…of mountain grazing areas entirely, making it impossible to sustain operations that have relied on that land for generations. That decision ripples outward — reducing county revenue, increasing wildfire risk…
How Mechanization Transformed Corn Farming in America
…In this American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold outlines how corn production efficiency evolved between 1850 and 1930—revealing how fewer labor hours and less land dramatically increased productivity. Corn Production…
California Cattle Challenges & Opportunities: Insights from Rick Roberti
Rick Roberti President, California Cattlemen’s Association California Cattle Industry Faces Unprecedented Challenges California ranchers are navigating a complex landscape of predation, water management, urban expansion, and political pressures. Rick Roberti,…
Sonoma County Agriculture: Challenges, Advocacy, and Community Engagement
…shared an inside look at local farming, advocacy, and community outreach, highlighting the complex landscape facing producers today. Battling Regulations and Activist Pressure Ghirardelli described ongoing challenges in the county,…
America’s 1870s Agricultural Revolution
…their land. Innovations That Transformed Farming Several innovations during the 1870s permanently changed the agricultural landscape. Silos were introduced for the first time, allowing farmers to store larger quantities of…
Colorado Agriculture: Mining, Railroads, and Early Farms
AI image created by ChatGPT Early Challenges for Colorado Settlers Colorado’s agricultural story began with significant obstacles. Early settlers crossing what is now Nebraska and Kansas encountered land that seemed…
California Raisins in Trouble: Kalem Barserian Warns the Industry Is Shrinking Fast
…land near 180,000 tons, which means if sales don’t increase, surplus inventory will keep growing and prices to growers will stay weak. Barserian also emphasized how rapidly raisin grape acreage…
Kalem Barserian Sounds the Alarm on the Future of California Raisins
…increased competition for shelf space in grocery stores. Despite lower global production—down roughly 21 percent year over year—sales have not kept pace. California production is expected to land near 180,000…
Colorado’s Agricultural Turning Point
AI image created by ChatGPT As settlers moved westward across the Appalachian Mountains, many found fertile land and favorable farming conditions in states such as Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa….
From Wagons to Pickups: The Evolution of Farm Transportation
…of American agriculture, two-wheel carts were sufficient for settlers managing small plots of land. These simple carts allowed farmers to carry essential supplies and harvests with minimal effort. The Rise…
Why California Agriculture Is Losing Ground Despite Feeding the World
…of production to other countries. He pointed to Peru as a growing competitor, where land, labor, and regulatory costs are far lower—and where infrastructure gaps no longer exist. International investment,…
Soil Health, Water, and the Future of Farming With Live Earth
Russell Taylor of Live Earth How Humates Are Helping Farmers Improve Efficiency in a Changing Regulatory Landscape As soil health, water efficiency, and input costs continue to dominate conversations across…
Bonanza Farms: How Railroads Transformed Wheat Production in America
…profits, making it difficult for bonanza farms to survive. The Return to Family Farms As profitability declined, many bonanza farms were divided and sold. Large tracts of land were broken…
Margaret Mims on Leadership, Water, and Why She’s Running for Fresno County Supervisor
…“So many of the decisions that affect farming — land use, water, infrastructure, public safety — are made at the county level,” she said. “If you want to protect agriculture,…