American Agriculture History

American Agriculture History Minute: Future Bright for Colorado After Discovery of Gold, Silver, and the Railroad

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, This Land of Ours

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Early settlers found a lot to like once they crossed the Appalachians and settled in states like Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. But there was not much to like about Colorado. According to historians, when first settlers arrived there, in fact, many decided the difficult trail through the Rockies onto Oregon …

Farm rescue act

Farmers Still Caught in Trump’s Funding Freeze

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Funding, USDA-NRCS

The Trump administration is withholding funds from farmers participating in conservation programs, despite the White House’s assurance last week that funding to individuals would not be frozen. Contractors supporting these programs have also been affected. The Iowa Soybean Association, in a letter to lawmakers, warned that $11 million owed to farmers is at risk. Many farmers are only now learning …

American Agriculture History

American Agriculture History Minute: First Motor Truck for Agriculture Hauling Introduced

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, Exports/Imports, This Land of Ours

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Machinery, livestock, and crops have always been needed to be moved around the farm or to market. Two-wheel carts suffice for early settlers. Soon four-wheeled wagons became the norm and were universally used for two centuries. Now it’s impossible, historians say, to pin down the first motor truck. But the first …

Future Farmers of America

Give FFA Day is February 20

Dan Agri-Business, Education

Thursday, February 20th will be the 10th annual Give FFA Day during National FFA Week. It is a day dedicated to making a difference in the lives of over a million FFA members across the country and growing the next generation of leaders.  The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization with the mission of helping students develop their leadership skills …

bird flu

U.S. Bird Flu Response Hampered by Trump Administration

Dan Agri-Business, Avian Influenza, Cattle, Legislative, Livestock, Poultry

The U.S. response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak has faced significant disruption in the early weeks of the Trump administration, raising concerns among federal officials, state agencies, veterinarians, and public health experts. Since President Donald Trump assumed office on January 20, two key federal agencies responsible for monitoring and managing the outbreak have delayed critical communications, including bird flu …

American Agriculture History

American Agriculture History Minute: First Grain Powered Grain Elevator Developed

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, Corn, Field Crops, This Land of Ours, Wheat

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Joseph Dart is part of American agriculture history. Though born in Connecticut, he soon moved to Buffalo, New York and it was there he conceived of a machine powered grain elevator and in 1842 put one into service, the first in America. Known as Dart’s elevator, other grain elevators were later …

electricity

How Rural America Looks at the Electricity Issue

Dan Agri-Business, Biofuels/Energy

With today being the President’s Day Holiday, the markets are closed. So, Mark Oppold takes time to look at how rural America is looking at the electricity issue. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025

Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins Confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Dan Agri-Business, Legislative

Today, the U.S. Senate voted 72-28 to confirm Brooke Rollins as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Ag commodity groups and leaders across the country congratulates Secretary Rollins on her confirmation and look forward to working with her. Following the Senate’s confirmation of Rollins, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson issued the following statement: “Congratulations to Brooke Rollins on her confirmation …

second ECAP payment

USDA Freezes Conservation, Farmer Payments

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Funding, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has frozen some funding for farmers as it goes through a sweeping review, despite assurances from the Trump administration that programs helping farmers wouldn’t be affected during the government overhaul. Reuters says the impact has been wide-ranging, from cash assistance for ranchers to fixing cattle watering systems to help for corn growers wanting to …

peanut

Concerns with USAID Issues

Dan Agri-Business

There has been a lot in the news lately about the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and changes the Trump Administration wants to make to the civilian foreign aid  and development assistance program. As Tyron Spearman reports, these issues are affecting one company who has worked for years to provide a peanut product to those in need. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle …