The biggest topic that we have been talking about in class is mainly western migration and farms. Mining and Ranching seem to be a huge topic as well. All of these topics are quite interesting because we learn many things that I didn't even know were possible. Like giving steriods to cows to make them huge and muscular to get more meat out of that one cow. They also have been able to genetically alter plants to make them bug resistant and even drought resistant. But back then things weren't so easy to start a farm and make a decent profit out of it.
When everyone moved West the problems seem to just come over and over. First, they had to get the money to even be able to pay the $10 for the farm. Then they needed to be able to take everything and their family on the journey to the west to reach the farm. Then they needed to work the land which was the hardest part of it all. The west isn't the most moisturized part of the U.S. so it was really hard to get plants to grow with such lack of rain. But once it did rain it would just float above the surface and wash all of the topsoil away. Even if it didn't rain the wind would blow the topsoil away then too. So that would mean they wouldn't have to good of dirt or soil to work with. Also because of having so much land the time to plow it and plant everything took time.
But industrialization soon came into play. They made machines to help plow, and tractors, and wheat thrashers and a bunch of other good stuff to help time go by faster and production a lot faster. These new things were good but they had an impact as well. First, the specialization of the machinery like a wheat thrasher costs a lot of money to by and the farmers already being in debt went into debt further just to buy it. Then since its a "wheat" thrasher they would only be able to plant wheat or mainly wheat to put their investment to work.
There were many types of farms from small ones owned by one farmer to big ones that were worked by alot of farm hands and they were able to obtain more efficient plows and such like grain spreaders and steam powered threshers. There were farms called Bonanza farms which were huge farms run by big businesses and operated by professional managers. These farms basically focused on cash crops. You can see a big improvement in the production and skill level of farming from then and now. Now we are able to produce things much faster and much more efficiently and even make super huge diesel cows. =]
12 comments:
Good blog. I liked how you talked about the genetically modified crops that were being grown to make more profit for the farmers. I also liked how you talked about the diesel cow, we saw in class. Good job. :]
I agree to what you posted here. Farmers did have extremely hard times farming. And what was worse was that they had to stay there and farm for at least 5 years to be able to claim their land. Though after industrializing equipment, farmers did get a relief. The only thing was that it would be extra expensive.
Hey, good blog! I liked how you made a short timeline of how farmers really struggled to give everything they had in the East to move West to start a new life and try to make money. They had to pay a fee of $10 to get 100 acres of farm land. You really captivated me with your third paragraph in which you shifted the discussion a little further into the history about the use of improved farm machinery such as wheat thrasher and plow. Your conclusion needs a little work but overall you did excellent. You did a great job elaborating on your views and I really liked the part when you noticed small details such as 'washing off the topsoil'. Great job and keep it up!
That whole thing with the steroid to the cow is crazy. I like how you put all the problems migrators faced during the migration.
I thought your blog was very interesting. It was very informitive. I held a lot of information that was very helpful to me and probably other people too. I like how you talked about the westward migration and industralization. Also cow and the steriods they be taking. I swear I hate pork chops now. Good job though.
I agree with your major points about farmers' hardships during westward migration. The topsoil in the east is much more fertile than that in the west, so western settlers had to adapt to the dry land. Luckily, new farming techiniques, such as crop rotation, and machinery made the seemingly unpossible job possible.
There were all nice topics you had pick for your blog. But one thing i didn't like was how they gave the steroids to the cows. I think alot of classmates of ours was surprised to hear that give steroids to the cows. Good job.
during the western migraton farmers had the worst time beacuse they had this land and they have to be able to farm on it for 5 years and thenm its there, but the problem was farmers didnt have enough money and so they had to borrow and the instrest rate went up and so it was hard for them
Good job on your blog lizz. Those cows in class today were so freaking gross. Its so gross to think that i might be eating that. but i liked all the points you made in your blog about famers and the hard times they had.
You did a good job describing all the steps farmers had to take to make themselves good farms and profit. I think it's crazy anyone would have the patience to stay in the west and wait a while for something to happen--I know I wouldn't! I think it's quite something that, even in the 19th century, people were thinking up ways to make everyday actions and work easier, or at least less time-consuming.
nice blog. i like how you explain the hardships that the farmers had to ensure while living in the West. Alot of farmers couldn't afford to own their lands because of drought and lack of rain within 5 years before legally owning their lands. Fortunately, the improvements in farm machinary improved thus helped the farmers to farm and produce within a short amount of time and effort. Sure farmers faced alot of hardships but after overcoming them, they have accomplished alot. You know what they say, no pain no gain..
I really liked your blog :)
genetically modified crops are such a weird controversy in the world. we profit a lot more with them in America, and it makes no sense that other countries refuse to make them! it helps farmers out tremendously, so not as many of their crops die.
haha I also liked how you mentioned the diesel cow. that thing was INSANE!
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