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…
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
…ag tech is a competitiveness issue, noting that the U.S. must lead in agricultural innovation just as China and other nations accelerate their own efforts. Reframing the Public Understanding of…
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
…filled with traditions that have shaped generations of agricultural leaders. One of the most iconic symbols of that legacy—the famous blue corduroy jacket—has a story that dates back nearly a…
F3 Innovate: Powering the Central Valley’s AgTech Revolution
…agricultural future. As a nonprofit founded in the heart of California’s farming hub, F3 Innovate is focused on building the critical infrastructure for agriculture’s next era—one defined by innovation, technology,…
Van Groningen & Sons: A Century of California Farming
…Manteca, California, Van Groningen & Sons stands as a testament to over a century of agricultural dedication. Speaking with AgMeter, Bryan Van Groningen, one of the family’s current leaders, shared…
How Ralston Purina Revolutionized American Agriculture
Photo by Mark Stebnicki/Pexels image Agricultural Expansion and Innovation As America moved into the late 19th century, farming continued to evolve beyond the grain fields that once defined early agriculture….
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
…European demand with increasing success. This transition marked the beginning of a thriving export economy that would continue to shape the region’s agricultural identity for decades. Population Growth and the…