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Ag In Early America
The cultivation of the tropical maize, flint corn, and beans along the Mississippi River and in the Gulf States marks the beginning of the Mississippian culture.... The adopted intensive agricultural practices from Mesoamerica influenced the landscape in the Southeast dramatically. -
Farm Organizations to Improve Agriculture
In the early 1900s many communities were looking at how to improve farming and farm life. The Binghamton Chamber of Commerce suggested a demonstration farm be established, but that idea was not widely embraced. The second idea was to employ a “county agricultural expert” similar to the “county demonstrators” in the southern states. That idea stuck. The Chamber of Commerce, USDA and Lackawanna Railroad all contributed funds to make this happen. -
First African Slaves Brought To Virginia
In 1619, the first African slaves were brought to Virginia from Angola in West Central Africa; by 1700, slaves were displacing southern indentured servants. -
Parliamentary Acts
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, England adopted a series of laws known as “Parliamentary Acts.” These laws regulated trade from the American colonies by requiring that goods exported to England be sent on British ships. One section of these laws, the Navigation Acts, required that the colonies transport their most expensive products back to England and pay costly import taxes for this right. -
Stamp Act
In March 1765, British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the American colonies, which included taxation on printed documents, newspapers, dice, and playing cards. -
Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration of Independence resulted partly from British controls on farm exports, restrictions on land titles, and limitations on western settlement. -
Shays Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion, a farmers' revolt against high taxes and deflation in western Massachusetts, demonstrated the general resentment from the economic crisis that followed the American Revolution. -
Population And Productivity
In 1860s the average total U.S. population: 31,443,321; farm population: 15,141,000 (est.); farmers 58% of labor force; Number of farms: 2,044,000; average acres: 199. -
Agricultural Science
One of the first entomologists (insect scientists) employed by the USDA was Townend Glover. USDA Commissioner Newton encouraged Glover to start a museum containing Glover’s extensive collection of insects, as well as models of fruits. Commissioner Newton established an agricultural museum on August 1, 1864, with Glover as curator. -
Early Agricultural Science Research
In 1898, experts were predicting food shortages and famine because the increasing population would overtake our ability to grow sufficient wheat by 1931. They may have been right--except 1898 was also the year U.S. Department of Agriculture special agent Mark A. Carleton was sent on his first plant exploration trip to Russia. He brought back new durum and hard red wheat varieties to grow in the United States. -
Manufacturing Innovations
At the dawn of the 20th Century "horse and mule power" was being used extensively to pull farm implements for planting, cultivating, and harvesting. Some implements required more than a dozen animals to get the work done! View this video of a horse drawn harvester and consider the following questions -
War Time expansion
Europe became engaged in World War I in 1914. Busy fighting, these nations struggled to feed their citizens and soldiers. The US Food Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture urged American farmers and ranchers to step up production to meet increased demand at home and abroad. Agricultural exports soared and farm prices more than doubled.