1. Mechanization:
The introduction of tractors and other farm machinery revolutionized agricultural practices in the South. Tractors replaced mules and horses for plowing, harrowing, and planting, increasing productivity and efficiency.
2. Expansion of Cotton Production:
Despite the boll weevil infestation that devastated cotton crops in the late 1800s, cotton remained a dominant crop in the South during the 1900s. Farmers adopted improved cultivation techniques and new varieties of cotton that were more resistant to pests.
3. Diversification of Crops:
Recognizing the risks of relying solely on cotton, farmers began diversifying their crops to reduce vulnerability to market fluctuations and pests. Crops such as peanuts, soybeans, corn, and tobacco gained importance in the Southern agricultural landscape.
4. Sharecropping and Tenant Farming:
Sharecropping and tenant farming, systems in which farmers worked on land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crop, continued to be prevalent in the South during the 1900s. However, these systems gradually declined as more African American farmers acquired land and became landowners themselves.
5. Government Support Programs:
The establishment of government programs, such as the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) and the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (SCDAA), provided financial assistance and incentives to farmers to reduce surpluses, conserve soil, and adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
6. Rise of Agribusiness:
Agribusiness, characterized by large-scale corporate ownership and control of agricultural production and distribution, began to emerge in the South. This shift from traditional family farming to corporate-owned operations transformed the agricultural landscape.
7. Decline in Small Farms:
Small family farms faced increasing challenges, such as competition from larger agribusiness operations, economic pressures, and the migration of rural populations to urban areas. As a result, the number of small farms in the South declined significantly during the 1900s.
These changes in agriculture had a profound impact on the economic and social fabric of the South. They contributed to the decline of traditional farming practices, the displacement of rural communities, and the transformation of the region's agricultural economy.