SKU: 9427991774

Industrializing the Corn Belt: Agriculture, Technology, and Environment, 1945-1972

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Industrializing the Corn Belt: Agriculture, Technology, and Environment, 1945-1972From the late 1940s to the early 1970s, farmers in the Corn Belt transformed their region into a new, industrial powerhouse of large scale production, mechanization, specialization, and efficiency. Many farm experts and implement manufacturers had urged farmers in this direction for decades, but it was the persistent labor shortage and cost price squeeze following WWII that prompted farmers to pave the way to industrializing agriculture. Anderson

From the late 1940s to the early 1970s, farmers in the Corn Belt transformed their region into a new, industrial powerhouse of large-scale production, mechanization, specialization, and efficiency. Many farm experts and implement manufacturers had urged farmers in this direction for decades, but it was the persistent labor shortage and cost-price squeeze following WWII that prompted farmers to pave the way to industrializing agriculture. Anderson examines the changes in Iowa, a representative state of the Corn Belt, in order to explore why farmers adopted particular technologies and how, over time, they integrated new tools and techniques.

In addition to the impressive field machinery, grain storage facilities, and automated feeding systems were the less visible, but no less potent, chemical technologies--antibiotics and growth hormones administered to livestock, as well as insecticide, herbicide, and fertilizer applied to crops. Much of this new technology created unintended consequences: pesticides encouraged the proliferation of resistant strains of plants and insects while also polluting the environment and threatening wildlife, and the use of feed additives triggered concern about the health effects to consumers.

In Industrializing the Corn Belt, J. L. Anderson explains that the cost of equipment and chemicals made unprecedented demands on farm capital, and in order to maximize production, farmers planted more acres with fewer but more profitable crops or specialized in raising large herds of a single livestock species. The industrialization of agriculture gave rural Americans a lifestyle resembling that of their urban and suburban counterparts. Yet the rural population continued to dwindle as farms required less human labor, and many small farmers, unable or unwilling to compete, chose to sell out.

Based on farm records, cooperative extension reports, USDA publications, oral interviews, trade literature, and agricultural periodicals, Industrializing the Corn Belt offers a fresh look at an important period of revolutionary change in agriculture through the eyes of those who grew the crops, raised the livestock, implemented new technology, and ultimately made the decisions that transformed the nature of the family farm and the Midwestern landscape.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Northern Illinois University Press
Published: 02/15/2016
ISBN: 9780875807416
Pages: 248
Weight: 0.79lbs
Size: 8.80h x 6.00w x 0.70d
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SKU: 9427991774

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Megan
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 4
Second-chance, slow-burn sapphic romance
Format: Paperback
"Firecamp" by Jaycie Morrison is a second-chance sapphic romance that includes an emotionally-charged slow burn romance and a time-jump. MCs Nora and Fallon come from very different circumstances, but are thrown together along with six other women at Firecamp where they all must work to help mitigate wildfires. Both emotionally immature and carrying their own baggage, Nora and Fallon's young romance ends with a bang. Ten years later, with their careers leading the way, they are forced back together. What follows is a slow burn, second-chance romance that is less naive but no less passionate. This was my first book by Jaycie Morrison, but it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed the way she developed Nora & Fallon independently and together as well as the "side action" that we saw with Nora's family, especially her younger brother Tyler. I was initially drawn to the story because it was set in the Colorado wildfire scene & I loved how that was portrayed. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2025
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Jocelyn
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 3
Had high hopes, but didn't hit the mark
Format: Paperback
I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. A sapphic romance set in the wilderness doing fire mitigation is right up my alley, but Firecamp just didn't hit the mark for me. The pacing was clunky, and ultimately I was left frustrated wondering when it would end. The author went into way too much detail chronicling the itty bitty events, and didn't spend nearly enough time on the MCs actual personal growth or relationship. It often felt like "well they're together because they're supposed to be." All in all, I feel bad leaving a negative review because we need more sapphic stories BUT I do feel like this could have benefitted from some more story-specific editing, not just grammar/spelling.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2025
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MLTU
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★★★★★ 5
The Colombo Family Duet
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Another amazing mafia romance duet! Widowed Brie "Breezy" Colombo teams up with a reluctant Dominika "Nik" Kusek to try and solve her husband's murder. Nik is tasked to be Brie's bodyguard as they dodge hit men, play in mafia politics, and look for any clues that could lead them to a killer. There was action, mystery, loyalty, betrayal, passion, lots of steam... it was all around awesome! I breezed through both books in one day!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2025
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Sam HV
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
Great read!
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This one takes you on a ride from start to finish. Another great sapphic mafia romance by Persephone!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2025
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Linbee
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Story.
Format: Kindle
I really enjoyed the none stop action and the thrilling suspense of who killed Terry Colombo as well as who put out hits to kill Brie. Also liked the simmering romance between Brie and Dominika "Nik" Kusek. I was little disappointed that there were no specific detail of there height just vague description. Though it did not change my opinion of this story, or the number of stars given. I found this story very entertaining and exciting to read. I can't wait to read what happens next in book 2. I whole heartily recommend this story to everyone that loves a little danger with their romance.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024

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