The Sociology of a Changing Agriculture

The development of agriculture is considered an organic process containing many interacting cultural, soc, eco, & technological variables. Changes in US agriculture are explained in terms of major characteristics in the evolution of Western civilization - in particular, its value systems & the changes in its soc org. agriculture early in this cent was a relatively simple, localistic, family-sized operation. Farm people were motivated by the dominant values of Western culture to escape the drudgery of peasant-like existence. The rapidity of the accompanying change has been explained by the accumulation of inventions, technical & soc, which, until checked, tend to follow exponential curves. The curves for some elements in the changing agriculture have already leveled off, but many others are still following the exponential trend. Rapid agri'al mechanization continues as a dominant pattern, resulting in increased production even with a decrease in farm pop. The role of the Federal Gov in this change is seen as a resultant of growing soc unrest among US farmers. The image of the Gov as a benefactor of Ru life has become a dominant trait in the minds of farm people. A major part of the change is seen in the capacity of agriculture to produce a surplus of both people & food, leading to the rapid growth of non-farm pop's, these pop's in turn contributing greatly to the development of commercial agriculture & to the decline of self-sufficing farming. Under the impact of these trends, large, commercial farms are becoming dominant in US agri. These farms depend heavily on family labor. But agriculture is seen to have residence, subsistence, & security as well as commercial functions. Low income farmers rely on agriculture for these non-commercial functions & are not likely to be easily removed from the agri'al scene. The most signif aspect of the new agri, however, may prove to be the process of soc & econ integration of agriculture with business. About 40% of all workers in the US are engaged in 'agri-business,' which includes all activities involved in producing, processing, & marketing farm products & in providing services of all kinds to farm people. In conclusion, technological change is expected to continue for many yrs, though a majority of the curves of cultural growth will slow & level off. Particularly, agriculture will become even more oriented toward & integrated with the dominant commercial interests & soc systems of the total society. G. A. Hillery, Jr