THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURE MOVEMENT: ITS CAUSE, SPREAD, AND IMPACT

                         GREENE, DONALD MILLER; PHD

                         THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA; 1979
 
                         GEOGRAPHY (0366)
 

                         In order to increase our understanding of the American farming community, this study explores the
                         cause, spread, and impact of the American Agriculture Movement. The causes of the American
                         Agriculture Movement are introduced with a comparison toward earlier farmer movements. The spread of
                         the American Agriculture Movement is shown in two map series, revealing diffusion of the local strike
                         office through the United States and the pattern of individual farmer adoption within Oklahoma. Finally, a
                         survey instrument administered to Oklahoma adopters of the American Agriculture Movement provides
                         information concerning time of adoption, farmer commitment, and future impacts of the farmers' strike.
                         Extensive analysis is conducted on time of adoption, farmer commitment, and future impacts, with the
                         theoretical context of this analysis derived from current geographic diffusion theory. Cross tabulation
                         analysis, a process specifically designed to handle discrete variable responses, is used to determine the
                         relative association between variables. Survey analysis conducted on time of adoption reveals close
                         agreement with the literature; such that spatial temporal influences and communication inputs are
                         strongly related to time of adoption of the American Agriculture Movement. In similar manner, the
                         commitment expressed by farmers toward the strike is most strongly influenced by communication and
                         spatial/temporal measures. However, the final objective of this analysis, to determine variables which
                         influence future impacts of the strike innovation, is not supported by geographic diffusion theory.
                         Instead, the present analysis reveals that the future impacts of the farmers' strike is determined by
                         biographical factors, financial considerations, and farm resources. Hence, the overall contribution of this
                         study is based upon two points: an analysis of the rural diffusion of a social innovation, and the future
                         impact of that innovation on the farming community.

 


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