By Andrew David Lytle Sr./ Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons George Washington’s Complicated Relationship with Slavery George Washington, the first President of the United States, had a deeply complicated relationship with slavery….
F3 Innovate: Powering the Central Valley’s AgTech Revolution
…they inherit. “They’re thinking about regenerative ag, soil health, and how to make food better today than it was yesterday,” she explained. By giving students hands-on experiences—whether through science fairs,…
Van Groningen & Sons: A Century of California Farming
…or water,” Bryan explained. “Everything we do is focused on keeping the ground productive and healthy year after year.” In his view, farmers are the ultimate environmentalists—constantly improving the land…
Verdant Robotics: Revolutionizing Farming with Precision AI and Automation
…creating millimeter-accurate application maps and monitoring crop health, pest pressures, and stand counts. For forward-thinking growers, these insights unlock new efficiencies and potential revenue streams. Expanding Applications Across Crops Verdant…
How Ralston Purina Revolutionized American Agriculture
…nourished their livestock. Danforth recognized that consistent, balanced feed could dramatically improve animal health, growth, and productivity. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Danforth approached feed production with precision—applying early nutritional…
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
Photo by Ksusha Semakina/Pexels image Early Colonial Agriculture and Trade Before 1720, most colonists in the mid-Atlantic region lived through small-scale farming operations that provided both sustenance and a modest…
Bill Jones: Fixing California’s Water and Future
A Voice for Fair Elections and California’s Future Bill Jones Former California Secretary of State Bill Jones, a lifelong farmer from Firebaugh, has spent decades balancing agriculture and politics in…
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
Photo by Tom Fisk/Pexels image America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History…
How Immigrant Farmers Shaped Early American Agriculture
Photo by Matt Richmond/Pexels image Ethnic Traditions and the Roots of American Farming In the early days of the United States, immigrant farmers played a defining role in shaping American…
Nat DiBuduo: Politics, Water & California Farming
…back,” he said. “People like eating table grapes—they’re good and healthy for you.” He pointed to the wine industry’s history of reinvention—from generic “Burgundy” and “Chablis” labels to the rise…
Ethnic Roots of American Agriculture: How Immigrants Shaped U.S. Farming
The Immigrant Influence on American Agriculture I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Ethnic Roots of American Agriculture: How Immigrants Shaped U.S. Farming Ethnic groups played a vital…
The Roots of 4-H: Jessie Shambaugh and the Birth of American Agricultural Youth
…a single “H”, symbolizing the principles that still define the organization today: Head for clear thinking Heart for loyalty and compassion Hands for service and skill Health for well-being and…
Celebrating the Valley’s Bounty: The Whole Vine Festival Returns to Fresno State
A Tribute to the Central Valley’s Grape, Raisin, and Wine Legacy The Central Valley’s proud agricultural spirit will be on full display once again at the third annual Whole Vine…
Karen Ross on Water, Workforce, and the Future of California Agriculture
…focus on diet and health as a way to prevent chronic disease,” she said. “If we help people eat better, we improve outcomes — and what a great time to…