America's Agricultural History Still Matters

Wheat's On Your Mind

America's story cannot be told without agriculture—and few people understand that story better than historian and author Douglas Hurt. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Hurt joins Aaron Harries to explore how farming helped build the nation. From colonial wheat production and westward expansion to the Homestead Act, land-grant universities, the Dust Bowl, conservation programs, global trade, and today's farm economy, the conversation connects history directly to the challenges facing modern producers. Key takeaways Why agriculture drove American economic growth and expansion How railroads transformed wheat into a global commodity The lasting impact of the Homestead and Morrill Acts How Turkey Red wheat changed Kansas agriculture Why the Dust Bowl permanently reshaped conservation policy Lessons from the 1970s boom and 1980s farm crisis Agriculture's role during the Civil War and other conflicts Why global markets still create opportunities and risks The importance of research, Extension, and land-grant universities What history suggests about the future of American farming Timestamped Episode Rundown 00:00 – Introduction and Douglas Hurt's perspective on the lasting impact of the Dust Bowl and conservation. 00:42 – Douglas Hurt's background, Kansas roots, and career studying agricultural history. 02:52 – Why agriculture is central to understanding American history. 04:10 – Farmer independence and the growing federal role in agriculture. 06:57 – Early history of wheat in colonial America. 08:20 – The Homestead Act and settlement of the Great Plains. 10:30 – The Morrill Act and the creation of land-grant universities. 11:51 – Transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. 13:59 – Turkey Red wheat and its impact on Kansas. 15:21 – Railroads, exports, and the rise of global grain markets. 16:56 – The Dust Bowl, conservation, and the Soil Conservation Service. 21:08 – The Soviet grain deals, Earl Butz, and the 1980s farm crisis. 23:29 – Agriculture's role during the Civil War and wartime economies. 28:05 – Lessons for today's policymakers and producers. 29:58 – Looking ahead: the future of American agriculture. 32:14 – Douglas Hurt's latest books and closing thoughts. Kansas Wheat WheatsOnYorMind.com