# Sam Farmer's Cotton

This educational and instructional film, made in collaboration with the U.S. Army Museum in New York, follows the struggles and eventual success of a Southern cotton farmer, Sam Farmer, as he learns improved agricultural practices to increase his cotton yield and profitability. The film begins by depicting Sam’s initial hardships—poor soil, pest infestations, and improper farming techniques—that lead to low-quality cotton and financial distress. His struggles also affect his home life, forcing him to break promises to his wife, Mary, about improving their living conditions. As Sam faces setbacks at the cotton gin, where his cotton is deemed low-quality and undervalued, he observes his more successful neighbor, John Jones, who produces higher-yielding, better-quality cotton. Encouraged by his wife and local agricultural extension agents, Sam seeks guidance from the county agent, Mr. Smith, who carefully evaluates his farming practices. Through expert advice, Sam learns the importance of proper seed selection, soil conservation, terracing, fertilization, boll weevil control, and careful harvesting techniques. Determined to turn his farm around, Sam adopts new methods, including planting pedigreed seed, spacing his rows correctly, using crop rotation, applying fertilizers efficiently, and treating his cotton for pests and diseases. Over time, these changes result in healthier plants, improved cotton quality, and a higher market price for his crop. His renewed success not only…

- Kind: Educational
- Year: 1938
- By: United States Department of Agriculture
- Genres: Education
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/sam-farmers-cotton)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/sam-farmers-cotton?play=1)