Joshua Brinkman on American Farming Culture and the History of Technology
Jan 6, 2025
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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.
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.
The podcast challenges stereotypes surrounding women in agriculture by showcasing their active roles in decision-making and technological adoption within farming communities.
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.
Rediscovering Rural Studies
There is a call for greater academic focus on rural studies, particularly regarding agricultural practices and technology, as these areas often remain undervalued in technology studies. The podcast emphasizes that while digital technologies capture significant scholarly attention, the importance of technological advancements in agriculture and how they shape rural identities is often overlooked. By highlighting recent works, such as Joshua Brinkman’s book on American farming culture, it illustrates the need to bring the farmer's perspective into discussions on modernity and technology. Understanding agricultural systems through the lens of the farmers themselves is crucial for grasping the complexities of rural life and technological engagement.
Farmers’ Identities and Technology Use
Farmers utilize technology not only for its functional benefits but also as a means of performing and expressing their identities. Many farmers pride themselves on their efficiency and modernity, often viewing high-tech advancements as symbols of their success and professionalism. This identity performance resonates deeply in agricultural culture, where the image of a progressive and productive farm becomes intertwined with personal and communal identity. Moreover, the podcast discusses how different narratives surrounding technology and agriculture shape farmers' self-perceptions and their engagement with the tools of their trade.
Gender Dynamics in Farming
The discourse explores the nuanced roles of women in agriculture, challenging the stereotypes of rural femininity as being passive or ancillary to male-dominated farming. Women are depicted as active producers and decision-makers in agricultural practices, actively participating in business and technological adoption. This representation counteracts prevailing narratives that frame women as being relegated to traditional domestic roles, illustrating their integral contributions to farming operations and modern agricultural practices. By centering women's experiences and perspectives, the podcast showcases a more inclusive understanding of rural identities.
Convergence of Modern Agricultural Ideologies
The conversation discusses the convergence and tension between industrial agriculture and organic farming movements, highlighting their differing yet overlapping ideologies. While organic farming often idealizes low-tech and less intensive practices as morally superior, modern farmers view technological advancement as essential for productivity and sustainability. Both movements share a moral discourse around family and land, emphasizing the significance of agricultural practices within their respective communities. The potential for dialogue and collaboration between these two opposing ideologies is presented as a pathway for innovation and mutual understanding within the agricultural landscape.
Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Joshua Brinkman, Assistant Teaching Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at North Carolina State University, about his book, American Farming Culture and the History of Technology (Routledge, 2024). The book provides a fascinating exploration about how American farmers–contrary to their image as backwards and even anti-technology–have prided and put forward images of themselves as existing on the technological cutting-edge of modernity. Brinkman examines how different ideologies of farming have developed over time in the United States and how these ideologies have shaped the adoption of and ideas around new agricultural technologies. In addition to his academic work, Brinkman is also an accomplished saxophonist and jazz musician, and you can find recordings from two of his current bands, the Fabulous Nite-Life Boogie and Les Trois Chats, online.
