always successful. When Kansas was opened to settlement in 1854, waves of settlers began…
Daniel Morgan Boone and the Struggle of Early Kansas Farming
…some of the most productive farmland in America initially posed major challenges for early settlers trying to build farms and communities. The unfamiliar landscape, harsh climate, and isolation of frontier…
Mike Johanns Talks Farm Profitability, Policy, and the Future of California Agriculture
…land ultimately comes down to whether operations can remain financially viable. Without profitability, he noted, it becomes increasingly difficult for the next generation to continue farming, even for those who…
Early American Farmers and the Cycle of Moving West
American agriculture has always been shaped by the land—and by how farmers chose to use it. In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, agricultural broadcaster Mark Oppold highlights the work of…
From Water Challenges to Agave Innovation: The Woolf Farming Story
…make difficult decisions about what land to farm and what to leave idle. Even in years with promising snowpack, uncertainty around water delivery limits planning and production. This challenge has…
Agave Opportunity Grows in California; Wolf Family Pushes Innovation Amid Water Challenges
…limited water allocations—currently around 15 percent. That uncertainty is forcing farmers to rethink how they use their land and what crops can realistically be sustained in the future. For Stuart…
The Hard Lessons of the Great Plains: Early Settler Struggles
Early Settlers vs. Harsh Realities The promise of the Great Plains as fertile, open land for farming drew many settlers westward in the 19th century. However, as Mark Oppold highlights…
Agave Innovation on the West Side; Stuart Wolf and Family Look Toward Farming’s Future
…biggest issue. With federal water allocations recently announced at 15 percent, growers across the region are once again facing uncertainty about how much land they can farm this season. Wolf…
The Homestead Act: How Free Land Transformed North American Agriculture
…acres of federal land. In exchange, settlers had to live on the property, build a dwelling, and improve the land through farming or other development. After meeting these requirements for…