…that the industry has changed significantly from its peak. California raisin production that once reached roughly 350,000 tons annually is now closer to 220,000 tons, while acreage has declined as…
USDA and the Birth of America’s Land-Grant Universities
…time, land-grant universities became centers for agricultural research, education and outreach. Their work helped farmers adopt new technologies, improve production practices and address changing agricultural challenges. The system expanded further…
California Figs Find New Momentum as Demand Grows
…with about 10 growers involved in production and roughly 100 participants when processors and marketers are included. Production is increasing. Caputo said approximately 6,300 tons were reported in 2025, up…
California Figs Make a Comeback as Growers Respond to Rising Demand
…countries. But Caputo said California’s production standards, farming practices and generations of experience distinguish the state’s crop in the global marketplace. Availability may actually be one of the industry’s biggest…
Land-Grant Universities Transform American Agriculture
…generations of farmers and agricultural professionals adopt new knowledge, technologies, and production practices. Not Every Land-Grant University Was an Agricultural School While agriculture was a central purpose of the land-grant…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor and the Future of West Side Farming
…and a Difficult Melon Market An unusually warm March pushed Del Bosque Farms into melon production early, allowing the operation to begin harvesting in mid-June. However, later production from other…
Joe Del Bosque: California Farming Faces a Critical Future
…of managing technology, regulations and sophisticated production systems. Water Remains the Biggest Challenge Water is another major focus. Del Bosque discusses the potential impacts of SGMA and the importance of…
Shorthorn Cattle Helped Build Early American Agriculture
…milestone in the development of American livestock production, as farmers sought animals that could perform multiple roles on family farms. A True Multi-Purpose Farm Animal Unlike many modern cattle breeds…
Joe Del Bosque on Farming the West Side: Water, Labor and Resilience
…melons, along with organic processing tomatoes and almonds. But farming those crops has become increasingly difficult. Early warm weather pushed the melon harvest into June, but later production caught up,…
Why Chickens Were the Backbone of Early American Farms
…frontier life while still benefiting from a dependable source of food and income. Backyard Chickens Make a Modern Comeback Although commercial poultry production has transformed the industry over the past…
Mid-1840s Iowa Farms: How Corn Created the Tall Corn State
…family lived The landscape reflected the realities of frontier agriculture, where farmers relied on hard work, livestock, and diversified production to support their households. The Rise of Corn Farming Only…
Business Leader Kyle Kirkland Outlines Vision for California’s Future
…to protect natural resources have expanded to the point where they often discourage food production, housing construction, and energy development. Instead, Kirkland believes lawmakers should regularly evaluate regulations to determine…
Kyle Kirkland Part 2: Water Reliability and Regulatory Reform Key to California Agriculture
…said the state should evaluate whether current regulations are accomplishing their intended goals or simply creating unnecessary obstacles for food production. “There is a difference between regulation and suffocation,” he…
The Hawkeye Riding Cultivator Helped Spark America’s First Agricultural Revolution
…farmers increase production, improve efficiency, and prepare agriculture for the mechanized era that would follow in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the Hawkeye riding cultivator remains an…