On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour:
Roger Isom, president and CEO of the Western Tree Nut Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, returned for Part 2 of the show.
American Agriculture History Minute:
Explores the South’s Early Farming Economy. Agriculture in the American South developed differently from farming in the Midwest and New England, shaped by differences in land use and climate.
Shortage of Large Animal Veterinarians:
More than 500 counties across 46 states experienced a shortage of large animal veterinarians in 2025, according to USDA estimates.
Foreign Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land:
Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land involves more than 47 million acres, representing approximately 3.6% of privately held agricultural acreage, according to new USDA data.
CDFA Seeks Applications:
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on its Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee.
Roger Isom on California Agriculture’s Future:
Roger Isom warns that California agriculture faces growing challenges following the recent election.
Railroads and American Agriculture:
Railroads helped open new lands to American farmers, playing a significant role in the expansion of American agriculture during the mid-19th century.
Sonoma County Water Challenges:
Dayna Ghirardelli, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, discusses California’s ongoing water challenges and the future of family farming.
Soil Fertility and Early American Pioneers:
Early American farmers helped expand agriculture across the United States, but their history of westward settlement also reveals a pattern of land use that often depleted the soil rather than improved it.
USDA’s Michelle Bekkering on Export Markets:
Michelle Bekkering, Acting Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, discusses new export markets and trade opportunities for California farmers.
Iowa’s Great Prairie and Farming Challenges:
Iowa’s transition from eastern forests to the vast grasslands of the Great Prairie created a different set of farming challenges for early American settlers.
Potato Breeding Research:
Potato breeding research is examining ways to reduce tuber damage during harvesting, storage and packing, with the goal of helping growers deliver more potatoes that meet market standards.
California Ag and Innovation:
Hannah Johnson connects California agriculture with innovation, addressing mounting challenges through technology, automation, and artificial intelligence.
Beef Prices on the Rise:
Beef prices at grocery stores are continuing to climb even as cattle producers receive less for their animals, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).