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Chronological history by decade from
the creation of USDA in 1862 until 2000

Blue=USDA research accomplishment

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The first USDA administration building in Washington, D.C., was completed in 1867.

Farms with hog cholera were quarantined.

1860 and before

1833
Hog cholera first reported in the U.S.(more)

1843
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia first introduced into the U.S.

1860
Farmers made up 58 percent of the labor force.

1861
Civil War began.

Proved that Phytophthora infestans caused Irish potato famine.

1862
USDA created.

Morrill Land-Grant College Act authorized public land grants for colleges to teach agriculture and mechanic arts.(more)

First man-made plastic invented.

First USDA research bulletin issued, on sugar content of several varieties of grapes and their suitability for wine.

Homestead Act passed.

Library of the USDA established.

1863
First monthly crop report published by USDA.

Dry farming, as type of commercial agriculture, began in Utah.

1864
Pasteurization invented.

Deficiency Act provided first statutory provision for employment of women.

1865
Slavery abolished by 13th amendment to the Constitution.

1866
Gregor Mendel showed that traits pass from parents to offspring, the foundation of modern genetics.

1867
Patrons of Husbandry, later known as the National Grange, organized by USDA employee. This was the first general farmers organization to permit women equality of membership and privilege.

First patent issued for barbed-wire fencing.

1868
Division of Botany created to preserve herbarium material collected in government expeditions.(more)

Refrigerator railroad car patented.

USDA began research on animal diseases.(more)

1869
First transcontinental railroad completed.

Gypsy moth accidentally brought into the U.S. from France; established in Medford, MA. (more)

Suez Canal opened.

First practical spring-toothed harrow patented; eliminated breaking teeth on roots and stones.

Dmitry Mendeleyev published the organizational groundwork for the periodic table of elements.

First analysis of food published in the U.S., for corn.(more)