INTRODUCTORY 



Volume Seventeen of the Iowa Year Book of Agriculture is here- 

 by submitted. 



Measured by the material standard of financial prosperity the 

 year 1916 proved the most extraordinary in the entire history of 

 the state. This, too, in spite of the fact that the yield of potatoes 

 was less than 40 per cent of the normal Iowa crop, while the total 

 yield of wheat was also far below the average of recent years. 

 Iowa's staple crop, corn, untouched by frost, was highly satisfactory 

 in both equality and quantity. Oats of excellent quality and well 

 up toward the high mark of the previous year, which was the 

 highest in the history of the state. The combined value of farm 

 products, livestock, poultry and dairy products amounted to more 

 than $1,250,000,000 ! 



The spirit of enterprise and progress was plainly discernible in 

 farming operations throughout the state, wdth a very pronounced 

 disposition to adopt improved methods. The county agent move- 

 ment made considerable progress. In the northern and north- 

 eastern parts of the state the cow-test work was pushed and did 

 more, probably, than any other one influence to boost and popu- 

 larize the dairy industry. Hundreds of new silos were built and 

 filled. The tractor occupied a larger place in farming operations 

 than ever before and helped materially to solve the perplexing 

 problem of farm labor. Auction sales of purebred stock were nu- 

 merous, with values climbing steadily upward. On the whole it 

 was a satisfactory year for agricultural Iowa, and furnished stiU 

 further evidence of an indisputable character to clinch the claim 

 that Iowa is the greatest agricultural state in the Union. 



Part I — Presents a summary of the proceedings of the various 

 meetings held by the Iowa State Board of Agriculture during the 

 year. 



Part II — Report of the annual State Agricultural Convention 

 held December 13 in the agricultural rooms of the state house at 

 Des Moines. It includes the president's address, reports of the 

 secretary and treasurer, also a report, financial and otherwise, of 

 the county fairs of the state. 



