…historian Mark Oppold explores how plantations transformed the nation’s economy, society, and agricultural identity—from the first tobacco crops to the rise of cotton cultivation in the 19th century. The Birth…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
…a seed or sapling becomes a bountiful crop. But that magic comes with risk. Across the Valley, producers invest heavily in crops—row crops, tree crops, vineyards, and livestock—knowing that circumstances…
Ryan Jacobsen on Farming Through Storms, Labor, and the Future of California Agriculture
…seven different storms roll through during harvest,” he said. “Farmers were working like madness between each one, trying to dry crops, pick what they could, and prepare for the next…
From Barley to Cotton: How America’s Early Crops Shaped Agriculture
…and peas as their primary crops. These European staples represented a sense of continuity and survival in a new and uncertain environment. Learning from the Land and Its People As…
Ethnic Roots of Early American Agriculture
…hogs and cattle. This approach reflected the pastoral traditions of the British Isles, where herding livestock was often more practical than cultivating crops. These farmers became instrumental in supplying meat,…
Edward Ring on California’s Water Crisis: Fixing a Broken System
…global temperatures. “You’re not solving it by saying we can’t build any houses,” he argued. “You’re not solving it by shutting down all of our conventional sources of energy and…
AI and Automation Drive Florida’s AgTech Revolution
…of large-scale row crops like corn and soybeans, but AI now makes precision possible for specialty crops like strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers. Inspiring the Next Generation of AgTech Innovators Boyd…
How Early Farmers Learned to Protect Their Soil
Vetch being cut by horse drawn farm equipment Original Collection: Farm Crops Department Photographic Collection Item Number: P130:25 Taken circa 1940 Photo by The Oregon State University Collections and Archives…
Farming the Frontier: How Early Settlers Built America
…built livelihoods centered on self-reliance and hard work. Building Self-Sufficient Farms Early frontier farmers planted crops that sustained both their families and their livestock. Most farms were small and diversified,…
Electrostatic Spraying: On Target’s AgTech Revolution
…for specialty crops — from apples, cherries, and grapes to blueberries and more — serving growers across the West Coast, South America, and beyond. Unlike conventional sprayers, On Target’s systems…
Trump, Trade & U.S. Beef: Kevin Kester on Cattle Markets
…without relying on imports? Kester’s response is clear—yes, but with critical context. “There could be enough,” he explains, “but at what price?” With historically low U.S. cattle supplies and rising…
Building the Future of Ag Education at Merced College
…dean, but then I head home and manage 120 acres of almonds. My family also raises sheep, so I stay connected to both crops and livestock.” That firsthand connection to…
Merced College Dean Cody Jacobson Champions the Future of California Ag Education
…market. The facility will house optical sorters, robotic palletizers, autonomous conveyors, and advanced quality-control tools — giving students the hands-on experience they need to meet the industry’s rising demand for…
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
…crops in the United States. With soldiers and civilians alike needing bread and other staples, demand soared—and so did prices. Farmers across the Midwest and East quickly responded, planting more…