FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 1 ' 



1900, when the average was 40.3 bushels. In that year May and June 

 received a little let^s than normal and July considerably above the usual 

 amount; thus giving relatively dry weather for planting and cultivating the 

 fields and copious moisture during the tasseling, earing and filling stage of 

 growth. In 1896 there was dry weather in June and ample rainfall in July 

 for the development of an average crop of 39 bushels per acre.' The temper- 

 ature and rainfall of those critical months determine the output of the corn. 



The hay crop ranks second in value and importance, the average yearly 

 amount harvested being about 5,500,000 tons, averaging in value over 

 $30 , 000,000 . The average yield has been about one and a half tons per acre . 

 The total forage products of the state, including cultivated and wild hay, 

 millet, corn stover, straw and pasturage, have been more valuable year 

 by year, than the grain product of the corn crop. 



The oats crop fills an important place in the agriculture of the state, the 

 average annual amount being 117,118,000 bushels, valued at over $25,000,000. 

 The range in the average yield has been from 24 to 48 bushels per acre. 



The average yearly output of all the cereal crops has been 408,760,000 

 bushels, valued at $110,541,980 at farm prices on December 1st. This 

 would make the average yearly value of cereals about $485 per farm . The 

 average value of corn per farm has been about $305. 



The United States census report for 19G0 contained the following impor- 

 tant statistics relative to Iowa: 



Total number of farms, 228,626. 



Number of acres in farms, 34,574,337. 



Total acreage improved, 29,897,552. 



Value of land and improvements, except buildings, $1,256,751,980. 



Value of farm buildings, $240,830,096. 



Value of live stock on farms, $278,830,096. 



Value of live stock not on farms, $12,714,320. 



Value of soil products not fed to stock, $263,383,480. 



Value of all farm products, including amount fed to stock, $365,411,528; 

 an average of one million dollars per day. 



Average value of products per farm, $1,598. 



Average value per acre of products not fed, $7.62. 



Value of animals sold and animals slaughtered on farms in 1899, 

 $121,527,461. 



Total products of animal industry, $169,858,981. 



Value of milk, butter, cheese and eggs, $27,516,870. 



Value of eggs produced, $10,016,707. 



Value of poultry, $9,491,819. 



Products of bees, $305,183. 



Value of wool sold, $992,334. 



Number of horses in 1900, 1,392,578. 



Number of milk cows, 1,423,648. 



Number of other cattle, 3,943,^82. 



Number of swine, 9,723,791. 

 Number of sheep, 657,868. 



Number of mules and asses, 57,579. ' 



Value of farm implements and machinery, $57,960,660, 

 Amount paid for labor on farms, 1899, $16,375,670. 



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