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" Harvests for Tomorrow " Usda Agriculture Film Soil Health & Crop Rotation 85964 (1941)

1941 · Short film · 26 min

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Synopsis

Narrated by Frank Graven and directed by Edgar Peterson II, “Harvests for Tomorrow” (1941) is a black-and-white public service film made by the Agricultural Adjustment Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that encourages farmers to use limestone and phosphate treatments to achieve healthy soil. It's somewhat typical of films made in the post-Dust Bowl era, in that it attempts to educate farmers about proper techniques of farm management to prevent erosion and depletion of soil quality. Featuring music played by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Alden Finckel, the film tells the timeless story of New England farmers who have tended to the land since the time of the Pilgrims. Due to over-farming, the fields that have been farmed for many years are no longer fruitful and are causing farms to close. Luckily, local politicians and scientists join forces to discuss solutions. Opening credits, title page (0:05). Scrolling text details plot of film (0:36). Church bells ring, scene of quiet New England town (0:58). First Baptist Church, Framingham - Minister stands at doorway and greets congregants as they leave service (1:07). Gravestone Hadlock Marcy Esquire located in Gill Cemetery (1:32). Plymouth Rock with year “1620” etched into stone (1:51). Man and woman work hard harvesting potatoes in field (2:22). Man carries wooden barrel on hip while collecting apples from tree, young boy helps with harvest and stands in tree on latter…

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Details

Running time
26 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

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