…yields and the physical limits of pre-mechanized farming. Every step—from soil preparation to planting and cultivation—required significant time and effort, making efficiency gains difficult without technological change. Mechanization by 1890:…
Richard Kreps Says Pistachios, Water, and Common Sense Must Lead California Forward
…frustration growers feel when allocations are announced too late to plan crops. Even when water is eventually released, he said, timing often makes it unusable for planting decisions. That uncertainty…
When American Farming Shifted From Hand Power to Horsepower
…the spring tooth harrow appeared. Designed specifically for seedbed preparation, this tool improved soil conditioning, helped control weeds, and created more consistent planting conditions—boosting both yields and reliability. Laying the…
How the Great Depression Transformed American Farmland
…planting to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. The message was clear: healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy nation. The War Effort and Renewed Production When the U.S….
Todd Burkdoll of Valent USA on Coverage, Technology, and the Future of California Agriculture
…automation requires extreme precision. Even small planting irregularities can disrupt automated systems. More importantly, he warned against total dependence on technology without understanding the fundamentals. The Importance of a Well-Rounded…
Rethinking Wine’s Future: Tim Hanni on Consumers, Taste & Growth
…all: human perception and behavior. He points to historic missteps, like the over-planting of Zinfandel following a major industry study. Ironically, it was White Zinfandel—and sweet wine drinkers often dismissed…
The Origins of the Deere & Mansur Corn Planter
…technology—the creation of the Deere & Mansur corn planter. As agriculture expanded across the United States, so did the need for more accurate and efficient planting equipment. This growing demand…
Navigating California’s Agricultural Regulations: Insights from Bryan Little of the California Farm Bureau
…for production, but it is the workers who drive the day-to-day operations—from planting and harvesting to operating machinery—who make it all possible. Little stresses that public discourse often overlooks this…
California Agave Farming: Stuart Woolf’s Vision for Sustainable Agriculture
…plans a rotational planting and harvesting schedule to maintain continuous production. Water Management and Land Optimization Agave cultivation is part of a larger strategy to optimize water-limited farmland: Installing solar…
Organic Farming, Regulation & Innovation in California
…Jacobs and the hosts discuss: Rising labor costs and shifting labor laws Regulatory obstacles that complicate planting, harvesting, and processing Water restrictions and the loss of high-quality farmland to development…
Organic Growers Summit 2025 in Monterey: Technology, Education, and Sustainable Farming Innovations
…faced by growers in the Golden State. While Illinois farmers primarily manage seasonal planting and harvest cycles, California’s farmers contend with year-round demands, stringent regulations, water limitations, and labor constraints….
Early American Farmers and the Lost Art of Soil Stewardship
…practiced poor soil management. They rarely rotated crops or replaced nutrients lost through continuous planting. Instead, they depended on the natural fertility of virgin land to produce their harvests. Once…
From Barley to Cotton: How America’s Early Crops Shaped Agriculture
…challenges unlike anything they had known in England. According to Mark Oppold in American Agriculture History Minute, these settlers initially relied on the seeds they brought from their homeland—planting barley…
How Early Farmers Learned to Protect Their Soil
…of diseases and harmful insects while replenishing the soil with diverse nutrients. Unlike continuous planting of a single crop, rotation balanced soil composition naturally. Corn used one set of nutrients,…