Since the agricultural transformation began in the United States, the country has only seen improvements in agriculture.
The Western Hemisphere was the first to progress towards this transformation, displaying the United States as a leader in agriculture. As stated by Dan Hillel in The Agricultural Transformation,” “The Agricultural Transformation is very likely the most momentous turn in the progress of humankind. The ability to raise crops and livestock, while resulting in a greater and more secure supply of food, definitely required attachment to controllable sections of land, and hence brought about the growth of permanent settlements and larger coordinated communities.”
Thus, this transformation ensured a supply of food and ended the need to roam about for food. This development was an important change in the structure of society and a step in building a prestigious reputation as a leader in agriculture. It gave the United States a sense of organization and strength, which helped in its development. Simply put, agriculture means raising things on purpose, and the American Indians were the first farmers in the Western Hemisphere,” said R. Douglas Hurt in the article “Mesoamerican Origins.” The American Indians’ (Mesoamericans’) agriculture became more complex.
They learned how to grow crops such as tomatoes, beans, and a wide variety of plants. They also learned other techniques such as clearing land and irrigation. Because of their success, other Mesoamericans began to settle and adopted their fellow Mesoamerican farming techniques. Agriculture became more and more popular and important, and white settlers also began to farm. Over time, farming became more popular, and the United States thrived on agriculture. It became an important issue, especially to Thomas Jefferson.
He was a key person in leading the agricultural development of the United States. Thomas Jefferson believed in agrarianism and held farmers in high regard. An agriculture leader should understand the importance of agriculture, how to improve it, and maintain its good status. Thomas Jefferson possessed all of these qualities.
He did what was best for the farmers as well as others in the United States. As a great leader in agriculture, many in the government kept his ideas in mind. This is what has made our country strong; we develop from our past and our country grows stronger as a result. For example, in 1970 a farmer could provide enough for two people, in 1935 a farmer could provide enough for ten people, in 1992 a farmer could provide enough for 127 people, and in 1998 a farmer could provide enough for over 130 people. This shows growth in efficiency. However, currently only 2% of the population in the United States are farmers, meaning that only 2% of our population produces for the entire nation.
Although this percentage is extremely low, it displays that we are agriculturally strong. Even other countries of the world depend on our agriculture. The United States exports about 40% of what we produce. The United States has grown from a society of hunter-gatherers to a society of agriculture. The United States has improved in agriculture over time and has become stronger, in turn becoming a leader.
In conclusion, the United States is the world leader in agriculture due to its people, land, leadership, development, and strength. The United States has the ability to maintain all of these qualities and also improve upon them.
