…growers improve nitrogen efficiency throughout the season while reducing losses. Rogers emphasized that nitrogen is one of the easiest nutrients to lose, especially through leaching and volatilization. Because of that,…
Richard Kreps Says Pistachios, Water, and Common Sense Must Lead California Forward
…rethink traditional nutrition strategies as bloom approaches. With newer varieties reducing extreme alternate bearing, he emphasized balancing fertility year-round rather than cutting back during lighter years. Proper nutrient management, water…
Jeff Aiello Says California’s Wolf and Water Crises Are Symptoms of Broken Environmental Policy
…security. He criticized the idea that reducing agriculture in California helps the environment, calling it hypocritical. “You’re exporting your environmental responsibility to countries with fewer regulations,” he said. “People still…
When American Farming Shifted From Hand Power to Horsepower
…prepare in a single day, reducing labor time and expanding operational scale. Early Mechanization Takes Root Innovation accelerated quickly. By 1868, farmers began experimenting with the first steam tractors, an…
Rick Roberti California Cattle Threats: Wolves, Water, and Workforce
…of mountain grazing areas entirely, making it impossible to sustain operations that have relied on that land for generations. That decision ripples outward — reducing county revenue, increasing wildfire risk…
How Mechanization Transformed Corn Farming in America
…produce enough food to feed 10 people for an entire year, illustrating how mechanization expanded food production while reducing labor demands. Why This Transformation Still Matters The steady reduction in…
Harry Ferguson and the Tractor Innovation That Changed Farming
…patenting the first hydraulic lift with automatic draft control, a breakthrough that allowed tractor-mounted implements to respond automatically to changes in soil resistance. This innovation improved traction and control, reducing…
Potter Valley Water Fight Intensifies: Todd Lands Warns “This Could Happen Anywhere in California”
…by reducing water volume and raising river temperatures—creating a tougher environment for fish survival. Perhaps most frustrating, Lands said, is that there was a practical compromise. An independent engineering report…
Drones, Sharpshooter Precision, and Almond Bloom Protection: Technology Takes Over AgNet News Hour
…system called the Sharpshooter. Yagow explained that the machine uses AI and 3D field mapping to identify weeds and crops in real time and deliver micro-targeted applications, reducing liquid use…
California’s Budget Boom, Soil Solutions, and a Major Malaysia Trade Deal for U.S. Ag
…that help form soil aggregates—reducing compaction, improving infiltration, and keeping fertilizer in the root zone longer. For farmers trying to stretch every dollar, Taylor said the goal isn’t necessarily “use…
AgNet News Hour: Health, Water, and California’s Crossroads
…in California. A major focus of the episode is the national “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, which aims to combat rising obesity by encouraging whole foods, reducing ultra-processed foods,…
AgNet News Hour: Nutrition Policy, Prop 50, and California Agriculture Under Pressure
…while reducing reliance on grains and ultra-processed foods. The conversation highlights how these changes could affect school meals, SNAP and WIC programs, and key agricultural sectors such as dairy. A…
Ohio: America’s First Agricultural Capital
…breakthrough that dramatically increased the efficiency of harvesting grain. Around the same time, Obed Hussey developed an early version of the mower, further reducing the labor required for fieldwork. These…
California Raisins & Grape Innovation: AgNet News Hour Highlights
…sustainable production. These innovations could allow for near-complete mechanization, reducing labor reliance while maintaining quality. Zhuang also stressed the need to preserve traditional varieties like Thompson raisins while embracing technological…