Agriculture

Agriculture in the United States

Introduction to Agriculture

History of the Agricultural Policy

During the New Deal

The New Deal years were characterized by a belief that greater regulation would solve many of the country’s problems. In 1933, for example, Congress passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) to provide economic relief to farmers. The AAA had at its core a plan to raise crop prices by paying farmers a subsidy to compensate for voluntary cutbacks in production. Funds for the payments would be generated by a tax levied on industries that processed crops. By the time the act had become law, however, the growing season was well underway, and the AAA encouraged farmers to plow under their abundant crops. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace called this activity a “shocking commentary on our civilization.” Nevertheless, through the AAA and the Commodity Credit Corporation, a program which extended loans for crops kept in storage and off the market, output dropped.

Between 1932 and 1935, farm income increased by more than 50 percent, but only partly because of federal programs. During the same years that farmers were being encouraged to take land out of production — displacing tenants and sharecroppers — a severe drought hit the Great Plains states, significantly reducing farm production. Violent wind and dust storms ravaged the southern Great Plains in what became known as the “Dust Bowl,” throughout the 1930s, but particularly from 1935 to 1938. Crops were destroyed, cars and machinery were ruined, people and animals were harmed. Approximately 800,000 people, often called “Okies,” left Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma during the 1930s and 1940s. Most headed farther west to the land of myth and promise, California. The migrants were not only farmers, but also professionals, retailers and others whose livelihoods were connected to the health of the farm communities. California was not the place of their dreams, at least initially. Most migrants ended up competing for seasonal jobs picking crops at extremely low wages.

The government provided aid in the form of the Soil Conservation Service, established in 1935. Farm practices that had damaged the soil had intensified the severity of the storms, and the Service taught farmers measures to reduce erosion. In addition, almost 30,000 kilometers of trees were planted to break the force of winds.

Although the AAA had been mostly successful, it was abandoned in 1936, when the tax on food processors was ruled unconstitutional. Six weeks later Congress passed a more effective farm-relief act, which authorized the government to make payments to farmers who reduced plantings of soil-depleting crops — thereby achieving crop reduction through soil conservation practices.

By 1940 nearly 6 million farmers were receiving federal subsidies under this program. The new act likewise provided loans on surplus crops, insurance for wheat and a system of planned storage to ensure a stable food supply. Soon, prices of agricultural commodities rose, and economic stability for the farmer began to seem possible. (1)

Section 204 in International Trade

In this context, a concept of Section 204 (Christopher Mark, 1993) is the following: A provision of the Agricultural Act of 1956 authorizing the President to negotiate bilateral agreements to limit exports to the United States of “any agricultural commodity or product manufactured there from or textiles or textile products.” US participation in the Multifiber Arrangement (Sec. I) is based on Section 204 authority.

Section 22 in International Trade

In this context, a concept of Section 22 (Christopher Mark, 1993) is the following: A provision of the Agriculture Act of 1933 requiring the President to limit imports of agricultural products that could undermine or interfere with US farm programs.

P L 480 in International Trade

In this context, a concept of P L 480 (Christopher Mark, 1993) is the following: Full name is the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act. Legislation enacted in 1954 to assist LDC economic development through the concessional sale or grant of US farm products. Title I of the Act authorizes low-interest, long-term financing of US farm exports to LDCs; payments for such sales are earmarked for use in the importing country to fund agricultural development projects and programs. Title II of the Act permits donation of US food products to countries suffering from famines or natural disasters. Title III established the Food for Peace Program and the Export Credit Guarantee Program of the Commodity Credit Corporation (Sec./V).

Preparation for Trial of an Action Involving Injury From an Agricultural Harvesting Machine

This section examines the Preparation for Trial of an Action Involving Injury From an Agricultural Harvesting Machine subject in its related phase of trial. In some cases, other key elements related to trials, such as personal injury, business, and criminal litigation, are also addressed.

Finding the law: Agriculture in the U.S. Code

A collection of general and permanent laws relating to agriculture, passed by the United States Congress, are organized by subject matter arrangements in the United States Code (U.S.C.; this label examines agriculture topics), to make them easy to use (usually, organized by legal areas into Titles, Chapters and Sections). The platform provides introductory material to the U.S. Code, and cross references to case law. View the U.S. Code’s table of contents here.

Related Subjects

Related subject matters include:

Farming

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Farm Bill

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Agricultural Law

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Agriculture Reform

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Agriculture Agreements

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Rural Development

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Rural Community

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Land Law

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Farm

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Agricultural Law

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Agriculture Worker

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Employee Benefits in this Sector

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Labor Right in the Agriculture

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Rural Development

There is related information to this topic in this American legal encyclopedia.

Agriculture

In Legislation

Agriculture in the U.S. Code: Title 19, Chapter 21, Subchapter III, Part B

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating agriculture are compiled in the United States Code under Title 19, Chapter 21, Subchapter III, Part B. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Customs Duties (including agriculture) of the United States. The reader can further narrow his/her legal research of the general topic (in this case, North American Free Trade of the US Code, including agriculture) by chapter and subchapter.

Agriculture

In Legislation

Agriculture in the U.S. Code: Title 7

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating agriculture are compiled in the United States Code under Title 7. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Agriculture (including agriculture) of the United States. The readers can further narrow their legal research on the topic by chapter and subchapter.

Resources

Notes and References

  1. ”An Outline of American History”(1994), a publication of the United States Information Agency (USIA). Editor: Howard Cincotta

Further Reading


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