early 19th-century

Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion

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

America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History Minute, most citizens relied on farming not only for income but also for food security. Families grew crops and raised animals primarily to sustain themselves, with only a small portion sold at nearby local markets. …

Smith-Lever Act

How the Smith-Lever Act Created 4-H and Transformed Rural America

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

A Turning Point in Agricultural Education In 1914, the United States Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, establishing the Cooperative Extension Service—a transformative program that reshaped how Americans learned about farming, livestock, and home economics. The law created a system that connected land-grant universities with communities across the nation, ensuring that agricultural innovation and scientific research reached producers and their families …

Ohio River

Ohio River: A Lifeline of American Agriculture

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

Introduction The Ohio River has played a crucial role in shaping American agriculture and commerce. Stretching nearly a thousand miles, this historic waterway has been central to trade, transportation, and irrigation, supporting communities and farmers along its banks for generations. Geography and Significance Flowing 981 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the confluence with the Mississippi River near Cairo, Illinois, the …

Colorado River

Colorado River: Lifeline of the American West

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

A Vital Waterway in American Agriculture The Colorado River, stretching an impressive 1,450 miles, stands as the fifth-longest river in the United States. Its name, Colorado, comes from the Spanish word for “colored reddish,” a reference to the river’s heavy silt load that once gave it a distinctive hue. Originating in the central Rocky Mountains, this river plays a critical …

American Agriculture

Dan Agri View, General

Everett Griner talks about how American agriculture began in today’s Agri View. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role in Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025