Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Field Crops”
The Crop Exchange That Built American Farming In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold revisits a pivotal moment in agricultural development—when cultures collided and crops crossed continents to shape what we now know as American agriculture. As settlers expanded westward, Native Americans played a crucial role in introducing farm families to vital crops like sweet potatoes, …
From Columbus to the Cotton Gin: The Crop That Changed a Nation In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold shares a pivotal chapter in American farming—how cotton became one of the nation’s most transformative crops. When Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492, he discovered cotton growing wild. It wasn’t long before the crop …
Long before tractors revolutionized American agriculture in the 1930s, a different machine was already transforming the harvest: the threshing machine. In 1847, Daniel Massey launched the Newcastle Foundry in Ontario, Canada, producing some of the world’s first mechanical threshers. These devices separated grain from stalks—an essential but once backbreaking task. Above: A vintage threshing machine at work during a historical …
Checking this week on the peanut market. The peanut market is very slow right now as the industry is waiting on the number of acres that have been officially planted by farmers all the way across the United States. This, right now, appears to be a record. Acreage was predicted to be up eight percent over last year. And, they …
Well in the news we’re always watching new trends, strategic growth opportunities, and that’s what we’re finding in the peanut industry. They’ve been tracking brands and how the population utilizes peanuts. 64 percent of the millennials and 57 percent of Gen Z believe peanuts are more sustainable compared to other protein sources, such as tree nuts, meats, eggs, and dairy, …
The wheat numbers in last week’s USDA monthly crop report could garner the most attention in our view. USDA, we expect to place more attention on old crop corn, soybean and wheat supplies. But as one bottom line analyst suggested, he sees USDA quote sitting on their hands again this month, US and world supply demand numbers waiting for July …
Well, peanut farming in America is a lifestyle. That’s the word from the PQ folks at the PQ Magazine with the National Peanut Board. They say peanut farming is more than just a profession, it’s a way of life passed down through generations and rooted in tradition and constantly evolving through innovation. One person they feature is Casey Cox Kerr. …
Tyron Spearman reports peanut farmers invest each year in promotions through the National Peanut Board. Trying to build the market of peanuts and peanut butter, they’ve just completed a survey by the Bannum Group that reveals compelling insights about generalization of food choices and why you make those choices. They say now with 85% of the U.S. adults having eaten …
Evolution of Corn Planting in the U.S. In this edition of American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold takes us back to the late 1700s and early 1800s, a period when corn planting was a labor-intensive, hands-on process. Early American farmers used a method known as cross-check planting, where hills of corn were planted in evenly spaced rows running north-south and …
Health conditions of the 2025 U.S. winter wheat crop were described as the “second-worst ever” last Fall. As harvest ramps up, Reuters says winter wheat ratings now sit at a six-year-high point for early June. It’s precisely what U.S. exporters need to continue and possibly grow their impressive sales numbers into next year. As of last weekend, the USDA rated …
