The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

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Farming Fridays!

March 28, 2014

A History of Soybeans

When did it come about that farmers in the United States are the largest producers of soybeans in the world? You might be surprised that soybean farming in the “new world” hasn’t been around all that long. 

The first domestication of soybeans apparently occurred in the eleventh century in northern China. Accounts indicate that soybeans were shipped out of China and to France as early as 1740. There are also accounts that soybean seeds were planted by a colonist in the British colony of Georgia as early as 1765. However, soybean seeds were not distributed to farms until 1851 when farmers in Illinois and the corn belt states were gifted the beans from a crew member that almost drowned on a Japanese fishing boat.

It was in 1870 when farmers started raising the soybeans for use as forage for livestock. The United States Department of Agriculture started testing soybeans and encouraging farmers to plant them around the turn of the century. Even Henry Ford got in on the soybeans we he used them for plastic on some of his earliest cars.

But World War II was the time that soybeans in the United States finally became a staple. Until that time, China was still the main producer of soybeans. However, due to internal fighting and the war, China was no longer supplying the US with the beans. Of course, soybeans were important not just to feed animals, but also to build the machines of war. United States farmers stepped up to the plate and started producing the crop.

Today in the United States, 31 states have soybean production, with Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota leading the pack. The United States is the world’s leader in soybean production. Brazil and Argentina are also major growers of the commodity.

If you are interested in learning more than you ever thought possible about soybeans, check out the comprehensive history at The Soy Info Center.
(Sources: NCSoy & Iowa State University)
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Farming Fridays!

November 29, 2013

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Last week I said we had about 410 arces left. Well, we’re closer to 300 this week, but we ran into a little snaffu – snow. 
As I’ve explained before, we can pick corn when it’s actually snowing, as long as the stalks don’t get too wet and the ground is hard enough (which it usually is when its frozen and snowing). Unfortunately, when we get too much snow, the combine can’t keep going. 
When we had a little bit of snow, as you can see, the combine could keep going:

But as the snow started piling up and the temperatures dropped, it got a little more difficult.

As my brother was going across the field, the combine’s sensors started going off and he obviously knew something was wrong.

It was.

The combine was actually freezing up. These are photographs from inside the combine:

Needless to say it was time to quit for the day.
We have about 3 feet of snow right now, so we are definitely not getting back into the fields for at least a few days. And we were so close to being done…
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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: corn, farming fridays, farming pictures, harvest

Farming Fridays!

June 28, 2013

Let It Grow!

I have set down a little tiny flag there in the field (can you see it?). I’ll keep it in the field so that we can compare each week. Right now it’s about up to my knee. 

Little red flag!

 It totally took off over the past couple weeks. Can you believe how big it’s getting?

Unfortunately, my brother is having some health issues this week (no worries, he’ll be just fine). But, I did catch dad washing the planter off before he puts it away for the year. 

And check out this awesome photo (ignore the small corn….). Look at those clouds coming over the lake! How beautiful! We are so blessed here!


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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: corn, farming fridays, farming pictures

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

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thefarmersdaughterusa

Amanda | The Farmer's Daughter USA
I'm a proud farmer's daughter & advocate for modern agriculture. U.S. farmers are leaders in sustainability.

Perusing my photos from #Denmark and getting the i Perusing my photos from #Denmark and getting the itch to travel again.
These concepts aren't mutually exclusive. #farms # These concepts aren't mutually exclusive. #farms #farmfamily #environment #soilhealth #nutritiousfood
Stop worrying about labels and just eat them! Stop worrying about labels and just eat them!
Corn is a powerhouse! #corn #farming #growcorn # Corn is a powerhouse! 

#corn #farming #growcorn #USAGrown #usagriculture
Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀
The blood moon. 🌙 And proof I woke up at 2:15 a The blood moon. 🌙 And proof I woke up at 2:15 am to see it!
3 years. 💔 #slavaukraini #supporukraine #ukrai 3 years. 💔

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Mischa will not suffer a snowman in her yard. ❄️☃️

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We all know RFK, Jr. is well known for vaccine dis We all know RFK, Jr. is well known for vaccine disinformation. But he's also a danger to agriculture, even promising to "weaponize" regulatory agencies against our farm families.

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