…the story behind Pappy’s success is about far more than spices and sauces—it’s about perseverance, family, and navigating the increasingly complex world of food production and small business in California….
America’s Westward Expansion and the Transformation of Agriculture
…transportation innovation, allowed farmers to scale production and reach broader markets than ever before. The cycle of buying land, improving it, and moving westward fueled both individual prosperity and national…
Cannon Michael Highlights Farming Challenges; USDA’s Luke Lindberg Talks Trade Gains
…Los Banos and Merced, producing a wide range of crops including tomatoes, melons, cotton, carrots, garlic, onions, almonds, pistachios, and specialty herbs. While diversification has helped the company remain competitive,…
Six Generations of Farming: Cannon Michael on Water, Innovation, and the Future of California Agriculture
…cattle production into a diversified farming operation. Today, Michael represents the sixth generation of his family to run the farm, which now grows a wide range of crops in the…
Ethnicity’s Role in Early American Agriculture
…often built their livelihoods around a combination of farming and livestock herding. Rather than focusing primarily on intensive crop production, these groups placed greater emphasis on raising hogs and cattle….
Cannon Michael Warns West Side Farmers Face Major Challenges with 15% Water Allocation
…melons, cotton, onions, garlic, carrots, pistachios, almonds, and herbs, along with managing hundreds of acres of wetland habitat along the Pacific Flyway. Despite the operation’s scale and diversification, water uncertainty…
Fertilizer: The Overlooked Revolution in American Agriculture
…threshing machine. The cotton gin. The moldboard plow. Each of these mechanical breakthroughs dramatically increased efficiency, productivity, and the scale of American farming. They represent visible, powerful shifts in how…
Steve Hilton Lays Out Plan to Revive California Agriculture, Energy, and Water Policy
…on imported oil while limiting domestic production. He argued that producing more energy within the state would lower costs, protect jobs, and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The same regulatory…
Steve Hilton: “Help Is on the Way” for California Agriculture
…Hilton laid out a sweeping vision for reform that touches water policy, energy production, agricultural automation, regulatory reform, and California’s relationship with Washington, D.C. His message to the agricultural community…
Stephanie Nash: From California to Tennessee, Fighting for American Agriculture
…food production. She believes agriculture should be mandatory in every high school, teaching responsibility, science, and stewardship while connecting students to the origin of their food. Challenges Facing Family Farms…
Stephanie Nash Advocates for Farmers and the Next Generation of Agriculture Leaders
…in public conversations. She decided to use social media to explain what farmers actually do, debunk myths about food production, and share honest stories about life on a dairy farm….
Sharing Knowledge on the Frontier: Early Agricultural Extension in America
…practices that would improve their production.” In the 19th century Midwest and Plains, neighbors were the primary source of practical farming knowledge. Letters from the East, often delayed by weeks…
Dave Roberts Says California Farmers Are Being Squeezed From Every Direction
…removal of productive farmland from use. With California already importing significant food, he questioned how reducing domestic production strengthens food security. “Food security is national security,” he said, urging policymakers…
R7 Enterprises: Dave Roberts on Water, Lemons & California’s Farming Future
…over-import, domestic growers pay the price. The result? Barely profitable lemon production — or in some cases, no profit at all. Roberts argues that California growers face higher regulatory costs…