Soybean Farming Transformations: Exploring the Impact on Family Farms in the American South
The transformation of agricultural landscapes in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century represents a critical juncture in rural economic and social history. Within this broader narrative, the comparative analysis of soybean cultivation's emergence and impact in Central Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta offers a compelling examination of how regional factors influenced agricultural change in the American South. The researcher's proposed dissertation, titled "Soybean Farming Transformations: Family Farms in Central Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta, 1950-2020," seeks to illuminate the profound effects of agricultural diversification on rural communities across these two distinct yet interconnected regions. By tracing the introduction and growth of soybean cultivation over seven decades, this study provides a longitudinal perspective on the evolving nature of rural economies and societies in the South. The primary research question guiding t