See related dissertation: "Reading, reform and rural change: the Midwestern farm press, 1895-1920", This article argues that historians should not take agricultural newspapers as is and assume they expressed the farmer's point of view. Farm newspapers often reflected urban reform ideas, such as those involving rural school consolidation, rural churches and family farms. "Farm newspapers are better seen not as expressing the ideas of farmers, but providing a forum for reformers and farmers to debate proposed changes to country life." Research involved four midwestern farm newspapers between 1895 and 1920: Iowa Homestead; Wallaces' Farmer; Prairie Farmer; and Missouri Ruralist.
Assesses the attitudes of rural people towards farm electrification in the United States between 1920-1940. Hesitation of farmers to adopt electricity; impact of electricity on landscape transformation; implication of electrification for farm modernization.
Focuses on the adoption of mechanical corn pickers by farmers in Iowa between 1900-1952. Implications of the develoopment on technological advances and economic motivations. Effects of mechanical corn pickers on corn harvest. Impact of the machinery on modern agricultural development.
