"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

Agriculture has been such a shaping factor in the history of this country and throughout the world that its methods and practices have had and currently do have huge impacts on the health of the earth. Many current agricultural trends, especially industrial agribusiness, are unsustainable and are causing some scholars to contemplate agriculture as being the ruination of our civilization. Through this research project I describe the progression of and changes in farming practices throughout the Midwest, and especially in Minnesota, over the years beginning with the 1800s through to the present day. I decided to specifically look into the changes in crop rotations because of the significant role they play in sustainable farming practices, noting the different crop choices and farm setups used throughout history and their effects on crop yields and the fertility of the soil. Agricultural lands with no rotation in their cropping sequence at all lead to soil erosion and degradation. Through the integration of multiple crops in a calculated rotation farmers will uphold the integrity of their soil and can also diminish their reliance on inputs.

I also decided to briefly examine some of the social elements that possibly prompted the changes in our system of agriculture, as well as discuss the current problems we are encountering with our monocropping system. Through comparing historical crop rotation practices to those of the modern day, I have determined a selection of possible sustainable crop rotations for the farmers in the Minnesota region. The growing movement toward sustainable agriculture illustrates the benefits of crop rotation and through this research project I hope to provide valuable information that will encourage and be useful to farmers and other citizens who wish to work their land in accordance with nature’s wisdom. Through sustainable crop rotations the fertility of our countries most precious resource, our topsoil, can be preserved.

*All photos are property of the author unless otherwise stated.