Organization formed in 1977 in response to Congressional legislation entailing four years of farm prices below the cost of production. In many states, farmers organized protests, strikes, pickets, boycotts, and marches on state capitols and on Washington, D.C. (1977-1979). Collection includes a historical calendar, newsletters, press releases, correspondence, and news clippings.

The American Agriculture Movement (AAM) was formed in 1977 in response to Congressional legislation entailing four years of farm prices below the cost of production. In many states, farmers organized protests, strikes, pickets, boycotts, and marches on state capitols and on Washington, D.C. (1977-1979). In February 1979, thousands of farmers converged on Washington, D.C., in a tractorcade organized by AAM. Following this event, the AAM established a Washington office to bring farmers' voices to Congress and the Administration.

The goals of the AAM are:

1. 100% Parity for all domestic and foreign used and/or consumer agriculture products.  
   
2. All agricultural products produced for national or international food reserve shall be contracted at 100% parity.
   
3. Creation of an entity or structure composed of agriculture producers to advise and approve policies that affect agriculture.
   
4. Imports of agriculture products which are domestically produced must be stopped until 100% parity is reached. Thereafter, imports must be limited to the amount that the American producers cannot supply.
   
5. All announcements pertaining to any agricultural producing cycle shall be made far enough in advance that the producer will have adequate time to make needed adjustments in his operation.

(AAM homepage: http://www.aaminc.org/ )

The collection (1978-2011, undated) includes a calendar, newsletters, press releases, correspondence, and news clippings. It also contains documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and related correspondence of Des Moines Register reporter Thomas Knudson. The "American Agriculture Movement Historical Calendar" (1981) contains a brief history of the AAM as well as photographs and notes about significant events in AAM history.

Additional AAM newsletters have been catalogued and are available in Special Collections. These include Washington Newsletter (1981-1983), Reporter (1983-1994; call no. HD1485 A45 R47x), AAM Newsletter (1995-1998; call no. HD1485 A45 R471), and American Agriculture Movement, Inc. Newsletter (2000- , call no. HD1485 A45 R4711). The book Gentle Rebels: The Story of the Farm Protest of 1977 thru 1982 by Gerald McCathern (Hereford, Tex.: Food for Thought Publications, 1982) is also available in the Special Collections book collection (call no. HD1765 1982 M33x).