…evenly and efficiently than hand sowing. This innovation improved crop yields and reduced wasted seed. Just one year later, in 1842, the first grain elevator was put into use in…
Zone-Based Nutrition Helps Tree Crop Growers Fine-Tune Fertility Programs
…in row crops, tree crop growers are typically limited by the size of their irrigation blocks. “We can only get as fine-tuned as our irrigation block,” he said. However, within…
When American Farming Shifted From Hand Power to Horsepower
From Hand Labor to Heavy Work: Early American Farming Agricultural production in the United States continued to expand in the early 1800s, but farming remained an intensely labor-driven endeavor. Despite…
Making Smart Fertility Adjustments Without Losing Sight of the Long Term
Adjusting fertility programs is a normal part of managing California tree crops—but knowing when to make changes and when to stay steady can make a big difference in long-term production….
Rick Roberti Calls on Californians to Get Involved as Cattle Industry Faces a Crossroads
…and ag supporters statewide. Roberti explained that cattle production remains one of the least automated and most hands-on segments of agriculture. Raising beef is a three-year investment, from breeding to harvest,…
How Minneapolis Mills Produced Nearly All of the Nation’s Flour
…production faster and more efficiently than competitors elsewhere in the country. A Lasting Agricultural Legacy While flour production today is far more geographically dispersed, the legacy of Minnesota’s milling era…
Post-Bloom Nutrition: Setting Today’s Crop and Preparing for Next Year
Post-Bloom Nutrition: As California tree crops move out of bloom and into early fruit development, nutrition strategies shift toward supporting crop set, nut fill, and long-term orchard health. In a…
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…
Spring Fertigation Strategies to Improve Efficiency in Tree Crops
As irrigation systems come back online in the spring, California tree crop growers have an important opportunity to fine-tune their fertility programs. In a recent Agronomic Minute, Dylan Rogers, Sales…
Americans to Eat 1.48 Billion Wings for Super Bowl LX
…in U.S. broiler production in 2025 helped stabilize prices. At the same time, USDA data shows cold storage wing inventories at 57 million pounds, the lowest November level in more…
Why California Growers and Agribusinesses Should Look East to the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
…Crop Expo, set for August 12–13 in Fort Myers, Florida. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo has earned a reputation as one of the premier educational and trade events for…
Why Last Season’s Fertility Still Matters for California Tree Crops
…just about the current crop. “This year’s fertility, we’re making next year’s crop,” he said. That concept can be difficult to grasp, but it’s rooted in how trees and vines…
American Agriculture’s Expansion in the Early 1900s
…potatoes, and soybeans, crops that were often undervalued at the time. His work helped farmers—particularly in the South—move away from single-crop dependency and toward more diversified farming systems. By promoting…
Bloom Window Nutrition: Key Considerations for California Tree Crop Growers
As California tree crops move into the critical bloom window, nutrition decisions and timing remain top priorities for growers. In a recent Agronomic Minute, Dylan Rogers, Sales Account Manager for…