…removal of productive farmland from use. With California already importing significant food, he questioned how reducing domestic production strengthens food security. “Food security is national security,” he said, urging policymakers…
R7 Enterprises: Dave Roberts on Water, Lemons & California’s Farming Future
…warns that up to one million acres of productive farmland could be taken out of production. That would mean fewer jobs, reduced food security, and economic strain on already disadvantaged…
Missouri’s Early Agricultural Roots: River Commerce and Opportunity
…commercial-scale agriculture both feasible and attractive. The Missouri River’s Prime Farmland At the time, the most desirable agricultural lands were located along the Missouri River. These fertile bottomlands offered rich…
Michigan’s Rise: Mining, Farming & Autos (1855–1908)
…important pillars of Michigan’s economy during this period. Vast forests supplied timber for construction and industry, fueling local growth and national expansion. At the same time, fertile farmland supported a…
World Ag Expo Week Begins as John Duarte Talks Almond Innovation, Water, and California’s Future
…expanded beyond almonds into water policy, where Duarte was especially blunt. He criticized decades of mismanagement that have forced productive farmland out of production while surface water flows are sent…
Wolves, Water, and the Fight for California Agriculture
…Reducing California farmland, he argues, does not eliminate food demand. It exports production to countries with fewer environmental protections, worsening global outcomes while weakening U.S. food security. Why These Stories…
Rick Roberti Calls on Californians to Get Involved as Cattle Industry Faces a Crossroads
…of the episode was land conversion. Roberti said thousands of acres of productive farmland are lost every year to housing and development, and once land is paved over, it never comes…
Rick Roberti California Cattle Threats: Wolves, Water, and Workforce
…due to unmanaged vegetation, and weakening already-fragile rural economies. Roberti tied the wolf crisis into a broader pattern of policy failure. He said California continues to lose farmland to development…
California Cattle Challenges & Opportunities: Insights from Rick Roberti
…He highlights the need for practical solutions that balance conservation with agricultural needs. Urban expansion and conversion of farmland into housing also threaten the industry. “Every year, thousands of acres…
Potter Valley Fight Escalates as Rich Brazil Warns California’s Water Future Is on the Line
…are meant to protect. Meanwhile, communities would lose reliable water overnight. Domestic wells would dry up, farmland would be abandoned, and property values would collapse. Brazil emphasized that local leaders…
Colorado Agriculture: Mining, Railroads, and Early Farms
…growing mining communities, supplying fresh produce, grains, and livestock. Farmland that was once considered barren became essential to the state’s emerging economy. Railroads Transform Farming and Settlement Transportation played a…
Potter Valley Dam Removal Threatens California Water Supply
…agricultural. Lands warned that removing the dams would turn the valley into a dry basin, leaving farmland unusable and property values decimated. An economic analysis from Sonoma County shows that…
Potter Valley Water Fight Intensifies: Todd Lands Warns “This Could Happen Anywhere in California”
…in the name of “free-flowing rivers” would devastate the region. If the dams are removed, Potter Valley becomes a dry basin, farmland values collapse, and farming and ranching communities could…
Harriet Strong: Visionary Behind Hoover Dam and Water Conservation
…supports millions of people and countless acres of farmland in the western United States. Her story is a testament to how innovation and foresight can solve pressing resource challenges, making…