Growing a Nation Growing a Nation  
    A History of American Agriculture 1900  
    by decade by category      
     
   
Economic Cycles



1907-08
Panic of 1907
Farm Economy
1889-1919
Farm prosperity
Farmers & the Land
1900
Total population: 75,994,266; farm population: 29,414,000 (est.); farmers 38% of labor force; Number of farms: 5,740,000; average acres: 147
1900-20
Continued agricultural settlement on the Great Plains
1902
Reclamation Act
1905-07
Policy of reserving timberlands inaugurated on a large scale
1905
Forest Service created

Farm Machinery and Technology


1900-09
Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer 3,738,300 tons
1900-10
George Washington Carver of Tuskegee Institute finds new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, helping to diversify southern agriculture
Crops & Livestock

1900-10
Turkey red wheat emerges as commercial crop
1900-20
Extensive experimental work to breed disease-resistant varieties of plants, to improve plant yield and quality, and to increase the productivity of farm animal strains
1903
Hog cholera serum developed
1904
First serious stem-rust epidemic affecting wheat


Transportation



1909
The Wrights demonstrate the airplane


Agricultural Trade and Development




1900-09
Agricultural exports: $917 million/year or 58%
of total exports

1905
International Institute of Agriculture established



Life on the Farm

1900-20
Urban influences on rural life intensify
1908
Model T Ford paves way for mass production of automobiles; President Roosevelt's Country Life Commission focuses attention on the problems of farm wives and difficulty of keeping children on the farm
1908-17
Country-life movement



Farm Organizations & Movements

1902
Farmers' Union started; American Society of Equity formed
1905
California Fruit Growers Exchange formed
1906
Appointment of first county agricultural agent
1909-17
Boys' and girls' club work underway



Agricultural Education & Extension



1900
First corn club for boys, forerunner of 4-H clubs
1903
Seaman Knapp begins boll-weevil demonstration project, an inspiration for extension education
Government Programs & Policy

1900-17
Federal Government's role in agriculture grows with passage of farm legislation
1906
Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act

 
Agriculturel Images  
                   
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