SEGMENT: FARM BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, & LAND ACQUISITION
Bill Clausen>NIU Collection>NIU Collection, Segment 6
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- FARM BUSINESS
- Discussion of farming after WWII noting that grain farmers in the Corn Belt had little competition from rest of world.
- GLOBAL POLITICS
- Creating worldwide competition by teaching other nations to grow corn/wheat. Talks about India, China, Brazil. Good policies in humanitarian terms, but created competition. Notes "Green Revolution." He uses a department store analogy to illustrate bartering that is unique to farmers, how they're subject to the whims of the market.
- GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
- Changes in farming can be traced to government programs, especially with FDR in Depression years. Wide ranging, but insightful discussion of the impact of legislation and government intervention/support of the industry, federal programs disturb the balance of the economy. Discusses machinery purchase and upgrade, tax breaks, & farm acquisition promoted by government programs. "Farming the government policy…."
- LAND ACQUISITION
- Again notes that growth of farm size was promoted by government programs. Guesses at average acreage farmed in post-WWII years & notes what he farmed at the time of the interview.
