- Discusses different aspects of the Canadian
economy, including agriculture.
Statistics Canada. Agriculture Division.Canadian Ag-
riculture at a Glance.Ottawa: Minister of Industry, - A comprehensive look at Canadian agricul-
ture, with descriptions of the various crops, their
location, and other information.
Wallace, Iain.A Geography of the Canadian Economy.
New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. A com-
pact yet comprehensive look at Canada’s econ-
omy, including its agriculture.
Nancy M. Gordon
See also Agriculture in the United States; Archer
Daniels Midland scandal; Employment in Canada;
Foreign policy of Canada; Income and wages in
Canada; North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA); Organic food movement.
Agriculture in the United
States
Definition The raising and preparation of crops
and livestock for U.S. and foreign markets
During the 1990’s, U.S. agriculture continued its transi-
tion from family farms into an industr y dominated by com-
mercial owners and processes. Agriculture’s purpose, roles,
and methods were redefined in that decade, with environ-
mental concerns influencing research and legislation regu-
lating farming.
Severe economic conditions had altered U.S. agri-
culture during the 1980’s, as corporate agriculture
gained control of farmland owners lost as a result of
foreclosures during the farm crisis. Many American
farmers cultivating small acreages continued to suf-
fer financial problems when the 1990’s began. Ap-
proximately 2.15 million farms existed in the United
States in 1990, a decline from 2.44 million farms ten
years prior. The average farm in 1990 was 461 acres
in size, expanding by thirty-five acres from 1980.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) en-
deavored to improve prospects for all agriculturists
by promoting educational, research, and marketing
programs in the 1990’s. Four men served in the cabi-
net position of secretary of agriculture during the
decade: Clayton K. Yeutter, Edward R. Madigan,
Alphonso Michael Espy (the first African American
to hold that position), and Daniel R. Glickman—the
first two appointed by President George H. W. Bush
and the last two appointed by President Bill Clinton.
Federal policies, global agricultural issues, environ-
mentalists’ and consumers’ demands, and extreme
weather impacted farmers throughout the decade.Legislation and Diplomacy Many farmers lost fed-
eral support during the 1990’s when federal legisla-
tors drafted policies that restricted agricultural sub-
sidies, cut the farm budget, and altered traditional
farming practices. Federal agricultural funds had
decreased annually after 1986, and such legislators
as Representative Dick Armey wanted to limit farm
subsidies. The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990, referred to as the 1990 Farm Bill,
depleted aid resources.
Designed to end certain financial provisions of
the Food Security Act of 1985, the 1990 Farm Bill
represented many legislators’ negative reaction to
farm commodity programs, which they blamed for
harming environmental resources. Emphasizing the
environment, the 1990 legislation encouraged farm-
ers to rotate crops, minimize chemical application,
and plant alternative crops in an attempt to reduce
erosion and pollution. Legislators believed that new
stipulations would enable U.S. agriculture to be
competitive in international markets.
Ample global crop production influenced U.S.
agricultural exports in the early 1990’s. According to
Secretary of Agriculture Madigan, U.S. agriculture
produced approximately half of the world’s soy-
beans, one-third of corn crops, and one-tenth of
wheat yields. In 1992, because of surpluses world-
wide, U.S. grain exports, especially corn and wheat,
decreased by as much as 6 percent, which econo-
mists estimated at $1 billion. At that time, U.S. farm-
ers increased production of poultry and other meats
in an attempt to maintain income.
After Republicans gained control of both houses
of Congress in 1994, they sought further agricultural
subsidy cuts. The Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996, often called the Freedom to
Farm Act, promoted diversification by permitting
farmers to plant any crops they chose. Legislators
significantly decreased price supports, which farm-
ers relied on in case they experienced crop losses
or weak markets, intending eventually to cease all
financial support. Because commodity prices were
stable when that legislation passed, agricultural
groups expressed minimal criticism, realizing thatThe Nineties in America Agriculture in the United States 15