Elaine Culotti California entrepreneur, farmer, and former gubernatorial candidate Elaine Culotti joined Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” for an in-depth conversation covering everything from California agriculture and water policy to…
Elaine Culotti Says California Policy Will Shape Agriculture’s Future
On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, California farmer and former gubernatorial candidate Elaine Culotti discussed why she believes the state’s 2026 governor’s race could have lasting implications for…
How Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin Revolutionized American Agriculture
…gin. What began as a simple conversation between a struggling farmer and a mechanically gifted college student ultimately changed the course of American agriculture forever. According to Mark Oppold’s American…
USDA’s Fordyce Highlights SPUR Initiative, Screwworm Fight, and Historic Farm Support
…working to support farmers and ranchers across the country. A fourth-generation Missouri farmer, Fordyce emphasized that practical farming experience remains the foundation of his leadership at USDA. Throughout the interview,…
California Wine Industry Faces Defining Moment, Says Consultant Nicholas Karavidas
…become one of the industry’s most respected consultants, advising wineries throughout California and internationally on production, branding, consumer trends, and long-term strategy. Think Like a Cork Oak Farmer One of…
Allied Grape Growers at 75: Jeff Bitter Talks Survival, Wine Trends, and California’s Future
…Fourth-Generation California Farmer Agriculture has always been part of Bitter’s life. A fourth-generation wine grape grower, he grew up on his family’s ranch in Madera after earlier generations farmed near…
Pork Producers Push Back Against Proposition 12 Misinformation Claims
…basically are the ones that are going to get benefited by changing this Prop 12 rule, and they’re really not,” he said. “It’s the American pig farmer that’s out here…
American Farm Bureau’s Bailey Corwine on Farm Policy, Mental Health, Leadership, and Agriculture’s Future
…for farmers and ranchers while developing the next generation of agricultural leaders. During a wide-ranging conversation with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni, Bailey Corwine, Communications Manager for the American Farm…
How Rural Electrification Changed American Agriculture Forever
…to farm productivity and economic development. Daily Farm Life Without Electricity Before rural electrification became widespread, farm families depended on manual labor for countless daily tasks. Dairy farmers milked cows…
Driscoll’s CEO Soren Bjorn Talks California Strawberries, Berry Innovation, Labor, Water, and the Future of Farming
…iconic Driscoll’s label. What many consumers don’t realize is the enormous network of family farmers, innovation, and agricultural expertise behind every package of berries. “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni sat…
The History of Soybeans in America: From Ship Ballast to Agricultural Powerhouse
…American Farmers Despite their arrival in the early nineteenth century, soybeans did not immediately become a significant crop in the United States. It wasn’t until 1879 that a small number…
Why Is Corn Called Corn? The Surprising History Behind Agriculture’s Most Familiar Crop
…result, someone discussing “corn” in England centuries ago would likely have been referring to wheat, while a farmer in Scotland might have been talking about oats. How Maize Became Corn…
California Trucking, Fuel Costs, and Agriculture’s Future: What Mark Woods and Ellington Smith Want Farmers to Know
Ellington Smith (left) and Mark Woods (right) California’s farmers and truckers are facing some of the toughest economic conditions in decades. Rising fuel prices, increasing insurance costs, growing regulations, and…
Pork Industry Leaders Highlight Trade and Animal Health Priorities at World Pork Expo
…National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President-elect Pat Hord of Ohio, who outlined several major issues that remain at the forefront of the industry’s policy agenda. Hord, a fifth-generation family farmer…