Earl Butz

Earl Butz was an American agricultural economist and politician who served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1971 to 1976 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He is best known for his policies that promoted the industrialization of farming, leading to increased crop production and the expansion of agribusiness. Butz advocated for the use of innovative farming techniques and a shift towards large-scale operations, which significantly transformed American agriculture. His tenure was marked by controversy, including his dismissal after making racist comments, but his impact on agricultural policy and food production remains notable.