Economic Trends in U.S. Agriculture and Food Systems Since World War II

A graphical display and short discussion of crucial issues for understanding agricultural policy. A textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in agricultural economics, based on the author's lectures from the past few years. Also of interest to individuals working in the field or interested in the evolution of agriculture. DLC: Agriculture--Economic aspects. Economic Trends in U.S. Agriculture and Food Systems Since World War II......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 11 1. Introduction......Page 15 2. Agriculture’s Importance in the National Economy and Political Climate......Page 19 3. Farm Numbers and Sizes......Page 25 4. Farm Family Income and Wealth......Page 33 5. Farm Ownership, Tenancy, and Type......Page 39 6. Resource Use in Agriculture......Page 43 7. Farm Assets and Farm Debt......Page 47 8. Prices: Received, Paid, and Variability......Page 53 9. Agricultural Productivity and Its Implications for Farmers......Page 59 10. Agricultural Exports and Imports......Page 67 11. Total and Government Stocks of Agricultural Commodities......Page 71 12. Government Support for Farmers......Page 73 13. Agricultural Cooperatives......Page 79 14. Domestic Consumption of Food Products and Food Marketing Costs......Page 83 15. Food-Processing, Wholesaling, and Retailing Industries......Page 91 16. Summary......Page 97 Appendix 1. A Brief Chronology of American Agriculture Since 1950......Page 101 Appendix 2. Statistical Tables......Page 111 A1. National Income Originating in Agriculture, Farm Population and Farm Households, Farm Employment, Capital Expenditures in Agriculture, Number of Farms, and Farm Size, 1950-98......Page 112 A2. Percentage Distribution of Farms and of Farm Output, and Income of Farm Families as a Percentage of Money Income of All U.S. Households by Sales Category, 1950-98......Page 115 A3. Income of Farm Families, 1950-98......Page 118 A4. Farm Acreage and Relative Importance of Cash Receipts from Selected Farm Enterprises, 1950-98......Page 121 A5. Percentage Distribution of Total Harvested Acres by Major Crop, 1950-98......Page 125 A6. Farm Assets, Farm Debts, and Land Value in the United States, and Cash Rent Relative to Land Value in Iowa, 1950-98......Page 127 A7. Net Farm Income and Selected Farm Expenses as a Percentage of Gross Cash Farm Income, 1950-98......Page 130 A8. Real Prices of Selected Agricultural Commodities and Real Prices Paid by Farmers, 1950-98......Page 133 A9. Indexes of Prices Received and Paid, and Ratios of Animal Product Prices to Corn Prices, 1950-98......Page 136 A10. Farm Output and Farm Inputs Used, 1950-98......Page 139 A11. Crop and Animal Yields and General Productivity Measures, 1950-98......Page 142 A12. Ratios of Quantities of Farm Inputs and Ratios of Prices of Farm Inputs, 1950-98......Page 145 A13. Agricultural Exports, Agricultural Imports, and Trade Balances, 1950-98......Page 148 A14. U.S. Production as a Percentage of World Production, World Stocks as a Percentage of World Consumption, U.S. Stocks as a Percentage of World Stocks, and U.S. Exports as a Percent of World Trade, 1950-98......Page 151 A15 . Quantity of Exports as a Percentage of Total Commercial Disappearance for Selected Agricultural Commodities, 1950-98......Page 154 A16. Value of U.S. Agricultural Exports to Selected Countries and Regions as a Percentage of Value of Total U.S. Agricultural Exports, 1950-98......Page 157 A17. Total and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Ending Stocks as a Percentage of Domestic and Export Use, 1950-98......Page 160 A18. Support Prices and Loan Rates for Agricultural Commodities as a Percentage of Market Price in the United States, 1950-98......Page 163 A19. Acres of Cropland Idled in the United States, 1950-98......Page 166 A20. Direct Government Payments to Farmers by Sales Category in the United States, 1950-98......Page 169 A21. Consumer Expenditures on Food and Per Capita Consumption of Selected Commodities, 1950-98......Page 172 A22. Distribution of Total U.S. Population by Age Groups, Disposable Income, Disposable Income Spent on Food, CPI for Food, Real Expenditures on Food, and Number of Families, 1950-98......Page 175 A23. Farmers’ Share of Retail Food Dollar and Components of the Food Marketing Bill, 1950-98......Page 178 A24. Agricultural Cooperatives, Cooperative Membership, and Cooperative Share of Business, 1950-98......Page 181 A25. Economic Activity in the US. Food-Processing Industries, 1954-92......Page 184 A26. Economic Activity in U.S. Farm Machinery and Agricultural Chemical Industries, 1954-92......Page 186 A27. Economic Activity in U.S. Wholesale Groceries and Related Products, Retail Food Stores, and Eating and Drinking Places, 1954-92......Page 187 Index......Page 189 By examining the fluctuations of the agriculture sector over the last 50 years, Economic Trends in US Agriculture and Food Systems Since World War II is able to give its readers a better glimpse at the future of farming. Author Milton C. Hallberg details the past and potential changes in the number of farms and farm size; farm income and expenses and wealth of farm families; and prices received, prices paid, and variability of prices. Through countless graphics and tables, Hallberg clearly presents his case for continued inoovations and beneficial policies. This book is intended to be a resource for students of agriculture but followers of agricultural history will also find it worthwhile reading. This text will serve not only as an invaluable resource for students of agriculture; it will also prove a worthwhile read for historians. This text details past and potential changes in: farm size, farm income/wealth, and prime variability. The agriculture and food system in the United States has sustained many changes since colonial times, but perhaps none have as dramatic as those that have occurred since the end of World War II.