 17th-18th Centuries
|
18th century
Local governments often regulate the prices of basic foodstuffs
1790
Patent Office was created. The first patent issued on July 31, 1790
to Samuel Hopkins for a method of making potash and pearl ash by burning
wood ashes a second time before dissolving them to extract potash,
an ingredient used in fertilizer.
1799
George Washington suggests to Congress the establishment of a National
Board of Agriculture |
1800
|
1819
State legislature sets up the New York State Board of Agriculture,
first organization of this sort |
1820
|
1820-35
Agriculture begins to demand a place in government
1820
Agriculture Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, established
1825
Agriculture Committee, U.S. Senate established
1830
Massachusetts becomes first State to conduct a soil survey
1839
$1,000 appropriated for Patent Office work with agricultural statistics |
1840
|
1849
The Patent Office is transferred from the State Department to the
newly created Interior Department
1853
New York appoints first State entomologist |
1860
|
1862
U.S. Department of Agriculture set up without Cabinet status
1870s
A few States begin to inspect dairy products
1874
Georgia sets up the first State Department of Agriculture |
1880
|
1889
Department of Agriculture raised to Cabinet status
1890, 1891
Meat Inspection Acts
1897
Greater emphasis given to plant exploration and to the increase of
agricultural production
1889
Farmers’ Alliance develops subtreasury plan |
1900
|
1900-17
Federal Government's role in agriculture grows with passage of farm
legislation
1906
Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act
1912
Plant Quarantine Act |
1910
|
1912
Plant Quarantine Act
1914
Cotton Futures Act
1916
Federal Farm Loan Act
1917
Food Control and Production Acts |
1920
|
1914
Cotton Futures Act
1916
Federal Farm Loan Act
1917
Food Control and Production Acts |
1930
|
Early 1930s
First Federal assistance to school lunch program
1933
Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) initiates crop and marketing controls;
Farm Credit Act
1935
AAA amended to provide marketing orders and continuing funds for removal
of agricultural surpluses; resettlement Administration created to
combat rural poverty, leads to 1946 Farmers Home Administration
1936
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act follows Hoosac Mills
decision
1937
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act
1938
Agricultural Adjustment Act provides acreage allotments and quotas,
ever-normal granary, price-supporting loans, regional research laboratories,
and Federal crop insurance
1939
Food stamp plan begun |
1940
|
1941
National Victory Garden Program launched; Steagall Amendment provides
for price support to expand production of nonbasic commodities
1942-49
Price controls and food rationing during wartime emergency
1946
National School Lunch Act; Research and Marketing Act provides for
research in improving marketing and distribution of agricultural products
1948, 1949
Agricultural Acts incorporate principle of flexible price support
and provide change in parity formula |
1950
|
1950s
Debate about level of farm price support and surpluses
1954
Agricultural Act re-establishes flexible price supports, authorizes
commodity set-asides, and provides support payment for wool
1955-72
Increased emphasis on rural development and renewal
1956
Soil Bank Program authorized
1957
Poultry Inspection Act
1958
Humane Slaughter Act |
1960
|
1960s
The Government uses food surpluses for the needy at home and abroad;
State legislation to keep land in farming gains impetus
1961,
1962
Agricultural Acts extend and enlarge earlier programs
1964
Food Stamp Act; Agricultural Act provides voluntary control program
for cotton and wheat
1965
Appalachian Regional Development Act; Food and Agriculture Act establishes
voluntary 4-year price and adjustment program
1966
President's Committee on Rural Poverty appointed; Child Nutrition
Act
1967
Wholesome Meat Act
1968
Wholesome Poultry "Products Act"; special food service program
for children
1969, 1971
White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health |
1970
|
1970s
Surplus disposal through sales abroad leads to easing of production
controls and great reliance on market prices
1970
Agricultural Act reduces controls; Environmental Quality Improvement
Act
1972
Rural Development Act
1973
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act emphasizes maintaining or
increasing instead of controlling production |
1980
|
1983
USDA Secretary John Block implements a payment-in-kind (PIK) program,
resulting in the third-largest acreage reduction ever
1985
Food Security Act lowers government farm supports, promotes exports,
and sets up the Conservation Reserve Program
1989
30 million acres retired under the Conservation Reserve Program of
the 1985 Food Security Act |
1990-2000
|
1990
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act and the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act increase farmers' flexibility in planting under
government programs
1990
Congress passes the Organic Food Production Act, authorizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a nationwide definition for organic food
1994
USDA reorganizes to streamline functions and improve efficiency
1996
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act revises farm programs
to increase reliance on market signals
1998-99
Emergency farm assistance acts provide relief for disasters and market
losses
1999
USDA's Community Food Security Initiative aimed at aiding grass-roots
efforts to reduce hunger and improve nutrition
2000
USDA unveils organic standards and official organic seal |
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