Agriculture in the American South Agriculture in the southern United States developed quite differently from that in the Midwest or New England. While northern regions focused on diversified farming, smaller …
Early American Farmers and the Lost Art of Soil Stewardship
A Myth of Responsible Farming Many Americans like to believe that early farmers and ranchers were responsible caretakers of the soil—working the land with the same respect and sustainability that …
How Radio Transformed American Agriculture History
The Power of Radio in Rural America Radio is one of the most influential innovations in the history of American agriculture. In the early 20th century, long before the rise …
Westward Expansion: The Harsh Beginnings of America’s Frontier Farmers
The Struggle to Move West Westward expansion in the United States did not happen quickly or easily. The journey beyond the original colonies demanded courage, endurance, and determination. Settlers faced …
How Early Farmers Learned to Protect Their Soil
The Dawn of Soil Conservation in Early American Farming In the early years of American settlement, the nation’s farmers often took the vastness of the land for granted. As Mark …
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History Minute, most citizens relied on …
How the Smith-Lever Act Created 4-H and Transformed Rural America
A Turning Point in Agricultural Education In 1914, the United States Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, establishing the Cooperative Extension Service—a transformative program that reshaped how Americans learned about farming, …