American Agriculture

R.Douglas Hurt's brief history of American agriculture, from the prehistoric period through the twentieth century, is written for anyone coming to this subject for the first time. It also provides a ready reference to the economic, social, political, scientific, and technological changes that have most affected farming in America. American Agriculture is a story of considerable achievement and success, but it is also a story of greed, racism, and violence. Hurt offers a provocative look at history that has been shaped by the best and worst of human nature.

R. Douglas Hurt is professor and director of the graduate program in agricultural history and rural studies at Iowa State University, Ames.