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.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 167 Document Number: C27910
Notes:
Updated version of a paper prepared for the International Research Foundation for Development World Forum 2005 Conference at La Marsa, Tunisia, November 14-16, 2005. 12 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D02016
Notes:
Pages 231-240 in J.B. Ambekar (ed.), Agricultural communication and sustainable development. Shruti Publications, Jaipur, India. 279 pages., Examines these grass-root level vocational training institutions designed to bridge the gap between available agricultural technologies and their application for increased production.
