AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Peoples & Things
Joshua Brinkman on American Farming Culture and the History of Technology
Jan 6, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Joshua Brinkman, an Assistant Teaching Professor at North Carolina State University and author of a new book on American farming culture, delves into the surprising relationship between farmers and technology. He challenges the stereotype of farmers as anti-tech, revealing their pride in innovation. Brinkman also explores how cultural perceptions, like the significance of pickup trucks and the evolving roles of women in agriculture, shape identity. Plus, he connects his academic insights to his passion for jazz, highlighting music's cultural resonance.
01:30:40
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The significant decline in the agricultural workforce over the last century reflects how technology has enabled farmers to dramatically increase food production efficiency.
- Highlighting the need for greater academic focus on rural studies emphasizes the importance of understanding agricultural innovation through the farmers' perspectives.
Deep dives
The Shift in Agricultural Productivity
The transformation of agricultural productivity over the past century is highlighted, showcasing a significant decline in the agricultural workforce alongside a dramatic increase in output. In the 1920s, approximately 50% of Americans were employed on farms, while by 2022, this number had reduced to just 1.62%. This shift demonstrates how advancements in farming techniques and technology have allowed fewer workers to produce exponentially more food, with U.S. farmers today producing roughly three times the food they did in 1950. The increase in agricultural productivity is not merely a relic of history; it reflects ongoing changes in techniques and technologies that continue to evolve and shape the industry.
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode