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changes in agriculture
The Smith-Lever Act begins subsidies to the land-grant colleges for agricultural research. -
changes in agriculture
The Federal Farm Loan Act creates cooperative “land banks” to provide loans to farmers. Legislation during the 1930s expands this Farm Credit System, and today the FCS is a 50-state network of financial cooperatives with assets of $90 billion. -
changes in agriculture
A rising protectionist sentiment is stimulated by President Hoover’s call to increase agricultural tariffs to help farmers. Congress responds with the Smoot-Hawley Act, which greatly increased tariffs on both farm and industrial products. Other countries retaliated and U.S. agricultural exports plunge 60 percent by 1933. -
changes in agriculture
The Agricultural Adjustment Act, and subsequent New Deal laws, creates the forerunners of today’s major farm subsidy programs. -
changes in agriculture
The Tobacco Control Act imposes quotas on tobacco production. -
changes in agriculture
The Food Stamp Act creates what has become one of the largest welfare programs, a program that is known for major fraud and abuse. The program currently costs federal taxpayers more than $35 billion a year. -
changes in agriculture
Congress changes course in farm policy with the passage of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act—the “Freedom to Farm” law. -
changes in agriculture
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act reverts to old-style subsidy increases and price supports as farm-state politicians reject the modest reform proposals of the Bush administration. -
changes in agriculture
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act expands farm subsidies, and it is enacted over a presidential veto. -
changes in agriculture
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program balloons in size during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.