Adiscussion On The Change Of Agricultural Production In New England During The 19th Century

With the rapid development of the US economy in the 19 th century, the States, once a country based on agriculture which limited to the Atlantic coast with no more than 5million people in the beginning of the century, had become the most powerful industrialized country in the world which crossed the whole America continent with a population of more than 76 million. In the 19 th century, the development of agriculture between the Midwest, the South and the Northeast of the United States showed significant regional differences. New England, as a region of the Northeast which started the industrialization and urbanization first in the country, had experienced a significant transition in agriculture during the century. At the first half of the 19 th century, New England farmers mainly engaged in traditional cereal cultivation and animal husbandry, although the commercialization of agriculture had developed, but the natural economy is still dominant. At the second half of the 19 th century, most New England farmers abandoned the traditional farming style, they made great effort on the produce of milk, vegetables, fruits, tobacco, hay and other agricultural products competitive, which to make was just according to local conditions. By the end of the century, the agriculture of New England achieved a high level of specialization and commercialization. There were two main reasons to explain these changes. First, traditional agriculture productions from the West had a cheaper price and sometimes a better quality. Second, the industrial revolution in the Northeast reached its climax, the industrialization and urbanization progress attracted rural labor from villages, so most rural towns in New England lost its population steadily, a lot of improved land had been abandoned. In this case, New England farmers whom stayed behind chose to continue agricultural production on the road of professional development. With the help of the government and society organizations, they constantly improved the technological content and yield advantages of agricultural products in order to satisfy the demand of urban market. Such a shift will not only help farmers increase their income, but also made a contribution to the initial realization of agricultural modernization and economic development. We could learn from the experience of farmers in New England whom grasped changes in the market, according to the actual situation in the region, turned into specialized farming, increased the use of model and the technology content. The promotions that the government and civil society organizations played in agricultural progress, had a certain significance to China’s agriculture today.