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Japanese Beetles
The Japanese beetles were destructive and caused a lot of damage to over 275 plants, shrubs and trees. In response, the USDA used a way to produce milky disease spore powder in large amounts to control damage from these beetles. This was the first time in history using a disease organism to control a pest. -
Red Squill
During the 1930s it estimated that 200 million dollars annually were lost to rodents, specifically rats and mice, eating and/or spoiling crops with their urine and droppings. USDA scientists created a rat killer called red squill to control these small but destructive animals. -
Rotting Food
During the depression crops were being grown but wern being sold. Farmers couldn't get fair prices on their produce causing food to rot and waste away until the government instituted surplus disposal programs. Without government intervention crops would have continued to rot and e useless while parent and children would starve. -
Price of Sheep Per 100 Pounds
The decline in the price of sheep meant that ranchers earned only about one-third of the income they had made five years earlier This is important because the price of livestock also plummeted. -
Great Plains Drought Area Committee
Because the drought was so catastrophic The president at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the great plains drought area committee. The committee was a group of professionals brought in to observe the drought and provide recommendations to attempt to prevent this happening again. -
Brush Fires
In the 1930s there was a large scale drought, therefore increasing the numbers of bush fires. By the year 1935 there were 140 fires reported and in a years time it rose to 226. This is important because these brush fires destroyed not only brush but also the growing crops. -
A Revolution in Farming
After world war ll, farms were transformed. Advancement in technology and studies were conducted during that time. These actions industrialized farming and society. This was important because it completly changed farming and introduced the idea of work smarter not harder. -
Two Advances Revolutionize Agriculture During the War
Tractors and other machinery as well as new chemical fertilizers and pesticides played a big role in revolutionizing agriculture. -
The Agricultural Act of 1948
This new version of the farm bill revised aspects of agricultural policy as well as addressed prices of several crops like cotton, wheat, corn, tobacco, rice, and peanuts. -
Putting the Marshall Plan Into Action
After world war ll The Marshall Plan was set into action. It was a plan to support the foreign countries. The secretary of state,George C. Marshall wanted to help encourage peace by rebuilding the agricultural prosperity. Agriculture played a big part in the Marshall Plan and helping foreign countries.
