…consumer prices, they triggered a temporary futures market dip and confusion among producers. “He’s trying to help, but when you insert yourself directly into the market, it sends shockwaves all…
Merced College Dean Cody Jacobson Champions the Future of California Ag Education
…when we teach, it’s not just theory — it’s what’s happening right now in the field.” Jacobson also raises sheep and comes from a family of livestock producers, giving him…
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
…in foreign competition. The result was devastating for American producers—wheat prices plummeted almost overnight. At the same time, older fields began showing signs of exhaustion. Years of continuous wheat planting…
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
…prices just as producers begin recovering from pandemic-era losses. Lane emphasized that while the Trump administration’s beef stabilization plan offers promise—focusing on herd rebuilding, processing expansion, and grazing access—import balance…
Building the Future of Farming: Insights from UC ANR’s Gabe Youtsey at FIRA USA 2025
…years of talking to producers across California, the U.S., and beyond. He points to a troubling trend: the U.S. has become a net importer of food for the first time…
Beef Plan, Spray Tech, and AI: California Ag Eyes Relief and Reinvention
…opened with encouraging news for cattle producers: USDA released a multifaceted plan aimed at stabilizing the beef sector and easing price pressure on consumers. The framework focuses on three pillars—strengthening…
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
…Wheat Boom In the mid-18th century, Europe’s massive population explosion fueled an even greater demand for grain. This demographic surge drove wheat prices up dramatically, benefiting American producers. By 1770,…
How Railroads Transformed American Agriculture
…become a vital link between agricultural producers and the growing markets of the East Coast. A Turning Point for Agriculture The expansion of railroads revolutionized American agriculture by connecting rural…
Elaine Culotti: Fighting for California’s Farmers and Future
…its political mindset. Culotti didn’t hesitate. “I think a lot of people in Hollywood have had enough,” she said. “Most actors, producers, and directors—this is their business. But we’ve made…
How the Smith-Lever Act Created 4-H and Transformed Rural America
…livestock, and home economics. The law created a system that connected land-grant universities with communities across the nation, ensuring that agricultural innovation and scientific research reached producers and their families…
California Raisin Leaders on Trade, Water & Future
…Burdens and Industry Realities Nick Papagni raised the question of whether California’s political environment has offered meaningful support for raisin producers. Mark McCormick, CEO of National Raisins, did not hesitate…
Kevin Kester on Ranching, Trade, and Ag’s Next Generation
…overdrafted Paso Robles water basin. While drought still impacts his operation, he does not face the same basin management requirements looming over many producers in the San Joaquin Valley. That…
John Duarte on Central Valley Agriculture: Water, Prop 50, and the Future of Avocados
…that field this year,” John noted. For producers, the variety represents not only a new nut with excellent quality but also a critical economic shift in an industry where prices…
Lorenzo Rios: Valley Strong Vision for California
…where tough answers are found.” Farmers as Environmental Stewards Rios pushed back against policies that, in his view, wrongly penalize producers. “We’ve got to stop weaponizing climate policy against farmers,”…