The Windmill’s Enduring Role in American Agriculture For centuries, windmills have played a vital role in agricultural production around the world. Long before electricity reached rural communities, farmers relied on the power of the wind to pump water, support livestock operations, and sustain life in some of the most remote farming regions. According to agricultural historian Mark Oppold, the story …
The History of Irrigation: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern American Agriculture
How Irrigation Transformed Farming Across Thousands of Years Water has always been one of the most critical resources in agriculture. Without a reliable water supply, growing crops consistently would be nearly impossible in many regions of the world. Today, hundreds of thousands of acres across the United States rely on sophisticated irrigation systems to produce the food, fiber, and fuel …
NCBA Keeping a Close Watch on WOTUS rule rulemaking by the EPA
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is keeping a close watch on the WOTUS Rule as it goes through rulemaking by the EPA. We caught up with Mary-Thomas Hart with NCBA to learn more. “We are always watching the WOTUS rule as it goes through yet another iteration of rulemakings. NCBA commented on that last year. We expect to see that …
Valley Irrigation: A $5,000 Gamble That Changed Farming Forever
A Vision Rooted in Opportunity In 1946, entrepreneur Robert Doherty was searching for a promising business opportunity—something with long-term potential in American agriculture. He found it just west of Valley, Nebraska, where a small, modest manufacturing operation caught his attention. Recognizing its potential, Doherty made a bold move. He invested $5,000—nearly all of his savings—into what was then known as …
Producers Share Drought Condition Reports Across the Southeast
The drought in the southeast and especially South Georgia continues. Rain maybe next weekend, but that’s what farmers are hoping. At the Georgia Peanut Commission this week, a lot of discussion about what is happening in the various areas. One farmer said, lots of corn in my area, we’re having to irrigate it continuously because it’s so dry. With the rising cost of …
Butler Manufacturing: From Water Tanks to Steel Buildings
The Founding of an Agricultural Innovator In 1901, brothers Charles Butler and Newton Butler established the Butler Manufacturing Company in Kansas City. What began as a modest operation would grow into one of the most influential manufacturing companies in American agricultural history. The Butler brothers combined ingenuity with practical farming needs, initially focusing their efforts on improving essential farm equipment. …
Seeds of Survival: How Irrigation Shaped Early Colorado Agriculture
The Beginnings of Agriculture in Colorado Agriculture in what is now Colorado began to take shape in the early 1850s, during a time when much of the region was considered inhospitable to farming. Settlers entering the area faced dry conditions, unpredictable weather, and a landscape that earned the nickname “The Great American Desert.” Despite these challenges, early pioneers were determined …
Colorado Irrigation: How Greeley Transformed Western Agriculture
The Birth of Agriculture in Greeley Greeley became Colorado’s first major agricultural settlement, marking a turning point in the development of farming across the state. Early settlers arrived with optimism but quickly encountered a harsh and unforgiving environment. At the time, much of the region was labeled the “Great American Desert,” a term used to describe the dry, unpredictable conditions …
Valley Helps Growers Get The Most Out Of Every Acre
With rising costs of production, it’s critical for growers to get the most out of every single acre. Valley Irrigation has some solutions for growers to consider and we sat down with Nicholas Scates with Valley Irrigation to learn more. Scates said, “As you know, many farms, both big and small, have irregularly shaped or smaller fields that traditional pivots haven’t …
Tusker Livestock Waterer’s Offers Cattle Producers Options For Watering Their Herds
Water is crucial for any livestock producer, regardless of the weather and Tusker Livestock Waterer’s offers producers options for watering their herds. We caught up with Paul Thompson with Tusker to learn more. Thompson said, “Freezing tanks, freezing water troughs is one of the biggest aggravations in the cattle industry for sure. So what we’re making is a roto-molded, completely spray …










