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Drought and Depression
Agriculture was devastated when streams were dried up. Even though there was low level water in the mississippi, cattle couldn't be fed, crops failed, and there was less food on the table. And with all of that happening agriculture exports crashed. It was almost more than the americans could handle (Growing a Nation, Drought and Depression). -
Dark Clouds for Agriculture
During most of the 1930s half of the nation faced drought. Numerous dust storms swept away valuable layers of topsoil across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colorado. These dust storms would eventually be called the "dust bowl." Farmers had to move because their soil was getting blown away and they couldn't plant. -
Period: to
1930-1950
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Adapting to Change
In 1932 the situation worsened for american farmers. The price for a bushel of corn dropped from 76 cents to in 1929 to 29 cents in 1932. The main thing that contributed to this was that Farmers lacked the education and skills they needed to understand how the market was working. It was obvious that the "giant" of the countryside needed better training (Growing a Nation, adapting to change). -citation -
A Leader inspiring hope
Many americans became hopeful following Roosevelt's inauguration in in November 1933. Roosevelt promised more help through the federal government for Americans suffering during the Depression. (Growing a Nation, A Leader inspiring hope) -
Agriculture Adjustment
In March 1933, Henry A. Wallace took office as the newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture. He was from Iowa, a large farming state.He was a farmer, as well as a geneticist and farm philosopher. He had brought many ideas to americans. Wallace also created the emergency granary system through which the federal government purchases surplus grain and stores it against future needs. In 1933, under the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the federal government paid some farmers not to plant their fields. -
Soil Conservation Act
President Roosevelt sent direct aid to provide relief for the hungry and homeless in the dust bowl, and the USDA took action to stop soil erosion. The Soil Conservation Act was passed immediately after a dust storm from the Midwest engulfed the Capitol in April 1935. United States federal law that allowed the government to pay farmers to reduce production so as to conserve soil and prevent erosion. -
War Clouds for Agriculture
When the world wars came around(WW1 & WW2) the United States agriculture braced for the unknown as foreign markets closed and surpluses surged higher than ever. Farmers were even asked to only produce what they needed to survive at home. -
More Government Programs
While legislative actions were being taken to help farmers, many Americans were dismayed by the disparity of having farm surpluses while many people went hungry. There were many people that were without food, so USDA devised a plan called the food stamp. The food stamp basically makes sure that all families that are poor get their food that they need. It is still used today. -
"Shock Troops" of the Countryside
As the war in Europe continued farmers jumped on the opportunity to produce more for the allies and make more money for themselves. When the attack on Pearl Harbour happened the farmers took matters into their own hands and dedicated themselves to the "defeat of the Axis." They eagerly adopted science and technology, such as planting hybrid corn, to increase production. Yet even as farm output increased, food rationing went into effect. Farmers began to use machinery rather than horses. -
Agriculture Wartime Inventions
USDA scientists also started developing better methods for food dehydration. They developed dehydrated or “instant” potatoes, new techniques for drying milk, “powdered” eggs, and processes for combining various dried vegetables and meats into pre packaged soups and stews. With the growing use of tractors, farmers could do their work two times faster and they could do it by themselves. -
Prosperity on the Farm
After WW2, America was changing every second, the cost of living increased and cost of cars became much more of a reality. Science and Technology were changing the way America Farmed. Farms started using more pesticides and weed killers increased crop yields. As Agriculture became more efficient less people were need to work on a farm and more people started moving to cities. -
Modernization and Farmers
In 1950 the average farm was two hundred and thirteen acres; by 1960 it was two hundred and ninety-seven acres and growing. The number of large-scale commercial farms continued to increase because they were more efficient and productive. There was also introduction to the cotton picker to pick cotton faster and more efficient. Owning a farm in the 1950s was becoming expensive. In 1940, it cost around $6,622 per year to keep a farm running; in 1952, it was $23,027.
