Agriculture and the United States

Independence Day is Saturday, July 4th

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

On Saturday, July 4^th, 2015, the United States will celebrate Independence Day. It was on July 4^th, 1776 that the Declaration of Independence was signed and the U.S. separated from Great Britain and became its own nation.

Saturday will mark the 239^th birthday for the United States. That’s 239 years of sports, politics, innovation and of course, agriculture.

In 1799, George Washington suggested to Congress that a National Board of Agriculture be formed.

In 1837, John Deere and Leonard Andrus started to manufacture steel plows.

Between 1840 and 1850, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio were the most important states when it came to wheat production.

It was on May 15^th, 1862 when Abraham Lincoln signed a bill establishing what’s known today as the United States Department of Agriculture and Isaac Newton was appointed as its first Commissioner. Only five days later on May 20^th, Lincoln signed the Homestead Act and transferred more than 200 million acres of land from public to private ownership, creating more than 1 million farms.

By 1910, North Dakota, Kansas and Minnesota became important wheat states and in 1917, Kansas red wheat was distributed throughout the United States.

It’s estimated that between 1930 and 1939 agricultural exports accounted for 32% of total American exports, or $765 million per year.

These are only some of the events that have taken place throughout America’s agricultural history; there are also people who helped shape agriculture in the United States and abroad.

George Harrison Shull (1874-1954)
Born on a farm in Ohio’s Clark County, Shull grew up to be a botanist and geneticist, as well as being known as the father of hybrid corn. His research helped corn yields increase as much as 50% and develop corn that’s capable of being successful in varying conditions.

George Washington Carver (1860-1943)
An inventor and botanist from Diamond, Missouri, Carver experimented with different uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes and soybean. He would write brochures describing crops, cultivation and recipes while urging farmers to submit soil and water samples for analysis and research.

As you celebrate Independence Day with your families and friends eating delicious meats and vegetables, don’t forget the people who started farming the land, as well as those that continue to do so today.