A Little Introduction about American History of Agriculture

      The American agruculture history covers the period from the first settlers to the present day. In Colonial America agriculture fund a livelihood for 90 percent of the population. Most farms were geared toward subsistence production for family use.

After 1800, cotton became the chief crop in southern plantations, and the chief American export. After 1840, industrialization and urbanization opened up lucrative domestic markets. The number of farms grew from 1.4 million in 1850, to 4.0 million in 1880, and 6.4 million in 1910; then started to fall, dropping to 5.6 million in 1950 and 2.2 million in 2008.

      A dramatic expansion in farming took place.The number of farms tripled from 2.0 million in 1860 to 6.0 million in 1905. The number of people living on farms grew from about 10 million in 1860 to 22 million in 1880 to 31 million in 1905. The value of farms soared from $8.0 billion in 1860 to $30 billion in 1906.

      Although the eastern image of farm life on the prairies emphasizes the isolation of the lonely farmer and farm life, in reality rural folk created a rich social life for themselves. They often sponsored activities that combined work, food, and entertainment such as barn raisings, corn huskings, quilting bees, Grange meeting, church activities, and school functions. The womenfolk organized shared meals and potluck events, as well as extended visits between families.
      Sawers (2004) shows how southern farmers made the mule their preferred draft animal in the South during the 1860s-1920s, primarily because it fit better with the region's geography. Mules better withstood the heat of summer, and their smaller size and hooves were well suited for such crops as cotton, tobacco, and sugar.

      The first years of the 20th century were prosperous for all American farmers. The years 1910-1914 became a statistical benchmark, call "parity", that organized farm groups wanted the government to use as a benchmark for the level of prices and profits they felt they deserved.
The U.S. in World War I, was a critical supplier to other Allied nations, as millions of European farmers were in the army. The rapid expansion of the farms coupled with the diffusion of trucks and Model T cars, and the tractor, allowed the agricultural market to expand to an unprecedented size.

      However, with the end of the war the European soldiers returned to their farms and market for American exports shrank. Farmers and economists alike had not foreseen the drop in demand for American goods. The abundant harvest coupled with falling demand left an excess of crops and not enough profit to pay for expenditures. This downturn was only very brief, as was the entire post World War I recession post in North America.

Here is the website you will know more about American Agriculture.
http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/index.htm