"The history of American agriculture is the story of its people--Native American, European immigrant, native born, African American, Latinx, and Asian, among others. It is a story of considerable achievement in many contexts, such as the formulation of land and water law, crop and livestock production, and technological and scientific change. The history of American agriculture also is reflected in art, literature, music, and film. It is the story of national expansion, political turmoil, and changing relationships among men, women, and children. It is the story of hard-earned economic gains and the indelible imprint of heartbreak, violence, racism, and despair. The history of American agriculture includes life in the small towns and cities where food processing links workers with the countryside. It is the story of agribusiness in a multiplicity of forms including domestic and international trade. It is the story of contentious government policy that provides nutritional programs for school children and the disadvantaged contending with food insecurity. It is the story of inequitable federal production and income programs and well-intentioned and often successful conservation and environmental programs that benefit urban and rural America. The history of American agriculture is complex with many parts, the synthesis of which enables us to better understand the American experience"--