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Ukraine and the Black Sea region play a critical role in the global grain markets. As most are aware, Russia currently has over 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine’s borders and fears of a looming invasion have been ongoing for several months. The conflict is a major point of concern for global agriculture, as an interruption …

A Deeper Look at How the Ukraine-Russia Conflict Could Impact Global Grain Trade Read More »

John Deere’s name is synonymous with the tractor and equipment manufacturer that still bears his name. Nearly 136 years since his death in 1886, the one-time blacksmith would probably be quite astonished at how his cutting-edge plow has evolved. Beyond his talent for invention, Deere was also a savvy businessman and it was these perhaps …

What You Might Not Know About John Deere, the Man Behind the Tractor Read More »

It was on this day in 1812 that a series of violent earthquakes near Missouri caused a tsunami of sorts in the Mississippi River, actually making the river run backward for several hours. The series of tremors and earthquakes, which took place between December 1811 and March 1812, are actually the most powerful in the …

Crazy Bit of History… The Day the Mississippi River Ran in Reverse Read More »

America’s orange growers are on track for another decline in production this season with USDA most recently estimating an -11% drop from last year’s output. In Florida, the nation’s largest orange grower, USDA is forecasting a production decline of -16%, which would be the state’s smallest crop in at least 75 years. Production in California, …

Weather and Disease Dent U.S. Orange Crops Read More »

While electric cars have become increasingly mainstream over the last decade, the freight rail industry has not seen the same push to electrify. According to Berkeley Labs, electrification efforts for freight trains have not been a priority because they only account for about 2% of U.S. transportation emissions. What many may not realize is that …

Could the Future of Rail Freight be “Electric”? Read More »

I doubt most of today’s younger generations, especially those never setting foot on a farm, even know what canning is all about. A staple to most farming families over the generations, canning actually goes back to the Napoleonic era. With the French military spreading its influence geographically during that time, the challenge of feeding the …

Another Napoleonic Contribution… “Canning” Read More »

In the U.S., the standard unit of land measurement is the “acre,” which is exactly 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. The history of how we settled on this seemingly random area and why we are one of the few industrialized countries still using it is a lot more interesting than you might think. …

What’s in an Acre? Read More »

Diesel engines are in many ways the backbone of American industry. Most of the transportation models used to move goods across the country and around the globe utilize diesel-powered engines, including trains, boats, barges, heavy- and medium-duty trucks. They also power a large portion of the equipment used in farming, construction, the military, and public …

Understanding the Difference Between Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Read More »

Veteran Rancher Bill Niman, founder and previous owner of famed Niman Ranch, whose meats are relished by dozens of high-end chefs, including Jean-Georges and Alfred Portale, as well as Chipotle, who all post the Niman Ranch name on their menus like a badge of honor, is now looking to bring more transparency to the meat …

Trust the Label or Trust the Science Read More »

The Great Depression was one of the worst times in modern history for American farmers. Like others of the time, brothers Francis Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg barely scraped by. They initially grew sweet corn and potatoes on the borders of eastern Oregon and their native Idaho but a big gamble on the future of …

How Two Idaho Farmers Turned Potato Scraps into an American Food Classic Read More »