Description of Course

This course provides an overview of the major developments in American agriculture and their relationships to rural society.  The focus of the course is to provide a framework for understanding agricultural change and the impacts on rural culture and rural communities. The course is organized around three major periods. The first period (1607-1865) provides an overview of the historical basis of US agriculture and rural society.  The middle third of the course addresses the changing nature and character of agriculture from the end of the Civil War to the present.  The focus of this section is 20th century forces that have contributed to the transformation of agriculture and rural society. The final third of the course explores the future of agriculture and what these trends suggest about the future of food production and rural life.  In this section we will explore the major challenges and opportunities in agriculture in the 21st century.