…labor systems and became vital to the colonies’ export trade. The plantation economy was not only about wealth—it was also about survival. While elite landowners grew cash crops for export,…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
…and tomatoes to dairy and cattle. As a general agriculture organization, the Farm Bureau bridges all these sectors. A “Jack of All Trades” With 21 years at the Bureau and…
Ryan Jacobsen on Farming Through Storms, Labor, and the Future of California Agriculture
…finally bring common-sense reform,” he said. “If we can secure the border, recognize the people already working productively in agriculture, and support fair trade, California can thrive again.” He ended…
From Barley to Cotton: How America’s Early Crops Shaped Agriculture
…Maryland, tobacco emerged as a highly profitable cash crop that fueled both local economies and international trade. Farther south, in South Carolina, farmers found ideal conditions for cultivating rice, another…
Westward Expansion: The Harsh Beginnings of America’s Frontier Farmers
…a slow, hard-fought process—one that would eventually define the nation’s agricultural identity. British Restrictions and the Proclamation of 1763 Before the Revolutionary War, the British Empire tried to halt westward…
Kings River Packing: Eight Generations of Citrus Leadership
…orange citrus consumers expect. Cold weather—within limits—is also beneficial for holding quality later in the season. Navigating Tariffs, Trade, and Global Market Shifts Last season’s tariff challenges in Canada created…
Farming the Frontier: How Early Settlers Built America
…surplus crops. Extra wheat, corn, oats, and livestock—particularly hogs—became valuable commodities for trade or sale. These exchanges were crucial to frontier life, as they allowed farmers to obtain necessities that…
Almond Market Outlook and Ag Education Lead the Conversation on AgNet News Hour
…crop forecasts, pricing trends, and how trade and weather are shaping grower returns. He confirmed that this year’s almond crop is trending slightly below 2.7 billion pounds, down from last year’s…
Inside the 2025 Almond Market: Supply, Pricing, Tariffs, and Global Demand
…U.S. dollar remains a challenge for exports, but the smaller crop should support firmer pricing. Tariffs, Trade Policy, and Almond Access Global trade remains a defining issue for the almond…
Trump, Trade & U.S. Beef: Kevin Kester on Cattle Markets
…But rather than a unilateral decision to import more beef, he recommends a fair and reciprocal trade agreement with Argentina. The trade imbalance is striking: Argentina imported over $800 million…
Kevin Kester on Cattle, Trade, and Prop 50: Halloween Highlights from the AgNet News Hour
…former National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president, to discuss Argentina trade tensions, beef pricing, and the high stakes of Proposition 50. Kester joined from his family ranch in Parkfield, California,…
Post–Civil War Wheat Crash: How Farmers Turned to Corn and Livestock
A canon sits near a corn field at a Civil War battlefield. DepositPhotos image The Civil War’s Wheat Boom During the Civil War, wheat became one of the most valuable…
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
The October 28 edition of the AgNet News Hour tackled the global marketplace head-on, as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill examined how trade policy, retail pricing, and foreign imports continue to shape the…
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
…Over the following decades, their business diversified, adapting to new technologies, markets, and trade networks. Today, Cargill stands as one of the world’s largest privately held companies, involved in food…