Essay on The Misconceptions of the American Agriculture Industry

By the late 1800s, America was transitioning from an economy based on agriculture to one based on industry. Although this transformation made the United Stated richer and more powerful than it had ever been before, it caused farmers to face numerous problems to which they found themselves unable to successfully overcome. Even though many farmers moved into the industrial workforce, the ones who wished to continue agricultural work faced problems such as overproduction and tariff policies. Also, the farmers lost their political power due to the decreased focus on agriculture.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers food assistance programs that help provide food for low to no income families. It is their goal to increase food security and reduce hunger by increasing access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education for low-income Americans (Caswell, 2013, para. 1). Some of the current nutrition assistance programs include “the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)”(Caswell, 2013, para. 1). SNAP will be the primary nutrition assistance program of the paper at hand. No matter how morally good it is to try to help reduce hunger and increase food security within the United States, there are still many questions regarding issues with SNAP. This paper will be discussing why there is such a strong support for the program, how it helps the United States as a whole, problems with the program, and why some people are against SNAP.

Former president George Washington once said, “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man,” (George Washington Quote). Since Washington’s presidency, countless advancements and developments within the agricultural industry have allowed the United States to grow, develop, and become one of the most prosperous countries in the entire world. Nevertheless, this prosperity is also marked by several key historical events, such as the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, which have caused the core values and traditions that this great nation was built on to slowly disappear. Today, the majority of Americans have no knowledge, understanding, or appreciation for the agricultural industry, causing them to take for granted the basic necessities they rely on each day. This disconnection has created a gap between producers and consumers, which is known as

The replacement of the idle fallow with crops constituted the Agricultural Revolution. It was important because the new types of crops made allowed farmers to feed their animals more, which led to a greater amount of meat and improved diets. It had the greatest effect in England and the Low Countries.

As a person that has grown most of my own food, without chemicals or engine powered equipment, for the last 15 years and lesser so for many more years I can relate to some degree what it may have been like for a farmer in the 1800’s (I even live in a house built in 1850).

America — a land known for its ideals of freedom and new opportunities, a nation built under the idea that every man and women is created equal. However, the definition of what makes a person an American is entirely different from what it is that makes up America, itself. J.Hector St. John Crevecoeur, author of Letters from an American Farmer (1782), exposes what he believes makes an American. However, when compared to the standards of what makes an American in today’s world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than it is today. The definition of an American is always evolving due to the influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Crevecoeur defined an American as someone of European

Over the years agriculture has nearly diminished from the workforce. Why is this happening? In fact, ever since the Industrial Revolution’s promises of “big city success” agriculture has taken a hit. Agriculture has been a foundation for the infrastructure of the United States since it’s creation. Agricultural careers are a necessity for the nation. It is important through the history, from whom it affects, the effects on the environment and people, and to find a solution to the loss of this core element.

During 1865-1900 technology made a huge impact in agriculture. What changed America was the expansion of railroads, limiting laws on goods that farmers sold and transportation of goods. Farmers began to harvest vast areas of needed crops such as wheat, cotton, and even corn. In document D shows you a picture of The Wheat Harvest in 1880.

It’s the middle of the winter of 2009 and my family and I are on our way to my very first meeting with the Three Rivers 4H Club. I am incredibly unsure about what 4H is, in fact, I had never even heard of 4H before my mother presented the idea to me in the spring of 2009. My mother brought the idea to me because I was tired of lying around all summer and I needed something to do. To fix this dilemma I was having, she did a little bit of research on the Internet for summer activities and programs around Carlisle and the state. That’s when my mother stumbled across an Iowa State University link for something called 4H. After she and I sat down and talked about 4H I found out that I loved the idea of all 4H is and what it does.

As the population of the young United States increased more and more people hungry mouths were asking for food. Farmers had to keep up with new technology but there were also many setbacks in government policy and economic conditions. In the period of 1865-1900, there were many ways in which technology, government policy, and economic conditions changed early American agriculture.

Throughout high school 4-H and FFA were both very important to me. These organizations fueled my love for agriculture and ultimately were instrumental in deciding my college major. I am an Agriculture Communication major with a Food Science minor. I love and communication goals, and objectives to others and I this is why public relations is the dream job for me. I am very interested in the sheep industry and love helping my nine year old sister and other livestock exhibitors with their show animals. If I am not with friends, working on school work, involved in organizations, you can

Growing up on a family farm in rural South Dakota, I never considered myself different from any other farm kid. At the age of eight, I joined the local 4-H club. Through my ten years of membership, I have participated in many differing project areas from showing beef calves to visual arts and everything in between. Through my many failures, I learned from my mistakes taking numerous best of show awards at county fair and finding success at state fair. 4-H has also given me the opportunity to become more involved in my community through local, county, and statewide community service projects. 4-H sparked my interest in agriculture.

My most important 4-H accomplishments include joining the Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team (YLT), being chosen to serve on the Illinois Farm Bureau Youth in Education in Agriculture Committee 4-H representative (YEA), and county awards I have earned. Serving on YLT was a goal of mine ever since I went to the Junior Leadership Conference (JLC) my 7th and 8th grade years. On the team I have met some of the best people I now can call friends while representing 4-H across the state and impacting 4-H members too. Being apart of the team I have helped plan and execute two JLCs assisted with SFI-4-H training, worked at the Illinois State Fair, and represented 4-H at the University of Illinois Salute to Ag Day tailgate and football game. As

The California Future Farmers of America (FFA) is an organization “committed to the individual student, [by] providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education (“National FFA Organization, 2016). These goals are the driving force behind the California FFA as they reveal their most important assets: people and relationships. The structure of the California FFA is extremely organized, operating like an efficient machine, the key components of this student-run organization are their complex combination of vertical and lateral structuring, as well as their philosophy to create a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their leadership skills.

Agriculture was the most important economic activity in America from the founding of Virginia in 1607 to about 1890. Although farming declined rapidly in relative economic importance in the twentieth century, U.S. agriculture continued to be the most efficient and productive in the world. Its success rested on abundant fertile soil, a moderate climate, the ease of private land ownership, growing markets for farm produce at home and abroad, and the application of science and technology to farm operations.