眾所周知地，鄧小平曾對「改革開放」後中國大陸的農業發展做出巨大的貢獻。然而，鄧小平對「文革」前中共重大農業決策和政策的參與程度與情形，卻未受到應有的注意。既往普遍的觀點是：「文革」前鄧小平對農業涉入不深，並對相關議題持以溫和、務實的立場。本文認為：「文革」以前，鄧小平雖然未曾專門主管農業，但因位居高層，既對重大農業議題有所與聞並參加決策，在相關政策的部署與執行上，亦直接參與指揮與推動的工作。無論在1955年的「合作化」速度爭議、1950年代末掀起的「人民公社化」運動和高估產、高教購，以及1960年代初期的「包產到戶」爭論，鄧小平不但都置身其中，更扮演不可低估的角色和作用。此一時期鄧小平對農業、農村政策的偏左立場，主要是基於對毛澤東的信服和意識型態因素的影響。在經歷「三面紅旗」造成的農業嚴重挫敗後，鄧小平方逐漸持以較務實的態度。不容迴避地，「文革」前中共對農業、農村所造成的破壞和危害，鄧小平負有一定的責任。鄧小平在農業政策、問題上顯得務實，進而在1970年代未表態支持農業進行變革，正是歷經此一變化過程而來。

As everyone knows, Deng Xiaoping made great contributions to China agriculture since the "Reform & Openness" policy. However, few people pay attention to Deng's opinions and activities in rural policies before the Cultural Revolution. This study demonstrates that Deng not only actively participated at the decision-making of the rural policies, but also enforced them strictly before the Cultural Revolution. In this policy field, Deng respected and accepted Mao Zedong's viewpoints and orders sincerely. He also deeply affected by the ideology. He became more practical only after the disaster, which was brought by the Great Leap Forward. The lessons that Deng learned from in this period facilitated him to support the rural reform after he had come to the power.