Harry Cline (Farm Progress) specializes in Western U.S. agricultural innovation with 33 years of policy and technology reporting. His work bridges operational challenges with macroeconomic trends, particularly in crop management systems and regulatory advocacy.
"Make connections between what you're learning and why it matters to the farmer's bottom line."
Recipient of the CAFA's Jim Kuhn Leadership Award (2013), Cline prioritizes stories demonstrating clear economic impacts through verifiable data trends. His 150+ annual bylines reach 500K+ specialty crop growers via Farm Progress' multi-platform network.
Harry Cline has carved a 33-year legacy in agricultural journalism, blending on-the-ground reporting with advocacy for industry innovation. Beginning his career in Texas and Arizona, he became Western Farm Press' inaugural editor, shaping coverage of Western U.S. agriculture's unique challenges. His work at Farm Progress (2009–present) demonstrates a shift toward analyzing technology adoption barriers while maintaining advocacy for progressive farming policies.
This 2009 analysis predicted California's record tomato yield through irrigation efficiency data and processor contracts. Cline juxtaposed grower optimism with supply chain vulnerabilities, presaging modern agricultural economics debates. His methodology combined USDA statistics with farmer interviews, creating a template for actionable crop reporting.
Cline's 2009 first-person account humanized precision agriculture adoption struggles. Through narrative storytelling about GPS system frustrations, he highlighted the generational tech gap in farming communities. The article spurred reader forums about retraining programs, demonstrating his ability to transform operational challenges into industry-wide dialogues.
This 2013 profile piece cemented Cline's reputation as an industry thought leader. By chronicling his Jim Kuhn Leadership Award, the article documented his advocacy for GMO deregulation through CAFA meeting transcripts and peer testimonials. The coverage elevated trade journalism's role in policy shaping.
Cline prioritizes technologies with verifiable ROI data, as seen in his irrigation efficiency analyses. Pitches should include third-party validated yield metrics rather than conceptual benefits. His 2009 GPS article demonstrates this preference for quantifiable user experiences over speculative claims.
Successful pitches interweave regulatory changes with operational realities. The forage industry award coverage shows his method of grounding policy debates in stakeholder testimonials. Include interview-ready farmers affected by proposed legislation.
As evidenced in his 50-year career retrospectives, Cline values longitudinal data trends. Pitch evergreen topics with 10+ year comparative datasets, particularly around crop yields or technology adoption rates.
"It is with great pleasure that CAFA awards its annual Jim Kuhn Leadership award to Harry Cline... who has exhibited extraordinary lasting contributions to the alfalfa industry." - Spencer Halsey, CAFA Executive Director
The 2013 Jim Kuhn Award recognized Cline's decades of advocacy for genetic crop research. Given by the 1,200-member California Alfalfa & Forage Association, this honor places him among only 3 journalists ever recognized in the award's 40-year history.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Agriculture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
