American Agriculture Movement
Encyclopedia
The American Agriculture Movement is an organization consisting primarily of small American farmers, and was formed in 1977 in Campo, Colorado
by a group of farmers. The farmers attempted to organize a strike
in which farmers would no longer buy or sell anything.
The organization demanded that the federal government establish higher prices of various crops, claiming that they needed "parity" between what they had to spend to grow crops versus revenues received from their crops. One of the slogans of the group was "Parity not Charity", as the farmers demanded that the government ensure that farmers were paid more for their crops. The farmers demanded to make as much profit per acre
, adjusted for inflation, as farmers did at the turn of the 20th century.
On December 10, 1977, approximately 5,000 farmers held a rally in Lincoln, Nebraska
, and were joined by Nebraska governor J. James Exon
. The farmers all rode their tractors, and soon other farm states had tractor rallies. Gloria Carter Spann
, sister of President Jimmy Carter
even participated in one rally.
While the farmers appeared to have widespread sympathy, relatively few farmers actually went on strike and refused to grow crops. The organization therefore decided to have a tractor rally in Washington, DC. In January 1978, nearly 3,000 farmers drove their tractors to Washington, many of them from thousands of miles away. The Carter administration agreed that the Farmers Home Administration
would stop all foreclosure
s, but soon after the rally was over resumed foreclosures of farms with past due loans.
In 1979, the farmers again drove their tractors to Washington, and drove on the mall, and blocked traffic, creating significant tie-ups. A blizzard hit while they were in town, and then the tractors became useful as they were the only vehicles that could reliably travel through the snow, often delivering doctors and nurses to hospitals.
One of the tractors driven to Washington can be seen in the Smithsonian museum in Washington.
The American Agriculture Movement continues to lobby for changes in US farm policy. Its stated goals are as follows:
1. 100% Parity for all domestic and foreign used and/or consumer agriculture products.
2. All agricultural products produced for national or international food reserve shall be contracted at 100% parity.
3. Creation of an entity or structure composed of agriculture producers to advise and approve policies that affect agriculture.
4. Imports of agriculture products which are domestically produced must be stopped until 100% parity is reached. Thereafter, imports must be limited to the amount that the American producers cannot supply.
5. All announcements pertaining to any agricultural producing cycle shall be made far enough in advance that the producer will have adequate time to make needed adjustments in his operation
Campo, Colorado
The town of Campo is a Statutory Town located in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 150 at the 2000 census. The town is situated on the Great Plains, straddling U.S...
by a group of farmers. The farmers attempted to organize a strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
in which farmers would no longer buy or sell anything.
The organization demanded that the federal government establish higher prices of various crops, claiming that they needed "parity" between what they had to spend to grow crops versus revenues received from their crops. One of the slogans of the group was "Parity not Charity", as the farmers demanded that the government ensure that farmers were paid more for their crops. The farmers demanded to make as much profit per acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
, adjusted for inflation, as farmers did at the turn of the 20th century.
On December 10, 1977, approximately 5,000 farmers held a rally in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, and were joined by Nebraska governor J. James Exon
J. James Exon
John James "Jim" Exon was an American Democratic politician. He served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. Exon was a Nebraska Democrat who never lost an election, and the only Democrat to hold his Nebraska's Senate Class 2 seat...
. The farmers all rode their tractors, and soon other farm states had tractor rallies. Gloria Carter Spann
Gloria Carter Spann
Gloria Carter Spann was the sister of former United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:Gloria Carter was the second of four children born to James Earl Carter, Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter and was 24 months younger than her brother, Jimmy...
, sister of President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
even participated in one rally.
While the farmers appeared to have widespread sympathy, relatively few farmers actually went on strike and refused to grow crops. The organization therefore decided to have a tractor rally in Washington, DC. In January 1978, nearly 3,000 farmers drove their tractors to Washington, many of them from thousands of miles away. The Carter administration agreed that the Farmers Home Administration
Farmers Home Administration
In 1946 Farmers Home Administration replaced the Farm Security Administration which superseded the Resettlement Administration. Its mission and programs involved extending credit for agriculture and rural development. Direct and guaranteed credit went to individual farmers, low-income families,...
would stop all foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
s, but soon after the rally was over resumed foreclosures of farms with past due loans.
In 1979, the farmers again drove their tractors to Washington, and drove on the mall, and blocked traffic, creating significant tie-ups. A blizzard hit while they were in town, and then the tractors became useful as they were the only vehicles that could reliably travel through the snow, often delivering doctors and nurses to hospitals.
One of the tractors driven to Washington can be seen in the Smithsonian museum in Washington.
The American Agriculture Movement continues to lobby for changes in US farm policy. Its stated goals are as follows:
1. 100% Parity for all domestic and foreign used and/or consumer agriculture products.
2. All agricultural products produced for national or international food reserve shall be contracted at 100% parity.
3. Creation of an entity or structure composed of agriculture producers to advise and approve policies that affect agriculture.
4. Imports of agriculture products which are domestically produced must be stopped until 100% parity is reached. Thereafter, imports must be limited to the amount that the American producers cannot supply.
5. All announcements pertaining to any agricultural producing cycle shall be made far enough in advance that the producer will have adequate time to make needed adjustments in his operation