…kernels from the cob—proved to be one of the most demanding tasks for farm families. The Labor-Intensive Process of Hand Shelling For generations, shelling corn was done almost entirely by…
AI, Robotics, and Innovation in California Agriculture – AgNet News Hour Christmas Special
…Sharpshooter system delivers fertilizers, herbicides, and pollen with millimeter-level precision, helping growers cut labor costs by up to 85% while increasing yields. Shannon Douglass, President of the California Farm Bureau,…
Corn Shelling Bees: How Early Americans Processed Corn by Hand
…farming. It is a reminder of how agriculture once relied heavily on cooperation, physical labor, and shared traditions—and how innovation gradually reshaped the rural landscape. Corn’s journey from hand labor…
National Corn Husking Association: Preserving the Tradition of Hand-Harvested Corn
…the United States. Before modern machinery, families relied on hand-harvesting techniques to gather one of the nation’s most important crops. This labor-intensive process required not only endurance and speed but…
California Farm Bureau 107th Annual Meeting: Highlights, Advocacy Wins, and Preparing the Next Generation
…pursuing bipartisan solutions for farm labor challenges. Continuing engagement with policymakers, young leaders, and the broader agricultural community. Douglass expressed optimism for the year ahead, emphasizing that strong leadership, advocacy,…
California Agriculture & High-Speed Rail: Elaine Culotti on AgNet News Hour
…by PACs or special interests. She calls for leaders who offer practical solutions, including better management of labor, water, and infrastructure. Culotti also urges professionals with expertise in law, education,…
AgNet News Hour: Alexandra Duarte on California Agriculture, Water Policy, and the Future of Farming
…via mobile devices, customize treatments based on life stage analysis, and reduce unnecessary labor. Hickle and Keogh emphasize that technology like this is critical as farming evolves, particularly in the…
How Weather Shaped Early American Agriculture
…use, labor systems, and trade relationships both domestically and internationally. By the late 1850s, the South had achieved total dominance in cotton production, producing 100 percent of the 374 million…
How Hay Baling Began: The First Hay Presses and Early Innovations
…to reshape how farmers stored and transported one of their most essential commodities. The earliest hay presses brought new levels of efficiency, reducing labor demands and making it possible to…
Todd Burkdoll of Valent USA on Coverage, Technology, and the Future of California Agriculture
…determines efficacy. In today’s high-cost farming environment, Burkdoll said, growers cannot afford inefficiency. Labor, fuel, water, equipment wear, and crop protection inputs have all risen sharply. If a product does…
The Future of California Farming: Insights from Nick Foglio of Foglio Commodities
…parts of the interview was Foglio’s discussion of trucking economics: Freight that cost $100–$110/ton in 2020 now moves for $60–$70/ton. Meanwhile, equipment, insurance, and labor costs have all climbed. Operators…
Navigating Agriculture’s Crossroads: Insights from Nick Foglio
…Labor, Automation, and Rising Costs Labor remains a top pressure point. With California’s minimum wage increasing, more farms are turning to automation and mechanization. But Folio warns that growers must…
John Deere on Organic Farming, Automation & the Future of Agriculture
…or organic, we have the same technology to optimize inputs, labor, and farm management,” he said. He emphasized the value of the Grower Summit, which provides a platform to interact…
California Agriculture: Water, Crop Markets & 2025 Outlook
…instability. Specialty crops such as nuts and grapes remain volatile, though signs of future stabilization are emerging. Labor, inputs, and freight remain key challenges, but domestic demand and new value-added…