Churning room in the Perry Milk Products Company
Manual cradle to harvest grain
Flater's meat shop
Inspecting ears of hybrid seed corn
Hybrid seed plant
contour farming
Harvesting Oats
Farmers Inspecting Crops
Iowa's Meatpacking Industry
Dairy Farming Booms in Iowa
Grain Milling Industry
Early MillsAgricultural Products—Iowa Farmers Adapt to Changing Times
Iowa
has provided a home for farmers for many years. Throughout the years each
generation of farmers has shown flexibility and creativity in crop production.
As events and economic conditions have affected farmers' lives they have adapted
to survive.
Food Producers
In the 1830s farm families began moving into southeastern Iowa and along the Mississippi River. They produced
most of their own food as well as feed for livestock.
Wheat was often regarded as a cash crop while the other crops were consumed
on the farm. Before long, families were producing larger quantities of crops
and selling most of their crops to others. Through the years Iowa farm men
and women have raised many different crops including wheat, corn, rye, oats,
sorghum (used in making molasses), hay and soybeans. Women managed poultry,
eggs, butter, cheese and cream production.
In the 1850s, there were farmers everywhere in Iowa except in the far northwest corner. They settled across the flat, treeless prairies of north central Iowa, some of the world's most fertile soil. Iowa’s farm families expanded their operations to include
cattle raising which soon became a major industry. They also produced wool
and some fruit. Hog production became a big money making venture for Iowa's
farmers too.
Civil War Changes Ag Products
The Civil War greatly increased the demand for crops and livestock. The army needed huge supplies of meat to feed the troops and leather for boots, saddles and harness. The prices for crops, wheat, shot up. At that time, many Iowa farmers were still growing wheat and the state was ranked second in wheat production. During the
Civil War Iowans increased their production of wool because of the huge wartime
demand.
In 1875 Iowa wheat production reached its peak. It took a disaster in the
form of grasshopper plagues to finally drive farmers away from producing wheat.
They switched to corn, which they fed to livestock. As crop
rotation gained acceptance, oats became another leading grain product. Wheat production moved to the Great Plains of Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas and Canada.
When Iowa farmers made the switch from cattle grazing to cattle feeding they
even imported different breeds of cattle from Europe. Dairying also boomed.
When farmers realized they could make more money feeding corn to hogs they
began to raise hogs in quantities. Hog production became a big business for
farmers. By the 1880s Iowa farmers were producing large quantities of corn,
hogs, beef cattle and hay.
Horses and Flax
Iowa
was a leading horse breeding state in the late 19th century. Horses were used
on all farms to pull machinery, so there was a big market for work horses
in Iowa and other farming states. Horses eat oats so Iowa farmers grew more
oats to meet the demand.
As farmers began to diversify
their production, different regions of the state became known for specialties.
Corn and hogs were grown all over the state. Dairy production became concentrated in northeast Iowa. Farmers in the southwest
part of the state produced grass seed. Some farmers in north central Iowa grew flax. Popcorn became a specialty in Sac and Ida Counties.
America's participation in both World I and World War II made great demands on
Iowa agriculture. Iowa's farmers were encouraged to produce more to help feed
the troops and civilians around the world. Iowa's food production increased
dramatically during the war years.
For over 100 years farm operations were diversified. Poultry and livestock
were raised on every farm. But in the 1950s farm operations began to change.
Farmers began to raise fewer crops. Families got rid of their cows and stopped
milking. Women stopped raising chickens and often had smaller gardens. Farms
became less diversified and became more specialized. Iowa farmers raised fewer
different kinds of crops. More and more farm women began working in nearby
towns to help support their families.
The Government Helps Farmers
Iowa's government officials work
to help farmers sell more of their crops. One way is to find more uses for
Iowa’s crops. Examples include using soybean oil as machine grease and
using corn to make ethanol.
Ethanol is added to gasoline to help reduce pollution. These programs will
help bring more prosperity
to Iowa farm families.
Iowa's farmers are showing creativity by finding new ways to farm. They are
producing different crops and growing them in new ways. They are raising different
kinds of livestock. Iowa's farmers have begun to produce products such as
soy foods, organic livestock and crops, bees, goat cheese, wine and ethanol.
The determination of the Iowa farmer has helped make Iowa known around the
world as a producer of many farm products. From popcorn to honey, Iowa supplies
the world with a diverse source of farm products.
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.
