early American farmers

Early American Farmers and the Lost Art of Soil Stewardship

Dan American Agriculture History Minute, Soil, This Land of Ours

A Myth of Responsible Farming Many Americans like to believe that early farmers and ranchers were responsible caretakers of the soil—working the land with the same respect and sustainability that define modern agriculture. Today’s producers take pride in soil conservation practices, using science-based management to maintain soil fertility for generations to come. But historical evidence tells a different story. The …

early 19th-century

Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, This Land of Ours

America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History Minute, most citizens relied on farming not only for income but also for food security. Families grew crops and raised animals primarily to sustain themselves, with only a small portion sold at nearby local markets. …