Mark Oppold presents an American Agriculture History Minute, describing the challenging conditions of rural life in the mid-1930s, noting that 90% of rural homes lacked electricity. Farmers had to perform tasks like milking cows by hand using kerosene lamps, and families relied on basic wood-range washboards for domestic chores. Mark further explains how the lack of electricity significantly impacted rural …
American Agriculture History Minute: Vision for Rural Electrification
Mark Oppold presents an American Agriculture History Minute, explains that the story of rural electrification began during the 1932 presidential campaign when Democratic nominee Franklin Roosevelt toured the South. During this tour, Roosevelt was deeply affected by witnessing the widespread poverty and sanitation issues in rural areas. Mark describes how Roosevelt believed that bringing electricity to rural areas would be …
American Agriculture History Minute: Rural Electrification Initiative
Mark Oppold presents an American Agriculture History Minute, focuses on the historical development of rural electrification in America during the Roosevelt administration. Mark explains that when President Roosevelt took office in 1933, the initiative to provide electricity to rural America gained significant momentum. Mark further details that on May 11, 1935, President Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) through …
Rollins Applauds EPA’s Decision to Allow Summer Sale of E-15 Nationwide
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Rollins issued a statement this week in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency approval of the summer sale of E-15. Tyron Spearman has the story. Secretary Rollins Applauds EPA’s Decision to Allow Summer Sale of E-15 Nationwide (USDA/Washington, D.C./April 28, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued the following statement in support of the …
Tracking Agricultural Commodities after Two Months
With two months of 2025 now past us, Mark Oppold takes time to review how certain agricultural commodities have performed thus far this year. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
RFA Criticizes Musk for Removal of Year-Round E15 from Federal Spending Bill
At last week’s National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper expressed frustration over the removal of a year-round E15 sales provision from December’s stop-gap government funding bill. Cooper attributed the decision to opposition from Elon Musk, who was acting as the Trump administration’s efficiency chief, along with certain conservative lawmakers. “But in the eleventh hour, …
How Rural America Looks at the Electricity Issue
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 ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
New Records for U.S. Ethanol Exports
The U.S. ethanol industry saw new records for exports last year. As Mark Oppold reports, those numbers continue to grow. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Farmers Could Benefit from Biofuels under New Administration
Farmers could get some relief, at least from biofuels, as the new White House, EPA and other agencies start to roll out policies. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is optimistic the new administration will help, not hinder agriculture stuck under the weight of high input costs and low commodity prices. RFA’s Troy Bredenkamp said the ethanol industry expects the president and his …
Reviewing Agricultural Commodities
With markets closed today, Mark Oppold takes time to look at where certain agricultural commodities currently stand so far this year. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024