agriculture

How Native Crops and European Grains Shaped U.S. Agriculture

Dan American Agriculture History Minute, Corn, Cotton, Field Crops, Peanuts, Soybeans, This Land of Ours, Wheat

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, …

tractors

Before Tractors: The Thresher That Changed Farming

Dan American Agriculture History Minute, Field Crops, This Land of Ours, Wheat

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 …

wheat

Upcoming Crop Reports and Wheat Harvest Progress

Dan Corn, Soybeans, Wheat

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 …

winter wheat

Winter Wheat Crop Conditions Rebound from Gloomy 2024 Forecast

Dan Economy, Wheat

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 …

butler manufacturing

American Agriculture History Minute: Butler Manufacturing Company Founded

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

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Brothers Charles and Newton Butler founded Butler Manufacturing Company in Kansas City, 1901. The two worked together on building an improved livestock watering tank. And during the early 1900s, the men designed and built several agricultural products, particularly grain storage bins. The company enjoyed success selling the merchandise, and by 1908, …

continue

Markets Continue to Realign

Dan Commodities, Corn, Economy, Export/Import, Tariff, Weather, Wheat

Market fluctuations are being seen as of late as various factors continue to affect what we see from day to day. As Mark Oppold notes, realignment is taking place for many contracts. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024

Weekly crop

Weekly Crop Reports Resume

Dan Corn, Field Crops, Soybeans, Weather, Wheat

Weekly crop progress reports have started for another growing season. Mark Oppold looks through some of the early numbers. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024