Rural America

Thomas Jefferson once envisioned the United States as a ‘nation of yeomen farmers’. Looking around today, however, illustrates that nothing could be further from the truth. In a globalised world and techno-centred society, urban sprawl is overtaking rural America. For over a century, farming was the backbone of the American economy, and though it is still critical to American productivity, many rural areas are plagued by poverty and job reduction. Agricultural issues have a hold over national politics (as in the debates over farm subsidies), but they cannot change several significant trends in America today: the movement toward fewer and larger farms, environmental pressures from urban and suburban interests, and changing food consumption patterns. In order to assist the remaining ‘yeomen farmers’, a comprehensive and integrated agricultural policy must be initiated to sustain the nation’s farming communities. This book analyses the status of the farm industry in rural America, providing a historical context for agriculture and assessing its future for the nation. Rural America and the numberless families it encompasses cannot be neglected, and the information provided in this book is necessary to understanding the nature of what has historically been a key component of American industry and life.