Photographer:  Frank T. Wilson 1903-1904

1922 Case 12-20 Tractor

Cultural Evolution of Agriculture:

A Historical Assay1900 - 2000

FOR 460, 2006J.Tyndall

Corn Harvest – Iowa

Vegetation Types = F(?)= F (Abiotic & Biotic)

What about culturally speaking?Vegetation Types = F(?)

111 miles of track in Illinois in 1850 increased to over 10,000 by 1890

Maps: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl

Photo: MS®

> 93% of Iowa’s land area has been converted to fairly homogenous

crop production

Central Iowa

Central Illinois

Systems Hierarchy in Agriculture

• field scale - agronomic

• farm scale - microecon

• Watershed/ landscape scale

– politico-ecological

• National/ transnational level –

politico-macroeconomic

Dominance of constraints :

Harvested Acres – 1900 - 2000

Year Acres harvested

(000’s)

Bushels/Ac

1900’s 95,000 25

1950’s 72,000 42

1960’s 60,000 64

1980’s 63,000 98

2000’s 70,000 135

US Corn Production History

Data Source - NASS

US Production of Corn(this relates to other crops too…)

• The gasoline tractor – ‘20s and ‘30s

• Changes in Performance, Parentage, and Genetic Diversity of Successful Corn Hybrids, 1930–2000

• Post WWII – new technology

• Increased production in corn belt 1960 and beyond– Why?

– Land grants (Purdue & ISU); Research $ = i.e. hybrids, pest control, fertilizer inputs that are tested in Midwest; growing power of agribusiness corps.

• Larger contiguous acreages – economies of scale

• Limited crop diversification = stronger infrastructure

• Rise in Predicate Industries & clustering of concomitant industries

• Subsidy programs

usda

2003-2004 U.S. Corn Use By Segment (bushels)

Feed/Residual5.8 billion  (56.8%)

Exports 1.9 billion  (18.6%)

Ethanol (fuel) 1.2 billion  (11.7%)

High Fructose Corn Syrup 530 million  (5.1%)

Corn Starch 271 million  (2.6%)

Corn Sweeteners 228 million  (2.2%)

Cereal/Other 187 million  (1.8%)

Beverage Alcohol 132 million  (1.2%)

Total 10.2 billion bushels

Source: USDA, industry statistics.

Corn Subsidies by year, Iowa

YearCorn

Subsidies

1995                $596,197,712

1996         $325,359,974

1997               $556,282,084

1998                        $928,223,373

1999                                   $1,376,230,642

2000                                       $1,529,407,150

2001                          $1,015,844,232

2002           $371,750,668

2003               $532,368,974

2004                       $867,720,362

Total $8,099,385,172

Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database.

Harvested Acres – 1900 - 2000

US Soybean Production History

Year Acres harvested

(000’s)

Bushels/Ac

1920’s 580 11

1940’s 8,000 18.5

1950’s 16,000 20

1970’s 55,000 25

2000’s 72,500 38Data Source - NASS

John Deer

US History of the SB

• Introduced around 1765 – Samuel Bowen - EIC

• 1930’s – Surplus of cotton and wheat – SB meal became important in animal feed.

– The gasoline tractor - general use in the ‘20s and ‘30s

• 1940 – US was importing 40% of oils & fats – WWII• 1941 – US production doubled

• 1949 – Became net exporter• Major component of the Marshall Plan food aid program

• Rise in ‘Value Added’ Predicate industries

– Livestock

• 1995 RR beans

Graphic from the US Soybean Association

http://www.ewg.orgSoybean Subsidies by year, Iowa

Year Soybean Subsidies

1995    $0

1996    $0

1997    $0

1998       $96,418,323

1999                         $449,128,732

2000                               $558,355,713

2001                                       $718,334,447

2002      $94,946,532

2003            $195,358,637

2004          $154,412,851

Total $2,266,955,234

Photos: J. Bishop

Amount of Subsidies received (1995-2004)

     Over $4.2 billion over 10 years

     $1.84 - $4.2 billion over 10 years

     $600 million - $1.84 billion over 10 years

     $100 - $600 million over 10 years

     Under $100 million over 10 years Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database.

With the steady increase in crop yields over time due to technological advances, the relative reduction of yields per

centimeter of soil loss has declined.

General Likelihood of Soil erosion

Source: FAO

What does all this mean with regards to….?

Habitat change?Fragmentation?Pest/predation dynamics?Resource use – i.e. water?T & E species?Path dependency?What else?

The NAS is a measure of the physical characteristics of a county area that enhance the location as a place to live. The scale combines measures of climate, typography, & water area that reflect environmental qualities most people prefer.

(NAS)

Source: Mike Duffy, Leopold Center, 2005

Photos: ISU Agronomy Dept

Erosion…

Sustainability, Agriculture & Technology

The following are all tech that sprang from the notion of Sustainable Ag (Approaches &/or BMP’s):

• Precision Ag• GMO’s• Riparian buffers• Shelterbelts and livestock odor• Organic farming

All are direct responses to patterns of land use– Which were largely dictated by Government Policy at various

levels (notably the Farm Bills, 1980…2002) & CES

Riparian Buffers – Water Quality Remedy

What is the Micro Environmental story? What is the Macro Environmental story?

Integrated Wet Lands – Water Quality Remedy

What is the Micro Environmental story? What is the Macro Environmental story?

Shelterbelts – Odor Remedy

What is the Micro Environmental story? What is the Macro Environmental story?

The following photos: T. Schultz, ISU

Bear Creek,

The following photos: http://ortho.gis.iastate.edu/