The Politics of Food Supply: U.S. Agricultural Policy in the World Economy (Yale Agrarian Studies Series)

This book deals with an important and timely issue: the political and economic forces that have shaped agricultural policies in the United States during the past eighty years. It explores the complex interactions of class, market, and state as they have affected the formulation and application of agricultural policy decisions since the New Deal, showing how divisions and coalitions within Southern, Corn Belt, and Wheat Belt agriculture were central to the ebb and flow of price supports and production controls. In addition, the book highlights the roles played by the world economy, the civil rights movement, and existing national policy to provide an invaluable analysis of past and recent trends in supply management policy.

this Book Deals With An Important And Timely Issue: The Political And Economic Forces That Have Shaped Agricultural Policies In The United States During The Past Eighty Years. It Explores The Complex Interactions Of Class, Market, And State As They Have Affected The Formulation And Application Of Agricultural Policy Decisions Since The New Deal, Showing How Divisions And Coalitions Within Southern, Corn Belt, And Wheat Belt Agriculture Were Central To The Ebb And Flow Of Price Supports And Production Controls. In Addition, The Book Highlights The Roles Played By The World Economy, The Civil Rights Movement, And Existing National Policy To Provide An Invaluable Analysis Of Past And Recent Trends In Supply Management Policy.

Contents 7 Foreword 9 Preface 13 Acknowledgments 19 Abbreviations 23 CHAPTER 1. Introduction 24 PART I. Creating State Intervention 54 CHAPTER 2. The Early Battles Lost 54 CHAPTER 3. Winning Supply Management 74 PART II. The Politics of Retrenchment 100 CHAPTER 4. Shifting Agricultural Coalitions 100 CHAPTER 5. The Decline of the South 128 CHAPTER 6 Agriculture and the Changing World Economy 152 Epilogue 217 Appendix. Notes on Methods and Data 230 Notes 236 Bibliography 272 Index 288 Agriculture between state and market The early battles lost: reaching for regulation, 1920-1932 Winning supply management: a new deal for agriculture, 1933-1945 Shifting agricultural coalitions: sliding back toward the free market, 1945-1975 The decline of the South: changing power within U.S. agriculture, 1945-1975 Agriculture and the changing world economy: the U.S. food regime, 1945-1990 The 1996 FAIR Act: changing U.S. agricultural policy.