Which legal principle was clarified by the case of Wickard v. Filburn regarding individual farming?

The case of Wickard v. Filburn is significant because it clarified the legal principle regarding the economic impact of individual farming on interstate commerce. The Supreme Court ruled that even if a farmer grows crops solely for personal use and does not sell them in interstate commerce, this activity can still have a substantial cumulative effect on interstate commerce. This means that the federal government has the authority to regulate agricultural production under the Commerce Clause, even if the farming activities are local and not directly involved in the commercial market.

This ruling underscored the broader interpretation of congressional power to regulate activities that might not seem connected to interstate commerce at first glance but collectively could impact the national economy. Therefore, Wickard v. Filburn established that individual farming practices could be subject to federal regulations if they have a significant economic impact on interstate commerce, ultimately shaping how agricultural laws were applied in the United States.