…rise of draft horse breeding in the Midwest helped revolutionize farming. Fields could be plowed faster, more land could be cultivated, and production efficiency increased dramatically. For decades—before the widespread…
Ecorobotix, AgTech Grants, and Hannah Johnson’s Push for California’s Future
…cameras and AI to identify individual weeds, applying herbicide only where needed — reducing chemical use by up to 95 percent. “We call it plant-by-plant crop care,” Mégret explained. “We replace…
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
…wheat than ever before. Fields that once held diverse crops were converted to wheat production in hopes of capturing the booming wartime market. However, the prosperity didn’t last. The Post-War…
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
…of FMC at the CAPCA Conference in Reno. Kanda described 2025 as “challenging but optimistic,” noting stable prices for walnuts and almonds, and a record pistachio crop. He highlighted FMC’s…
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
…in decades. To him, this is a warning sign. California grows many of the foods Americans should eat more of—fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy. Losing that production to other…
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
…excited to come out to California,” Thompson shared. “The agriculture here is just amazing—trees, vines, cattle, row crops—endless possibilities.” Now living in Kingsburg, a small Central Valley town with a…
California Ag Tech on Display: TK, Bayer Crop Science, and John Deere’s GUSS Steal the Show
…in ag technology, including TK, Bayer Crop Science, and GUSS, now part of John Deere. The show opened with Alex Avila, Central California representative for TK (Tessenderlo Kerley), who shared…
CAPCA 2025: PCAs, Innovation, and Leadership Take Center Stage
…technology and crop advising, with innovators and researchers presenting tools that promise to transform pest management, soil health, and precision farming. At the heart of the episode was Ruthann Anderson,…
Van Groningen & Sons: A Century of California Farming
…and maintain exceptional quality across the farm’s many crops. “The plants really liked it,” he said. “Production was great and the fruit quality was outstanding.” Managing Water in Manteca Water…
Verdant Robotics: Revolutionizing Farming with Precision AI and Automation
…Robotics is crop-agnostic, with applications spanning row crops, specialty row crops, and fixed infrastructure crops such as apples, cherries, and grapes. Sibley emphasizes that the technology can be applied in…
Todd Snider Takes the Helm at Kern County Farm Bureau, Calls for Smarter Water Policy and Farm Advocacy
…perspective, and urgency driving California agriculture today. Snider, a lifelong Bakersfield resident and former national champion mountain biker, brings competitive energy to his new role. A crop insurance professional with…
How Ralston Purina Revolutionized American Agriculture
…By the 1880s and 1890s, attention shifted toward improving animal production and enhancing meat quality. This era of innovation marked a pivotal moment when farmers and entrepreneurs alike began to…