Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “This Land of Ours”
European immigrants brought distinct farming traditions to early America, influencing everything from plowing methods and livestock management to family farm ownership. German, Scottish, and Irish settlers helped shape the agricultural practices that developed across the growing nation. German-American Farmers Brought Old-World Traditions Ethnicity played an important role in the development of early American agriculture. Immigrants from different parts of Europe …
Radio became an important communication tool for American agriculture in the early 20th century, helping farmers and rural communities gain access to weather reports, grain prices and market information. In the early days of broadcasting, radio stations began connecting agricultural producers with information that could influence their daily decisions and business operations. In this edition of American Agriculture History Minute, …
The Push West Beyond the Appalachian Mountains Westward expansion played a significant role in shaping the history of the United States, opening new territories to settlement and laying the groundwork for the development of American agriculture. However, moving west was neither easy nor immediate. Early pioneers faced political restrictions, difficult living conditions, and the challenge of surviving in unfamiliar territory. …
Early Settlers Overlooked the Importance of Soil Conservation In the early years of American agriculture, settlers often gave little thought to conserving and maintaining the fertility of their soil. As Mark Oppold explains in the American Agriculture History Minute, many early farmers believed that land was plentiful and that additional acreage would always be available as new farming opportunities emerged …
Settlers Build Farms Beyond the Mississippi River As American settlers moved west across the Mississippi River, the nation continued to expand, bringing new opportunities and challenges for agriculture. In these developing communities, farming was primarily focused on providing food and basic necessities for the family and the animals that helped sustain life on the farm. Early farmers worked to clear …
Midwest Migration Transformed American Agriculture By the 1850s, migration into the American Midwest had grown into a massive movement of families seeking new opportunities and land to settle. As Mark Oppold explains in an American Agriculture History Minute, thousands of settlers made their way westward, crossing the Mississippi River on their journey toward Iowa and territories farther west. The Mississippi …
During the 1850s, westward migration helped transform American agriculture as settlers crossed the Mississippi River and established farms in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. These pioneers brought more than the supplies needed to build new homes and communities. They also carried agricultural knowledge, improved seeds, fruit-tree varieties and livestock that helped shape the developing farming economy of the American Midwest. …
Before tractors and modern farm machinery transformed American agriculture, farmers depended on animals to provide the power needed to work their fields. During the mid-1800s, changes in agricultural equipment created a growing demand for stronger, more powerful draft horses, helping establish the Midwest as an important center for draft horse breeding. In this edition of American Agriculture History Minute, Mark …
Bonner Springs, Kansas, Is Home to Agriculture’s Hall of Fame Every major sport has a Hall of Fame, and many other institutions have established halls to recognize individuals whose achievements have made a lasting impact. American agriculture has its own Hall of Fame, located in Bonner Springs, Kansas, near Kansas City. The National Agricultural Hall of Fame was federally chartered …
Wheat Boom During the Civil War Gives Way to a Market Collapse During the Civil War, strong wheat prices encouraged many American farmers to plant more of the crop. With wheat bringing attractive returns, producers expanded acreage to take advantage of the favorable market. But the situation changed dramatically when the war ended. Wheat prices fell sharply, leaving farmers who …
