SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 



559 



maintain the fertility of the soil and keep the land in such condition that 

 maximum corn crops may be grown. A very limited acreage of the three 

 latter crops is grown at the present time. On this basis, a quarter-section 

 farm, with forty acres of permanent pasture, would produce annually sixty 

 acres of corn. On a well-managed farm the yield should be at least sixty 

 bushels per acre. The average yield of corn in the state in 1906 is 

 estimated at aJhout forty bushels. This corn crop, at a valuation of 35 cents 

 per bushel, represents an income of $21 per acre, or a total income of 

 $1,260. The cost of raising and marketing corn under Iowa conditions 

 is about $5 per acre. It is evident that the "corn land" returns a hand- 

 some profit on the investment. 



But what of the other crops. Many Iowa farmers this season raised oat 

 crops valued at $10 to $18 per acre. If thirty acres of this quarter-section 

 farm were in oats, which yielded 50 bushels, the crop is worth $12.50 

 per acre, or $375 for the thirty acres. Let us assume that thirty acres 

 of clover hay yielded 2.5 tons per acre. This crop is Tvorth in the aggre- 

 gate about $400. The forty acres of pasture should yield products with a 

 value of at least $10 per acre. This 160-acre farm then gives an income 

 from the principal crops, corn, oats, clover and pasturage, of approxi- 

 mately $2,500. If these crops are fed to live stock, as they are in large 

 part on the majority of Iowa farms, this income should be increased by 

 a considerable sum. In addition, poultry and eggs should increase the 

 income by one or two hundred dollars. On this basis the 160-acre farm 

 brings the owner an annual income of approximately $3,000. We deem 

 this a very conservative estimate, but these data prove very clearly the 

 fact that there is abundant opportunity in Iowa today to grow corn as 

 the money crop at a satisfactory profit, even on high priced land. 



Infinite variation is possible with respect to secondary crops, which 

 may be grown in rotation with corn. This is an important fact. Oppor- 

 tunity is thus afforded the farmer to grow those crops which are best 

 adapted to the local soil conditions and to the scheme of farm manage- 

 ment, which is desirable for different reasons, as for instance, the force 

 of men and teams which is available. 



Within the last decade, Iowa farmers have learned how to grow alfalfa. 

 This crop is now raised on limited areas in many sections. Alfalfa can 

 be successfully grown in nearly all parts of the State; it yields in a 



The corn is securely cribbed. From here it -will go to the feed yard or to 

 the elevator. 



