Figure 1.--Here we see children on a Midwestern American farm, we believe during the 1910s. America had become the nost important industrial power in the world, but about a third of the population still lived on farms. The United States was the only major industrial power that was not only self suffient in food production, but a food exporter. Not to mention the only major industrial powe tgat had vast reserves of oil that would power motorization, including the new tractors. World War I created a boom for American farmers. When the United States entered the War, the U.S. Government incouraged farmers to further expand production. And this is precisely what farmers did. This was not only to feed the rapidly expanding U.S. Army, but as it turned out the starving people of Europe--some 15-20 million people, many of whom were children. The children here were Henry, Frances, and Cecilia Pawlak. The family snapshot was marked 'Clawlak estate'. We are guessing their parents were buying the farm.

For most countries developments on farms had little impact on other countries, even neighboring countries. Not so America. America is an exceptional country which the Europeans already knew. Thus is why millions of Europeans came to America. What the Europeans did not know at the beginning of the decade waa that American farmers would save millions of lives throughout the continent. American farmers saved millions of people in Europe during the decade, both during and after World War I. No other people in world history had ever attempted such a humanitarian effort on basically altruistic motives and on such a massive scale. And it was all possible because of the American farmer. No country produced more food than America. America at the time of World War I was a major food producer. It not only was self sufficent in most agricultural commodities, but also exported large quantities of grains and other food products. The few products that America had to import were products that were best grown in tropical regions, particularly sugar and coffee. The United States also imported vegetable oils. [Mullendore] Major developments occured in rural America during the 1910s. Farm credit was a major issue. About a third of the more than 90 million Americans lived in rural areas (1910). Russia in the early-20th century was the European breadbasket, exporting large quantities of grain. The industrialized countries of Western Europe (especially Britain, Germany and the Lowlands) had to important food to feed their workers. France with its especially abundant land was in a little better shape. World War I created an enormous demand for agricultural products. Farmers and farm workers were conscripted throughout Europe for military service. Fertilizer factories were converted for munitions production. This and the the destruction of War substantially reduced agricultural production. The Central Powers could not import from Russia, the European breadbasket or from overseas because of the Allied naval embargo. Farm production in Europe fell along with the devastation and shifting of priorities to war production. Shortages in Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary undermined the imperial regimes. The Allies, especially Britain did import and in large quantity. American farmers thus played an important role even before America declared war on Germany. And the increased demand affects American farming. The markets created and the resulting price increases meant boom years for American farmers and a rush to expand plantings. Great Planes farmers expand dry land farming. Farm workers appear from Mexico, both as a result of the Mexican Revolution and the need for workers as production increased. New Government programs were introduced such as the Stock Raising Homestead Act (1916). Improved mechanized equipment appears such as large ope ngeared gas tractors (1910), closed gear tractors (1915), and small prairie combines (1918). The Northern Plains states (North Dakota, Kansas, and Minnesota) become the principal wheat producing states. As a result of experiments with different wheat strains, durum wheats becomes an important commercial crop. The effort to increase production meant that grain farmers were moving into the most arid area of the Great Plains. Marquis wheat was introduced (1912) Kansas red wheat was introduced (1917). Henry Ford's Model-T and country road building significantly increased the mobility of farmers and the access to small farm equipment like tractors. The Rural Post Roads Act begins regular Federal subsidies to road building (1916). The American railroad network peaked at 254,000 miles (1916) providing the farmer unparalleled market access. The Government once America entered the War (1917), encouraged American farmers to increase production and they responded with major increases in planting and land utilization. Thus during the War, the Allies did not face the same problems with food that Austria-Hungary and Germany faced. After the War, the United States fed a prostrate Europe, averting widespread starvation. Herbert Hoover and U.S. Food Administration played a major role in that effort. Virtually every European country would receive American Relief assistance, including the Soviet Union whose new leaders were pledged to destroying America.

Immigration

For most countries developments on farms had little impact on other countries, even neighboring countries. Not so America. America is an exceptional country which the Europeans already knew. Thus is why millions of Europeans came to America. Inexpensive land was at first one of the major draws attracting Europeans to America. By the 1910s, this had shifted and te major draw was the high ways offered by American indusyrial factoriess. What the Europeans did not know at the beginning of the decade waa that American farmers would save millions of lives throughout the continent. American farmers saved millions of people in Europe during the decade, both during and after World War I. No other people in world history had ever attempted such a humanitarian effort on basically altruistic motives and on such a massive scale. And it was all possible because of the American farmer.

Rural Population

The American population totaled about 92 million people. About half of Americans still lived in rural areas. The farm population was an estimated 32 million people. Farmers were still about 30 percent of the work force. There were 6.4 million farms. The average size of American farms was 138 acres.

