Celebrating California’s Global Role in Wine California continues to lead the U.S. wine industry, producing an impressive 81% of all U.S. wine. With more than 6,200 wineries and 5,900 growers…
Native American Agriculture: Roots of U.S. Farming
…moisture and suppress weeds. This system maximized land productivity, improved soil health, and provided balanced nutrition. Today, agricultural scientists often point to the Three Sisters as a model of sustainable…
Don Cameron: California Ag Leadership & Challenges
Don Cameron A Farmer and Leader in California Agriculture Don Cameron, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, is not only a prominent voice in policy but…
Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture: America’s First Farm Organization
…planted in sequence. This practice not only improved soil health but also boosted yields, reduced pest infestations, and promoted sustainable farming. Soil Fertility Testing The Society also pioneered the practice…
Henry A. Wallace: Innovator, Journalist, and Statesman
Photo by Marjhan Ramboyong/Pexels image A Pioneer in Agriculture Henry A. Wallace is widely celebrated as the father of hybrid seed corn and the founder of the Pioneer Hybrid Seed…
John W. Tyson: Missouri Farmer Builds Poultry Legacy
Photo by Ramdas Aswale/Pexels image Seizing Opportunity During the Great Depression The Great Depression challenged countless rural American families, yet it also offered opportunities for those in the right place…
Beef on Dairy Industry Report Highlights Growth and Opportunity
…health data and performance records. Packers, meanwhile, want healthy animals that deliver on red meat yield and carcass quality. “This is really about people talking,” Williams said. “That’s how we…
Henry A. Wallace: Father of Hybrid Corn
Photo by Johann Piber/Pexels image A Young Innovator in Iowa In 1904, a 16-year-old high school student in Iowa began experimenting with corn in the hopes of boosting crop yields….
Melissa Oberti on Grapes, Almonds, and Water Challenges
The Oberti Family Legacy in Central Valley Agriculture Melissa Oberti, a third-generation (nearly fourth) farmer from Madera, California, continues her family’s agricultural tradition. The Oberti family, once famous for Oberti…
Immigration Reform and Ag Labor: Manuel Cunha on the Dignity Act
…background checks and contribute to agriculture, healthcare, and other sectors. “This legislation recognizes workers who pay taxes, raise families, and strengthen communities,” Cunha says. It also addresses Social Security benefits…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor, and the Fight for California Farming
…the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that fuel healthier diets across America. As he puts it: “What California produces is what the country wants and needs to be healthier.” Conclusion From…
The Roots of U.S. Forest Management
Photo by Roman Biernacki/Pexels image Early Recognition of Forest Stewardship Even as America’s early settlers were clearing land to establish homesteads and plant crops, the government recognized the importance of…
USDA Extension Service: A Legacy of Education and Support
Courtesy of the National Agricultural Library U.S. Department of Agriculture The Roots of Agricultural Support The Department of Agriculture was first established in 1862, but it would take more than…
Lewis B. Schmidt and the First Agricultural History Course in America
Farm Families and the Birth of Agricultural Policy As farm families moved westward and settled across the American heartland, they were unknowingly shaping the foundation of U.S. agriculture. Their struggles,…