Agricultural Capitalism

Definition

This refers to an economic system where farming becomes focused on profit-making rather than just subsistence (producing enough food for the farmer's family). It often involves innovations in farming techniques and land ownership.

Analogy

Think of agricultural capitalism as a farm-to-table restaurant. Instead of just growing enough food for their own use (subsistence farming), farmers aim to produce high-quality, profitable crops that they can sell to restaurants or markets.

Related terms

Enclosure Movement: This was a process in England during the 18th century where open fields were fenced off into individual plots, often leading to more efficient farming but also displacement of peasant farmers.

Crop Rotation: A systematic approach to deciding which crop to plant where in your vegetable garden from one year to the next.

Tenant Farming: An agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying amounts of capital and management.