Historical Timeline — 1900
Economic Cycles
1907-08
Panic of 1907
Farm Economy
1889-1919
Farm prosperity
Farmers & the Land
1900
Total population: 75,994,266; farm population: 29,414,000 (est.); farmers 38% of labor force; Number of farms: 5,740,000; average acres: 147
1900-20
Continued agricultural settlement on the Great Plains
1902
Reclamation Act
1905-07
Policy of reserving timberlands inaugurated on a large scale
1905
Forest Service created
Farm Machinery & Technology
1900-09
Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer 3,738,300 tons
1900-10
George Washington Carver of Tuskegee Institute finds new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, helping to diversify southern agriculture
1905
The first business devoted exclusively to making tractors is established
Crops & Livestock
1900-10
Turkey red wheat emerges as commercial crop
1900-20
Extensive experimental work to breed disease-resistant varieties of plants, to improve plant yield and quality, and to increase the productivity of farm animal strains
1903
Hog cholera serum developed
1904
First serious stem-rust epidemic affecting wheat
Transportation
1909
The Wrights demonstrate the airplane
Agricultural Trade & Development
1900-09
Agricultural exports: $917 million/year or 58% of total exports
1905
International Institute of Agriculture established
Life on the Farm
1900-20
Urban influences on rural life intensify
1908
Model T Ford paves way for mass production of automobiles; President Roosevelt's Country Life Commission focuses attention on the problems of farm wives and difficulty of keeping children on the farm
1908-17
Country-life movement
Farm Organizations & Movements
1902
Farmers' Union started; American Society of Equity formed
1905
California Fruit Growers Exchange formed
1906
Appointment of first county agricultural agent
1909-17
Boys' and girls' club work underway
Agricultural Education & Extension
1900
First corn club for boys, forerunner of 4-H clubs
1903
Seaman Knapp begins boll-weevil demonstration project, an inspiration for extension education
1906
An agricultural wagon, or moveable farmers' school, is started by Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute to teach Southern African-American farmers better methods of farming
Government Programs & Policy
1900-17
Federal Government's role in agriculture grows with passage of farm legislation
1906
Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act
