Planting the Seeds of Research: How America’s Ultimate Investment Transformed Agriculture

‘Planting the Seeds of Research’ explores why by the beginnings of the twentieth century the United States dominated agricultural production worldwide. The thesis is that the ultimate investments made by the United States Department of Agriculture and State governments created the research structure that made American agriculture spectacularly successful. The social commitment, by business, government and farmers built the productive capabilities that generated sustainable prosperity in American agriculture. The ultimate investment in agriculture enabled Americans over time to spend less of their disposable income on food and more on other goods and services, and compete in international agricultural markets.

'Planting the Seeds of Research' explores why by the beginning of the twentieth century the United States dominated agricultural production worldwide. The thesis is that the ultimate investments made by the United States Department of Agriculture and State governments created the research structure that made American agriculture spectacularly successful. The social commitment, by business, government and farmers built the productive capabilities that generated sustainable prosperity in American agriculture. The ultimate investment in agriculture enabled Americans over time to spend less of their disposable income on food and more on other goods and services, and compete in international agricultural markets.

Louis A. Ferleger is professor of history at Boston University, USA, and former chair of its History Department. He has published, edited or co-authored seven books. The former executive director of the Historical Society, Ferleger was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman’s Grant; an Earhart Foundation Fellowship; a research grant from the Twentieth Century Fund; and a Charles Warren Fellowship, Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History, Department of History, Harvard University.

Louis A. Ferleger is professor of history at Boston University, USA, and former chair of its History Department. He has published, edited or co-authored seven books. The former executive director of the Historical Society, Ferleger was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman’s Grant; a Earhart Foundation Fellowship; a research grant from the Twentieth Century Fund; and a Charles Warren Fellowship, Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History, Department of History, Harvard University.

Louis A. Ferleger is professor of history at Boston University, USA, and former chair of its History Department. He has published, edited or co-authored seven books. The former executive director of the Historical Society, Ferleger was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman’s Grant; a Earhart Foundation Fellowship; a research grant from the Twentieth Century Fund; and a Charles Warren Fellowship, Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History, Department of History, Harvard University.

Louis A. Ferleger is professor of history at Boston University, USA, and former chair of its History Department. He has published, edited or co-authored seven books. The former executive director of the Historical Society, Ferleger was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman’s Grant; an Earhart Foundation Fellowship; a research grant from the Twentieth Century Fund; and a Charles Warren Fellowship, Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History, Department of History, Harvard University.