Food, Land & People in a Changing America The story of American Agriculture What is agriculture?

Hybridized corn produced The hatch Experiment Station Act was passed, providing federal grants to states for agricultural experimentation The first long haul shipment of a refrigerated freight car was made from California to New York The gasoline tractor was built by John Froelich. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People Farmers make up 53 % of the population Farmers make up 43 % of the population.

1900 – George Washington Carver, conducts important research on peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and cotton The Reclamation Act was passed, leading to water projects for irrigation The Pure food and Drug Law was enacted Establishment of the federal- state Extension Service to direct the education for farmers. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

Agriculture prices collapse Dust Bowl conditions develop The Farm Credit Administration was established, creating specialized credit for agriculture The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 was enacted, authorizing farm price supports and adjustment programs – 1940 The Great Depression Farmers make up 21 % of the population. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

Frozen foods become popular Agricultural Act of 1949 passed, incorporating the principle of flexible price support and giving surplus food to the needy Farm Surpluses More tractors than work horses on the farm Farmers make up 18% of the population. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

Nine labor hours to produce 125 bushels of wheat on 5 acres (1830 – 275 labor hours to produce 100 bushels of wheat on 5 acres.) Sterile flies used for screwworm control Nation Food Stamp Act passed. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People (bushel = 60 pounds of wheat)

1965 – Five labor hours to produce 100 bushels of wheat on 3.3 acres One farmer supplies 10 persons in the U.S. and abroad One farmer supplies 11 persons in the U.S. and abroad One farmer supplies 16 persons in the U.S. and abroad One farmer supplies 26 persons in the U.S. and abroad Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

Russian wheat sales bring higher farm prices Passage of 1985 Food Security Act shifts U.S. farm policy toward market orientation. Anti- smoking campaigns cut U.S. tobacco production Worst drought ever to hit Midwest farmers One farmer supplies 76 persons in the U.S. and abroad. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

The number of U.S. farm acres retired through the Conservation Reserve Program reaches 30 million The use of conservation tillage methods, which leave crop residues in the field to combat erosion continues to rise Passage of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Advances in biotechnology reach the agricultural producer and consumer level. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People Farmers make up 3% of the population.

Farmers begin using satellite technology to track and plan their farming practices USDA meat inspection modernized for safer food Farm Families make up less than 10% of rural population but rural areas experience strong growth Farmers make up 1.5% of the population, or 5 million of 304 million One farmer supplies 144 persons in the U.S. and abroad. Concentric ring patterns were due to worn or plugged nozzles. Pie-shaped purple area indicated a pivot stall that caused over-watering. The higher-elevated South half of field shows crop stress due to poorly performing pressure regulators. Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

Food, Land and People = Agriculture How do you define agriculture now? What do you think Ben Franklin George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson would say about agriculture today? How has agriculture changed? Have the uses of agricultural goods changed? Does America need agriculture?