…own food products. He explains that while starting a business is still possible today, the process has become much more complex due to regulations, insurance requirements, and rising operational costs….
Marietta and the Birth of America’s Northwest Frontier
…into the western frontier. Its location provided settlers with reliable river transportation, fertile farmland, and access to expanding trade networks. Early pioneers cleared land, built homes, and began cultivating crops…
Dairy Leadership: Melvin Mederios on the Future of Milk
…of rising demand for protein-rich foods. Consumers are increasingly seeking dairy-based protein products, helping boost categories like yogurt and even reviving older staples such as cottage cheese. “We can’t put…
Fresno’s Pappy’s Seasoning: A Family Legacy Built on Flavor
…Despite the company’s success, Eddie says operating a food business in California has become increasingly difficult. From rising ingredient costs to packaging expenses, freight charges, and regulatory hurdles, the environment…
A Fresno Success Story Featured on the AgNet News Hour
…Southern California grocery strike, when Harris Ranch reportedly sold $87 million worth of the product through Smart & Final stores. Rising Costs and Challenges for Small Businesses While the brand…
The Growth of American Agriculture: From Colonial Times to the Mid-20th Century
…in farming technology and infrastructure, including better tools, improved seed varieties, and the spread of railroads, which made shipping crops more efficient. Mid-20th Century Trends After 1910, however, the number…
Dairy Leadership, Innovation, and Challenges with Melvin Medeiros
…national dairy industry remains strong, California producers face unique hurdles. Regulations, water uncertainty, and rising costs have made the state one of the most expensive places in the country to…
America’s Westward Expansion and the Transformation of Agriculture
…its value. This process became a pattern repeated across generations. A farmer would: Purchase inexpensive frontier land Clear timber and prepare fields Build a farmhouse and outbuildings Cultivate crops and…
Cannon Michael Highlights Farming Challenges; USDA’s Luke Lindberg Talks Trade Gains
…Los Banos and Merced, producing a wide range of crops including tomatoes, melons, cotton, carrots, garlic, onions, almonds, pistachios, and specialty herbs. While diversification has helped the company remain competitive,…
Six Generations of Farming: Cannon Michael on Water, Innovation, and the Future of California Agriculture
…Flyway for migrating birds. From Three Crops to Major Diversification When Michael assumed leadership of the farm in 2014, Bowles Farming Company focused primarily on three crops: alfalfa, barley, and…
Cannon Michael Warns West Side Farmers Face Major Challenges with 15% Water Allocation
…farmers on the west side of California’s Central Valley. Speaking with hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill, Michael discussed water allocations, rising regulatory pressure, and the long-term future of farming…
Fertilizer: The Overlooked Revolution in American Agriculture
…crops were planted, harvested, and processed. But high on that list — and one that many times slips by our memories — is something far less mechanical, yet just as…
640 Acres and a Fresh Start: Early Tennessee Land Grants
…The land was abundant — but it demanded hard labor before it could produce. Survival Before Crops It was not an easy road. Before thinking about planting crops, early settlers…
Steve Hilton: “Help Is on the Way” for California Agriculture
…rising from roughly $180 billion five years ago to nearly $350 billion today — has not produced better outcomes. Instead, he says, taxpayers are paying more while receiving less. His…























