Earl Butz

Earl Butz (1909-2008) was a controversial United States Secretary of Agriculture under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, serving from 1971 to 1976. He is best known for his policies that revolutionized American agriculture, moving away from supply management and towards increased production, often summarized by his encouragement to "get big or get out."

Butz advocated for farmers to plant "fence row to fence row" to maximize yields and boost exports. This policy, while initially increasing agricultural output and lowering food prices domestically, had significant long-term consequences, including increased reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, soil erosion, and the consolidation of farms into larger, corporate operations. Many family farms were forced out of business.

Before becoming Secretary of Agriculture, Butz was a professor of agricultural economics and Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University. He also served as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Butz's tenure was marked by both praise for his role in transforming American agriculture and criticism for the environmental and social effects of his policies. His legacy is further complicated by his forced resignation in 1976 after making a racially insensitive remark that was made public.