University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Re-diversifying the heartland: Investigating the dynamics of Midwestern farmer identity and agroecological transformation

Leitschuh, Benjamin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124555

Description

Title
Re-diversifying the heartland: Investigating the dynamics of Midwestern farmer identity and agroecological transformation
Author(s)
Leitschuh, Benjamin
Issue Date
2024-04-23
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Stewart, William P
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Johnson, McKenzie
Committee Member(s)
  • Chu, Maria
  • Williams, Daniel R
Department of Study
Natural Res & Env Sci
Discipline
Natural Res & Env Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • farming
  • agriculture
  • agroecology
  • hegemony
  • common sense
  • place-making
  • sense of place
  • Illinois
  • agribusiness
  • qualitative
  • social science
Abstract
The environmental impact of industrialized agriculture in the U.S. Corn Belt, compounded by the effects of climate change, has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of current farming practices. To strengthen the resilience of the U.S. food system, restore degraded ecosystems, and revitalize rural communities, it is imperative to explore alternative agricultural systems. In my dissertation, I investigated the potential of transitioning to agroecological farming systems on a large scale in Illinois. Through interviews with a group of Illinois farmers, I identified the core values and norms that define a "good farmer" among this population. The farmers in this study identified that place meanings associated with maintaining a family legacy of farming, creating a viable future for future generations, and environmental stewardship were as important to a good farmer identity as the need to increase efficiency and yields. Since agroecology is compatible with many of these good farmer ideals, a transition away from industrial agriculture may be well- accepted by Illinois farmers. Additionally, I analyzed over six decades of advertisements in a major farming publication to uncover the discourse promoted by agribusiness about what constitutes a "good farmer." The agribusinesses documented in this analysis continue to promote the ideas of what makes a good farmer that are in conflict with what farmers have themselves expressed, although this disparity is often masked in ways that give the illusion of compatibility. Finally, I proposed a new conceptual framework that addresses the current obstacles to an agroecological transition by underscoring the out-sized role that place-making and sense of place have in both maintaining the status quo and supporting a different agricultural vision for the future of the Midwest.
Graduation Semester
2024-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2024 Benjamin Leitschuh

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