Developments in agriculture and the growth of urbanisation

• Developments in agriculture and the growth of urbanisation


  Developments in agri

  On the surface was thriving: railroads= farming regions could transport produce to growing urban areas in the North. Problems of farming in Great Plains such as insufficient rainfall, barren terrain and lack of timber for fencing overcome w/ technical developments: wind-pumps to draw water from wells, introduction of hardy strains of wheat and barbed wire for fencing. 1870-1900: no. farms doubled to 5.7 mil and wheat production to 600 mil bushels. No. cattle trebled to 68 mil. But there were significant problems.
• Developments in agriculture and the growth of urbanisation


  Debt

  Many farmers were constantly in debt. Harvests and markets were unstable but farmers generally farmers borrowed on expected income from the harvest. They often relied on middle men to sell their produce and had to pay steep railway charges to transport it. There was no central banking system: local banks charged high rates of interest- from 10-40%. Many lived on mortgaged property, and banks would often foreclose if they couldn't meet their payments. By 1900, 1/3 of farmers were tenants.
• Developments in agriculture and the growth of urbanisation

  Sharecroppers

  Sharecroppers were in an even worse position, especially in times of poor harvest.
• Developments in agriculture and the growth of urbanisation


  The more affluent

  Farmers in more settled areas, particularly in the North, tented to be more affluent as their families may have been long established in their farms and unburdened with a mortgage. Transport costs were lower because they were nearer to markets. Often in the South the more established farmers where those who accepted sharecroppers to whom they became creditors.
• Developments in agriculture and the growth of urbanisation


  Agricultural protest

  From th1 1870s, many farmers joined together in co-operatives, trying to eliminate the middlemen and gain control of the purchase of goods and supplying markets. This Granger movement was most popular in Iowa and Illinois, two of the states most affected by debt and high interest rates. By 1890, these co-operatives had grown into the National Farmers' Alliance which would morph into the People's or Populist Party.