I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Prior to the 1800s, most of the tools and equipment farmers and ranchers used were handmade. The growing use of factory-made agricultural equipment increased farmer production and encouraged more commercial farming. These developments included: That’s today’s American Agriculture History Minute. I’m Mark Oppold. Thanks for reading. I’ll see you next time. …
Tariffs Will Impact the Peanut Industry
The tariffs put in place by President Trump that went into effect this week will impact the U.S. peanut industry. Tyron Spearman explains how. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research …
Standing Up for Checkoff Programs
Over the years, there have been various groups that have opposed commodity checkoff programs, and those efforts continue. As Rusty Halvorson reports, another group has contacted the new Agriculture Secretary in efforts to stop checkoff programs. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril …
Decline in Consumer Sentiment
Recent polls are showing a decline in consumer sentiment. And as Mark Oppold reports, that means a pullback in overall spending. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
USDA Secretary Announces Aid Plan at Commodity Classic
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed farmers attending Commodity Classic in Denver earlier this week and outlined the USDA’s plan to distribute $30 billion in economic and disaster relief. She also met with leaders from the corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum industries. Rollins called the current farm economy one of the worst in a century but expressed optimism for improvement. …
Tips for Cotton Growers in Preparation for Planting This Year’s Crop
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission and Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist, advise growers about what they could be doing now in preparation for planting this year’s crop. “Certainly, some things I’d be thinking about is getting pre-plant fertility stuff out there; of course, spraying burn-down herbicides; getting geared up for it, trying to dot …
American Agriculture History Minute: Major Change in Agriculture from Hand Power to Horses
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Agricultural production continued to expand in the early 1800s, but still by 1850, it took 75 to 90 labor hours to produce 100 bushels of corn, and that took 2.5 to 3 acres. That would begin to change. 1862 to 1875 signaled a major change in agriculture from hand power to …
Florida Governor and Cabinet Approve Protection of Agricultural Lands
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/03-05-25) – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have approved the preservation of nearly 6,500 acres of working Florida farms and ranches through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent …
Georgia’s Cotton Acres Expected to Be Lowest Since 1993
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s cotton acres are expected to drop to their lowest total in more than 30 years. That’s “alarming,” according to one industry expert. “(The National Cotton Council) is talking about the lowest cotton acres since 1993 in Georgia; 864,000 was their prediction,” said Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist. “There’s quite a few people …
Value of 2024 Peanut Crop
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put out their final numbers concerning the value of the 2024 peanut crop. Tyron Spearman runs through the new numbers. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response …










