…resistant to cultivation. The Challenge of Breaking Prairie Sod Settlers on Iowa’s prairies quickly realized that farming here would not be easy. The soil was rich, but it was locked…
Kings County Farm Bureau Takes on State Water Board Over Groundwater Rights
…programs would not be implemented Local flexibility would disappear The economic viability of entire farming regions could be jeopardized The Kings County Farm Bureau believes growers can achieve sustainability more…
Kings County Farm Bureau Takes on Sacramento Over Groundwater Rights
…make rules without understanding farming.” Ference described the fight as one for fairness and common sense. “If you’re going to regulate, do it evenly and transparently,” he said. “We can’t…
The Rise of Plantation Agriculture in Early America
Photo by Thomas Konings on Unsplash How Plantation Agriculture Shaped America’s Farming Roots Plantation agriculture stands as one of the most significant chapters in the history of American farming. Emerging…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
A Conversation on Weather, Harvest Challenges, Industry Complexity, and the Future of Farming Ryan Jacobsen California agriculture is built on a foundation of resilience, innovation, and deep generational knowledge. Few…
Ryan Jacobsen on Farming Through Storms, Labor, and the Future of California Agriculture
…ago,” he said. “That preparation made all the difference this year.” Jacobsen also addressed the growing complexity of farming in an urbanized state. “We’re still dealing with the same core…
From Barley to Cotton: How America’s Early Crops Shaped Agriculture
Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash The Roots of American Farming In the early days of American settlement, the first colonists arriving in Plymouth Colony faced unfamiliar soil, weather, and…
Edward Ring’s Bold Blueprint: Fixing California’s Water and Energy Crisis
…representation in Sacramento. “We can only hope that some of these new leaders visit the people they represent,” he said. “Farming towns can’t survive without water — and there’s no…
Ethnic Roots of Early American Agriculture
…continent. German-American Farming Traditions Among the most influential immigrant groups in early American agriculture were German settlers, whose farming practices were rooted in centuries of European tradition. When they arrived…
Edward Ring on California’s Water Crisis: Fixing a Broken System
…of Farming As discussions turned to the potential impact of Proposition 50, Ring didn’t hesitate to share his concern. “It probably will [hurt farming],” he said. “Hopefully not too much,…
Nanette Simonian: Championing California Agriculture & Women in Ag
…to national politics. She expressed concern about inexperienced decision-makers impacting California’s complex and labor-intensive farming industry. “Farming is such an intimate topic for me. I grew up on a family…
Nanette Simonian and California Women for Agriculture Take a Stand on Prop 50
…roots drive her passion for advocacy. “Farming isn’t just a job — it’s who we are,” she said. “It’s labor-intensive, complex, and deeply personal. You have to have it in…
Westward Expansion: The Harsh Beginnings of America’s Frontier Farmers
…Farming In the earliest stages of westward expansion, survival came before agriculture. Pioneers relied heavily on the abundance of wildlife for food. Deer, turkeys, and other small game were the…
AI and Automation Drive Florida’s AgTech Revolution
…Dr. Nathan Boyd from the University of Florida joined ag tech leaders from around the world to discuss the future of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in farming. Representing Florida’s…