In this history of American agriculture over the last century, Mr. Hurt shows how farm men and women increasingly looked to the federal government-for technical information, regulation of business practices, and intervention in the agricultural economy. He surveys the major policy changes that helped shape farming both as a business and as a way of life. "The best history of twentieth-century American agriculture I've ever read. A fine, fine book."-Peter A. Coclanis.
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Part 1 Preface ix Part 2 THE PROGRESSIVE ERA 3 Chapter 3 A regional survey. Age of prosperity. The Country Life movement. Agricultural organizations. Reformers, farmers, and the regulatory state. Agricultural education. Expansion of federal power. World War I. Part 4 THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY 41 Chapter 5 Postwar decline. Science and technology. The Farm Bloc. The McNary-Haugen plan. The Agricultural Marketing Act. Part 6 THE NEW DEAL 67 Chapter 7 The Agricultural Adjustment Administration. The Commodity Credit Corporation. Dust Bowl. Resettlement and Farm Security. Rural electrification. The farm lobby. Part 8 PROSPERITY AND DECLINE 97 Chapter 9 World War II. Postwar problems. Science and technology. Agribusiness. Agricultural organizations. Part 10 FALLOUT 124 Chapter 11 The policy of dependency. Collapse. Embargo. Agricultural organizations. Science and technology. Part 12 CENTURY'S END 154 Chapter 13 Farm subsidies. Genetically modified crops. Agribusiness. Environmental concerns. A new agricultural policy. Part 14 A Note on Sources 175 Part 15 Index 183
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A very solid, readable history. * CHOICE *Packed with information and insights and emphasizing the many roles of the federal government. -- Richard S. Kirkendall, Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Professor Emeritus, University of WashingtonBy far the best concise account of the American farmer's relation to the federal government in the twentieth century....Extremely valuable. -- Allan G. BogueProblems of Plenty is the best history of twentieth-century American agriculture I've ever read....A fine, fine book. -- Peter A. CoclanisWell-conceived and executed...especially strong on the ambivalent relationship between farmers and the federal government. -- David Danbom, North Dakota State UniversityAn intriguing discussion. * Midwest Book Review *Concise but rich portrayal.... I cannot think of a better or more accessible discussion of the changing political economy of U.S. agriculture during the twentieth century. * Journal of Economic History *...This book delivers a tightly woven description of 'commercially oriented farmers.' * Western Historical Quarterly *This overview of the relationship between farmers and the government during the twentieth century deserves a wide readership. * Journal Of The Illinois State Historical Society *...A concise history of U.S. farming over the past 100 years....A useful book for students and interested lay readers alike. * The Region *...Masterful history.... Elegantly written synthesis.... An essential reference work... * Journal of Southern History *
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781566634625
Publisert
2003-07-21
Utgiver
Vendor
Ivan R Dee, Inc
Vekt
245 gr
Høyde
209 mm
Bredde
137 mm
Dybde
15 mm
Aldersnivå
01, G
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
208

Forfatter

Biographical note

Douglas Hurt has written widely about American agriculture, including American Farms, The Dust Bowl, American Farm Tools, and American Agriculture: A Brief History, among many other books. He is professor of history at Iowa State University and director of the graduate program in agricultural history and rural studies. He lives in Ames, Iowa.