History of Agriculture
Communication
Agriculture Communication and
Leadership
Communication
Need words, body language,
actions or gestures to
communicate.
Communication
The process by which information
is exchanged by individuals
through a common system
Types of Communication

Dyadic (two-person) – most informal
exchanges between two people
– Close proximity
– Both people send and receive messages
– Includes verbal and nonverbal stimulus

Small Group – three or more members of
a group
Types of Communication

Public – “Public” places, formal and
structured, speaker addresses large group
in an event as a speaker

Mass – most formal and most expensive,
may include media
Communication Models
One Way- information travels from one
source to a second
Communication Models

Interactive – information is exchanged between
two sources, includes feedback and interaction
Role of Ag Com

Year 2000 – 281.4 million people in the
United States
– 1.8% Ag Producers
– > 98% Urban/Suburban area
Role of Ag Com (facts)

American agriculture is a high priority when
considering national security

American food supply is safest in the world

Americans live longer

Americans are 3 inches taller than they were in
1900
Role of Ag Com

Is the American public aware of this
information?

What seems to be the problem?

Business of agriculture is a huge success …
– the communication of agriculture is NOT.
 % of jobs in the U.S. that are related to agriculture: 23%
Role of Ag Com

Agriculture literacy has been left to the
agricultural producer
Agriculture History

Crop – any plant humans us for their own needs

Livestock – any animal humans use for their own needs

Weed – any plant that is out of place

Pest – any animal that is out of place
Agriculture History

Agriculture began in the valleys of the
– Tigris
– Euphrates
– Nile
 Earliest records date back 6,000-8,000 years

Chinese farmers were highly respected in
their communities
Agriculture History

Crop production allowed people to stay in one
location

With feed, livestock domestication became
possible

Because of farming and ranching …
– Civilizations were founded
– Cultures were developed
– Specialization was developed
Agricultural Communication
History

3000 BC – Appearance of the plow

1793 – Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin

1810 – First agriculture magazine, Agricultural Museum,
was established in District of Columbia

1811 – First agricultural production fair held in U.S.
(Massachusetts)

1819 – Magazine American Farmer was released in wide
circulation
Agricultural Communication
History

1862 - The Morrill Act was passed
– Established land grant universities
– AGRICULTURE SCHOOLS!!!

1905 – First class in ag journalism offered at
Iowa State University

1908 – Agricultural Journalism department
created at University of Wisconsin, Madison

1917 – The Smith-Hughes Act passed
– Established vocational agriculture classes
Agricultural Communication
History

1920 – Iowa State University offered B.S. in
Agricultural Journalism

1921 – First farm market news radio report
broadcast (KDKA, Pittsburgh)

1944 – National Association of Farm
Broadcasters organized

1952 – Newspaper Farm Editors of America
established
Agricultural Communication
History

1970 – Agriculture Communicators of
Tomorrow (ACT) established
– University organization for Ag Communication
and Journalism majors

2006 – Utah State University offered a
B.S. in Agriculture Communication and
Journalism
Preparing Graphics
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