Food Production

No country produced more food than America. And America at the time of World War I was the world leading food producer. It not only was self sufficent in most agricultural commodities, but also exported large quantities of grains and other food products. The few products that America had to import were products that were best grown in tropical regions, particularly sugar and coffee. The United States also imported vegetable oils. [Mullendore] America significantly increased fodd production during the decade. This was done in part because of Giovernment prootions and also because of both market demand and improved agricultural machinery.

Major Develoments

Major developments occured in rural America during the 1910s. Farm credit was a major issue. About a third of the more than 90 million Americans lived in rural areas (1910). Russia in the early-20th century was the European breadbasket, exporting large quantities of grain. The industrialized countries of Western Europe (especially Britain, Germany and the Lowlands) had to important food to feed their workers. France with its especially abundant land was in a little better shape. The first Farm Bureau was formed in Broome County, New York (1911). The American Farm Bureau Federation formally organized in Chicago, Illinois (1919). The Fram Burau promoted agricultural education and extension.

World War I (1914-18)

`Germay launched World War I by uinvading Belgium (1914). The German generals possed the finest army uin Euriope abnd carefullhy olanned military operations. They gave little attention to agriculture in their war plans. Thec War they launched, however, created an enormous demand for agricultural products. And at the same time reduced Germanyy ability to profuce food. The German genrals planned a short war and a quick victory. When this did not occur, agriculture very quickly emerged as a vital part of the war economy. Farmers and farm workers were conscripted throughout Europe for military service. Fertilizer factories were converted for munitions production. This and the the destruction of War substantially reduced agricultural production. The Central Powers could not import from Russia, the European breadbasket or from overseas because of the Allied naval embargo. Farm production in Europe fell along with the devastation and shifting of priorities to war production. Shortages in Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary undermined the imperial regimes. The Allies, especially Britain did import and in large quantity. American farmers thus played an important role even before America declared war on Germany (1917).

Farm Boom

And the increased demand affects American farming. The markets created and the resulting price increases meant boom years for American farmers and a rush to expand plantings. Great Planes farmers expand dry land farming. Farm workers appear from Mexico, both as a result of the Mexican Revolution and the need for workers as production increased.

Government Program

New Government programs were introduced during the decade. The Smith-Lever Extension Act passed (1914). Establishment of the federal-state Extension Service was a major step in direct education for farmers. such as the Stock Raising Homestead Act (1916). The Rural Post Roads Act began regular Federal subsidies to road building (1916). The Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act was passed (1917). The Government once America entered the War (1917), encouraged American farmers to increase production and they responded with major increases in planting and land utilization. Thus during the War, the Allies did not face the same problems with food that Austria-Hungary and Germany faced.

Mechnization

Americans began to mechanize agiculture in the late-19th century. But hiorses were still the main power source. Horses dominated Western agriculture for two millenia. It is why engines today are measured in horsepower. Even at the turn of the 20th cntury, the horse diminated American agriculture. There were attempted to motiorize, using steam engines, but it was just not practical. Then Hemry Ford intriducd the Model-T Tin Lizzy with the gasoline fiored internal combustion engine (1907). And by the 1910s we begin to see tractors powered by internal combustion engines. This made a huge difference. Especially because Fiord took a spcial engine in tractors. And unlike steam ebngines. A tractor fired by an internal combustion engine was soime that was practical for a family farm. Improved mechanized equipment appears such as large open geared gas tractors (1910), closed gear tractors (1915), and small prairie combines (1918). Henry Ford's Model-T and country road building significantly increased the mobility of farmers and the access to small farm equipment like tractors.

The Great Plains

The Northern Plains states (North Dakota, Kansas, and Minnesota) become the principal wheat producing states. As a result of experiments with different wheat strains, durum wheats becomes an important commercial crop. The effort to increase production meant that grain farmers were moving into the most arid area of the Great Plains. Marquis wheat was introduced (1912) Kansas red wheat was introduced (1917).

Rail System

The American railroad network peaked at 254,000 miles (1916) providing the farmer unparalleled market access. The Federal Government operated railroads during war emergency (1917-20).

International humanitarianism

With the outbreal of World War I, the United States basically invented international humanitarianism. This was only possible because of the American farmer. After the War, the United States fed a prostrate Europe, averting widespread starvation. Herbert Hoover and U.S. Food Administration played a major role in that effort. Virtually every European country would receive American Relief assistance, including the Soviet Union whose new leaders were pledged to destroying America.

Sources

Mullendore, William C. History of the United States Food Administration, 1917-19 (1921).

Created: 4:16 AM 2/3/2016
Last updated: 12:54 AM 10/19/2024