…relied on to process crops and support expanding agricultural production. Under Ellis’s leadership, Reliance Works began manufacturing equipment that supported the broader mechanization movement that was gradually reshaping American farming….
Fire Ant Control and Farm Policy Take Center Stage; Mike Johanns Shares Insight for Growers
…profitability, innovation, and strong policy support in ensuring the future of farming, particularly in highly regulated states like California. One key topic was the role of research and development tax…
Colonial Fur Trade and Wheat Demand Shaped Early American Farming
…America became an increasingly important supplier of raw materials to European markets. European Population Growth Drives Wheat Demand While the fur trade boosted New York’s economy, farming in the Mid-Atlantic…
Mike Johanns Talks Farm Profitability, Policy, and the Future of California Agriculture
…land ultimately comes down to whether operations can remain financially viable. Without profitability, he noted, it becomes increasingly difficult for the next generation to continue farming, even for those who…
Early American Farmers and the Cycle of Moving West
…Pattern of Farming However, Hacker’s research revealed a pattern that might surprise many people today. He found that the first generation of pioneers often farmed the land in a wasteful…
From Water Challenges to Agave Innovation: The Woolf Farming Story
…a classic “chicken-and-egg” challenge. Woolf Farming is helping bridge that gap by planting, building relationships, and developing nursery stock. Sustainability, Technology, and the Next Generation The future of Woolf Farming…
Agave Opportunity Grows in California; Wolf Family Pushes Innovation Amid Water Challenges
The March 18 edition of the AgNet News Hour continued an in-depth conversation with Stuart Wolf and the Wolf family of Wolf Farming and Processing, highlighting how innovation is helping…
The Hard Lessons of the Great Plains: Early Settler Struggles
Early Settlers vs. Harsh Realities The promise of the Great Plains as fertile, open land for farming drew many settlers westward in the 19th century. However, as Mark Oppold highlights…
Agave Innovation on the West Side; Stuart Wolf and Family Look Toward Farming’s Future
…his children Haley Wolf and Wiley Wolf to discuss new crop opportunities, water challenges, and the future of farming in the Central Valley. Wolf Farming and Processing traces its roots…
The Homestead Act: How Free Land Transformed North American Agriculture
…acres of federal land. In exchange, settlers had to live on the property, build a dwelling, and improve the land through farming or other development. After meeting these requirements for…
California Water, SGMA, and the Future of Farming
…the state’s farming communities. How California Built an Agricultural Powerhouse California’s agricultural success didn’t happen by accident. In the early days of the state, farming depended heavily on unpredictable rainfall…
California Water Debate: Can Farming’s Future Be Secured?
California agriculture sits at the center of an ongoing debate over water policy, infrastructure, and the future of farming in the state. In a recent episode of the AgNet News…
The Rise of Open Range Ranching on the Great Plains
…boom in cattle ranching across the Great Plains was not financed solely by American capital. British investors played a significant role in funding many of the large ranching operations during…
Growing the Future: Ag in the Classroom Reaches California Students
…millions of students learn about farming, food production, and career opportunities within agriculture. The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is the nonprofit education arm of the California Farm…