…new lines crisscrossed the nation, they connected rural farmers to distant cities and ports, turning isolated homesteads into key suppliers for a growing industrial economy. This new transportation network dramatically…
Inside the World of Agricultural Shipping: A Conversation with Jeff Cox of Best Drayage
Navigating a Complex Year in Ports, Trucking, and Freight Jeff Cox The agricultural export sector continues to evolve rapidly, and few understand the intricacies of ports, trucking, and container logistics…
Jeff Cox Explains the Freight Factor Behind California’s Ag Exports
…65% of Best Drayage’s business involves exports — mostly nuts, milk powder, and raisins — while the other 35% handles imports of retail and industrial goods. “Our goal is simple,”…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
…global imports on consumer expectations and farmer profitability. Decades ago, imports made up only a small portion of America’s food supply. Today, over 40% of the food consumed in the…
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
…suppliers for global markets. Wheat soon became the region’s most important cash crop. The combination of fertile soils, a temperate climate, and access to Atlantic ports allowed farmers to meet…
How Railroads Transformed American Agriculture
…communities to urban centers and ports. Farmers could now ship crops, livestock, and other products more quickly and reliably than ever before. This access to national and international markets encouraged…
Why Prop 50 Threatens Rural Representation: California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass
…in the state,” Douglass noted. “That creates more—the trucking jobs all across the state and the food processing jobs and including tons of jobs at the ports and moving all…
Shannon Douglass Doubles Down on Prop 50 Opposition
…reminding listeners that California agriculture is a $60 billion industry that sustains jobs from the farm to the ports. “Food security is national security,” McGill added, noting that farmers cannot…
The Origins of Conveyor Grain Elevators in 19th Century America
…Ports While Buffalo initially dominated grain storage and transport, it wasn’t long before other ports, particularly those along the Mississippi River, began to compete. These ports sought to send goods…
Roger Isom on California Farming Challenges in 2025
…Crisis and Global Trade Freight and transportation costs are another major concern. California agriculture relies on trucks to move products from the field to processing plants and then to ports…
Border Closure Halts Livestock Trade Amid Screw Worm Threat
Southern Border Ports Shut Down to Protect U.S. Livestock Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced an immediate and sweeping halt to livestock imports through the southern border in response to…
AgNet News Hour: Citrus Expo Preview, USDA Snap Crackdown, and Chad Bianco’s Bold Vision for California Ag
…shut down border ports due to renewed screw worm threats just 370 miles south of the U.S. in Mexico. The pair discuss the rapid response from USDA, why trust and…
Avocado Markets Shift Amid Rising U.S. Shipments and Holiday Demand
…supply levels, pricing trends were mixed between Spain and northern European ports. Meanwhile, in China, intermittent shipments from Peru disrupted the flow of supply. However, pricing remained relatively stable despite…
How One Sticker United California Agriculture
…California’s ports, the campaign’s message echoes across the globe. This anniversary year reminds us that agriculture is not just a job—it’s a way of life. And in the case of…