An Interesting Article by Mark Bittman

[skilletlicker]

Iowa Crops Look Like Food — But No One’s Eating
Inside a system that traps farmers and screws up the planet

 

[blissful]

Really good article!

 

[bethzaring]

I got off track with the statement that the Fed. Govt. gave the land to European males. One of my great great grandfathers was a farmer in Iowa and he was a European male. Land was not given away in the 1850's to 1870's. Granted he only paid $1.25 cash per acre, or $200. for 160 acres in 1850. From 1850 to 1890, Agricultural Census records were taken by the Fed. Govt. for a few selected states, including Iowa. In 1870, my ancestor took in $1200 that year for all farm production. In 1870, he raised timber, horses, milk cows, other cattle, sheep, hogs, spring wheat, Indian corn, oats, wool, Irish potatoes, orchard products, butter, hay, molasses, bees wax, chickens, and honey. Iowa farmers certainly have gotten away from diversity of farm production.

Maybe more than you wanted to know about Iowa agriculture.

 

[blissful]

Beth, good story, very interesting stuff. His land was very diverse wasn't it? Times sure changed. I liked hearing it.