A Shift from Hand Power to Horsepower The 1870s marked a pivotal decade in American agriculture, often called the first major agricultural revolution. Farmers began moving from traditional hand tools to horsepower, boosting productivity and efficiency across the nation. This transition laid the foundation for modern mechanized farming and reshaped how Americans cultivated and managed their land. Innovations That Transformed …
Early Challenges for Colorado Settlers Colorado’s agricultural story began with significant obstacles. Early settlers crossing what is now Nebraska and Kansas encountered land that seemed nearly worthless. “After a long dry trek, they saw little or no value when crossing over to what is now Colorado,” explains Mark Oppold in American Agriculture History Minute. The soil was sandier than in …
Florida Cattlemen’s Association Hosts Annual Boots on the Hill The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) recently held its annual Boots on the Hill event during the legislative quarterly, bringing together around 200 cattle producers to advocate for the state’s cattle industry. The event provides an opportunity for ranchers to meet directly with legislators and key decision-makers in Tallahassee. We spoke with …
USDA Launches New Online Portal to Report Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new online reporting portal designed to improve transparency and oversight of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land owned by foreign persons. The portal supports reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) and applies to transactions conducted …
National Peanut Board: Global Peanut Market Growth Hinges on Innovation and Allergy Education Today’s conversation with Ryan Lepizier, President and CEO of the National Peanut Board (NPB), highlights both the opportunity and responsibility facing the U.S. peanut industry. According to Lepizier, the global peanut market is projected to grow significantly, expanding from an estimated $92 billion today to $144 billion …
USDA Announces New World Screwworm Grand Challenge Funding Opportunity U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a major new funding initiative aimed at protecting American livestock and safeguarding the nation’s food supply. The program, called the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge, focuses on innovation, preparedness, and long-term prevention of the destructive pest that poses a serious threat to …
A Doubtful Beginning for Minnesota Apples In 1860, Minnesota was not considered a place where apples could thrive. That skepticism was famously captured by journalist and editor Horace Greeley, who wrote in the New York Tribune, “I would not live in Minnesota because you can’t grow apples there.” At the time, his assessment reflected a common belief: the state’s short …
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended January 23, 2026, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended- January 23, 2026, receipts at 16 markets totaled 8,497 head compared to 11,439 last week and 3,390 last …
American agriculture has been shaped by countless innovators whose ideas laid the groundwork for modern farming. One such pioneer is Anna Baldwin, a largely overlooked but critically important figure in dairy history. As highlighted by Mark Oppold in this American Agriculture History Minute, Baldwin’s work represents a turning point in how milk production was imagined during the late 19th century. …
As settlers moved westward across the Appalachian Mountains, many found fertile land and favorable farming conditions in states such as Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. These regions quickly became agricultural strongholds, offering opportunities that attracted families eager to build productive farms and stable communities. Colorado, however, did not share the same early appeal. Historians note that when the first settlers …
