Amish farmer plowing field with draft horses. Photo by Brad Weaver on Unsplash Before the mid-1800s, American farms depended on horses and oxen to provide the muscle for plowing, hauling,…
Ecorobotix, AgTech Grants, and Hannah Johnson’s Push for California’s Future
…to technology.” Johnson emphasized the importance of developing a workforce that bridges traditional farming and advanced technology. “The biggest thing farmers need right now is people who understand both sides…
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…
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
DepositPhotos image A Pioneering Moment in American Agriculture In 1873, Illinois farmer Fred Hatch built what is believed to be America’s first version of the modern silo. During this period,…
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
…his community. The Cargill Brothers Join Forces A year later, the farmer’s younger brother, Sam, joined the effort. Together, the brothers began constructing more flat storage houses for nearby farmers…
Van Groningen & Sons: A Century of California Farming
…three steps ahead to stay functional and viable,” Bryan noted. Regulations: Burden and Benefit California farmers operate under some of the strictest agricultural regulations in the world. Bryan sees both…
Bill Jones: Fixing California’s Water and Future
A Voice for Fair Elections and California’s Future Bill Jones Former California Secretary of State Bill Jones, a lifelong farmer from Firebaugh, has spent decades balancing agriculture and politics in…
Verdant Robotics and Van Groningen & Sons Showcase Innovation and Tradition on AgNet News Hour
…family tradition with Brian Van Groningen of Van Groningen & Sons in Manteca. The fourth-generation farmer talked about his family’s 100-year legacy growing watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews, sweet corn, and pumpkins…
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
…The Legacy of Early American Farmers The farmers of the early 19th century did more than plant crops—they laid the groundwork for a growing nation. Their labor, determination, and willingness…
Bill Jones: “California Will Come Back Stronger Than Ever”
The October 16 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured a powerhouse guest, Bill Jones, former California Secretary of State, lifelong West Side farmer, and one of the most respected…
Nat DiBuduo, the “Godfather of Grapes,” on the Future of California Wine and Farming
…change he sees as both inevitable and troubling. “Farmers can’t compete with developers when it’s this hard to farm in California,” he said. “Regulations, labor, and water costs keep rising…
Elaine Culotti: Fighting for California’s Farmers and Future
…to many as the “Fresno Undercover Billionaire” and “The Lipstick Farmer.” From her Fallbrook farm to national television, Culotti has emerged as a bold voice for California agriculture and a…
Elaine Culotti, the “Lipstick Farmer,” Warns Farmers on Prop 50 and California’s Mismanagement
The October 10 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured a fiery interview with Elaine Culotti, known to many as the “Lipstick Farmer” and star of Undercover Billionaire. Hosts Nick…
David Tangipa: Fighting for California Farmers and Rejecting Proposition 50
…it happen.” He reflected on how agriculture once defined every civilization. “For millennia, everyone was a farmer,” he said. “Today, farmers give others the freedom to be doctors and lawyers….