Merry Christmas

This former Iowa Tractor Boy would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas as well as a Very Blessed Christmas.

I also want to express my Thanks for all of the Current Iowa Tractor Boys that labor long hours to provide me the food items that I enjoy each and every day.

Thank You Very Much!!!!

2010 Snow Storm

Clayton County Iowa

When ever I receive pictures such as this I quickly recall why I choose to live in Middle Georgia upon my retirement from the U. S. Navy way back in 1981.

As a former Iowa Tractor Boy I have fond memories of cutting wood each Winter for future Winters. I can also recall walking to the one room country school on the corner of my Parents Farm on what is now known as Kale Avenue. I know it sounds good, but it was only up hill to the school in the morning.

A Christmas Gift

As a Former Iowa Tractor Boy I still appreciate appropriate Christmas Gifts. This scarf was a gift from my Son and His Bride. Now, just in case you are interested in who reads this blog I will provide a summary of the past week readers:

United States of America 79

New Zealand 7

Canada 5

France 5

Latvia 5

Netherlands 4

United Kingdom 3

Hungary 3

India 3

Estonia 2

It is certainly interesting to know the diversity of readers who are interested in the Iowa Tractor Boy Post.

What Price - Soil?

I have fond memories as a Tender Young Iowa Farm Boy and listening to my Dad talk about how much He and My Mom pay for their 80 acre farm near Ceres in Clayton County Iowa. They purchased this Farm in 1941 when I was one year old and World War II had not yet started because I also recall that they moved in the Winter of 1941 prior to my Sister being born.

The 80 acres cost $9,000.00 which included all the buildings to commence farming operations. At the time of the purchase my Dad farmed with one team of horses. The cost of his farm works out to $112.50 per acre and the note with the Federal Land Bank was at 1% interest. I also recall that My Mother's Parents had to co-sign for them to get the Federal Land Bank Loan.

I also recall the Summer of 1946 or 1947 when I watched my Dad and Mom's Dad walk a tract of timber which was for sale for $800.00 for twenty acres. I also recall my Mom crying that this was too much to pay for timber. My Dad did buy the property and used the wood products to build a new corn crib, a new machine shed and in 1952 a new house for the Family of Six Children.

But, I use this Blog Post to let everyone know how the price of Land in Iowa has changed in 69 years. Recently my Sister-In-Law in Clayton County Iowa sent me a link to the Des Moines Register which contained an article that land in Iowa has recently sold for $8100,00 per acre.

Wow!!!, just a bit less than the $9,000.00 My Parents spend to buy a whole Farm in 1941. My how times have changed.

The Des Moines Register cited several reasons for the high price of land. One was that they are not making any more Soil and another reason is Soil, rich Iowa Soil is a better investment than the Stock Market.

The high price for Soil/Land in Iowa may see a change. The possible revisions to the Future Farm Bill may see a reducation in Ethonal subsities which may cause the price of Corn to decrease.

In the mean time those with Funds and Good Credit are acquiring Soil in Iowa. As an Iowa Farm Boy I was always proud of the fact that Iowa contained 25% of the Grade A Farm Land of the United States of America.

A Thanksgiving 2010 Message

As we all prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this year it is my recommendation that we all:

• Give Thanks to God our Creator for the wonderful World we Enjoy
• Enjoy Thankgiving - Thank A Farmer

Clayton County Iowa

2010 Corn Harvest

I recently received these pictures of my Nephew operating his John Deere Combine (Harvestor) as he completed the final field of the 2010 Corn Harvest. Of course the next day he was in the fields doing the preparation work for the 2011 Corn Crop.

I hope to have some pictures of the chisel plowing operation in my next Iowa Tractor Boy Blog Post.

2010 Corn Harvest - Clayton County Iowa

This is a view of the holding bin, the corn dryer and the bins which then hold the dry corn before it is shipped to a grain dealer or transported to the Barge Terminal in Clayton, Iowa for further shippment to various processors and even to countries around the World. Corn from the Corn Belt is shipped world-wide.
Now, before the crop is harvested or combined by a Harvestor this young Iowa Tractor Boy is fueling the equipment in preparation for a long day in the field.

Fueling of the tractors which pull the wagons loaded with moist corn to the Dryer displayed above is also completed before the long harvest days are started.

More fueling in progress. As a former Iowa Tractor Boy I can appreciate what our Farmers expend in funds to purchase fuel to plant, grow and harvest our food stuffs.

This fleet of Wagons is necessary to transport the freshly harvested corn to the dryer. Most Iowa Tractor Boys empty the holding bin on their Harvestors while still harvesting the crop in the field. This is often referred to "Unloading on the Go," and saves precious time when it is necessary to get the harvest completed prior to Winter Winds and Fall Rains which cause the corn to fall down (I believe the official term is lodging) or the fields become to wet and soft to allow the heavy machines to operate without excessive soil compaction.