Bethany Alvarez, 02/26/14Modern American Agriculture: Its Effects on Crops and Farmers Corn has always been an essential element of American agriculture. Yet the corn grown by our ancestors is different from the corn we grow today; corn has changed in its quality, quantity, use and its intrinsic compromise. The era of industrialization provided new technologies and techniques for agriculture. Agriculture has modernized in response to increased demand in the labor and food markets. However, farming is no longer a lifestyle but a business. It has begun to attract those who are more interested in making money than those who are truly interested in preserving America's agricultural heritage. Corn originally came from Mexico. As the American Midwest grew, an influx of corn plantations also followed. Although there are numerous types of corn, the market is currently dominated by yellow corn. The state of Iowa is the leader in corn production and often has an overabundance of it each year. Iowa's small towns have supported corn growth for generations. Often, these close-knit communities dedicate much of their lives and livelihoods to the agricultural sector. Some advances in the agricultural method actually came from Iowa cities. “Old Reliable” was the first tractor, created in Iowa, and closely resembles the tractors used today. American agriculture would not be what it is today without the people and places of the Midwest. Modern farmers can plant three times the amount of corn as their grandparents. About two hundred bushels of corn come from an acre of land. This impressive haul is largely due to industrialized corn; corn that has been modified to create a higher yield. The impressive amount of corn is due to its tolerance to environmental elements, inc...... middle of paper ......with the growing corn industry is forced to abandon this practice altogether. This occurs especially when farmers, or outside sources, purchase multiple acres on different land. So they create a large business out of family farming. Corn is part of American agriculture. However, American agriculture has changed dramatically over the last century. With new technologies and increased demands, agriculture has had to modernize. This requires corn to change radically in its structure and purpose. This not only changes the quality of the corn or its use, but also affects the quantity of the corn. There is an annual glut of corn, but corn still continues to be produced. The honesty of genuine agriculture has been lost over the years. Agriculture is no longer a way of life. It is a business that distances itself from the farmers themselves and focuses only on their product.