Auctioneer
Four-row tractor corn planter
Mechanical Corn Picker
Farm foreclosure
Soil erosion
Conservation tilling
Cows and calves
Bank Closures
Iowa Farmers Strike
The Great Depression: Strike Turns Violent
Overproduction Leads to Low Prices
The New Deal Brings ReliefThe Economics of Agriculture
Any
Iowa farmer could summarize farming this way, "There are good years,
and there are bad years." Throughout the state's history, farmers have
experienced highs and lows when it comes to their production success and the
prices they get for their crops and livestock.
It's a risky business.
Early Ups and Downs
Pioneer farmers in the mid-1800s came to Iowa because they heard about the rich soil. At first they used everything that they raised. Within a few years they raised enough crops that they could sell what they didn't need. The Civil War (1861-65) years briefly brought higher profits. But in the 1870s, the entire United States—including Iowa—was affected by an economic depression. Then 1894 and 1896 were drought years.
World War I Brings Prosperity
In general the early years of the
20th century were times of prosperity
for farm families. The height of agricultural prosperity came with the outbreak
of World War I in 1914. Iowa farmers borrowed money to buy land and equipment
as they increased production to help supply the war-torn countries and the
troops with food. Iowa farmers grew more corn and oats and raised more hogs,
horses and cattle during the war years.
When the war ended, agricultural prosperity ceased. Many farm owners, in debt
for lands and equipment purchased during prosperous years, were unable to
pay when loans came due. They lost their farms through bankruptcy.
The Great Depression
Economic stress continued, worsened by the depression that enveloped the entire nation after 1929. For many years, it cost more to raise the crops than the farmers were paid when they sold them. Some relief came in 1933 with the change in national political leadership. Government became involved in agriculture as it never had been before. The government made loans to farmers, and bought surplus farm products.
Another World War
World War II marked the beginning
of economic change. Farms became fully mechanized as they once more geared
up to supply food for American fighting forces and their allies. Prices for
farm products increased with the demand.
After the war ended in 1945 and as the country adjusted to peace, the farm
economy was again affected. By 1953 Iowa 's economy was again in a recession,
which meant low prices. Iowa farmers seemed caught in a contradictory situation.
On one hand, new farm technology, the ever increasing use of farm chemicals,
and greater efficiency had led to higher production. But on the other hand,
these changes had produced greater and greater surpluses, which drove down
farm prices.
A New Kind of Farmer
By the beginning of the 1960s, it
was clear that Iowa farmers had been moving toward a stronger business orientation
and greater specialization. This was reflected in the concentration on two
crops— corn and soybeans. As a result of these changes, an agricultural
official at Iowa State College said that a "new farmer" had made
an appearance in Iowa. He meant that farming had changed and that farmers
were different than in the past.
The 1970s were times of real prosperity although the number of farms continued
to decline. At the same time, life on the farm became less and less distinct from town life.
By 1970, in many ways, farm families lived much like town dwellers, enjoying
the same modern homes and communication systems.
Where Have All the Farmers Gone?
A decade later, however, the good
times had vanished and Iowa farmers, as farmers elsewhere, entered into an
almost decade long depression. Crisis hot lines and other programs were established
to provide support for farm families. By 1992, one major effect of the severely
restricted farm economy of the previous decade was that the number of Iowa
farms had dropped to 96,543. During
the 1980s, more than 140,000 people had moved off Iowa farms.
Farm life continues to change in the 21st century. One thing that appears
to remain unchanged is that Iowa is a leading agricultural state particularly
in the production of corn, hogs and soybeans. The recent trends in biotechnology
promise a continued place for Iowa as a leader in food and livestock production.
Sources:
- The Iowa Heritage: A Guide for Teachers, Iowa Public Television, Johnston, IA.
- Schwieder, Dorothy. Iowa: The Middle Land. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press, 1996.
