Eightbore, in the 60s farms changed. The Soil Bank [diverted acres] came in giving more cover. At the same time, farms got larger, and fewer farms had livestock, as feed lots and hog containment facilities were growing. We still had not started the chemical farming anywhere close to what it became later. Pheasants and some quail thrived in SW Iowa.
In the 90s it was similar to the 60s, except the agricultural chemicals started to become prevalent. Since then the pheasant populations have been a small fraction of what they were 30 years earlier.
I had never thought of the change from pickers to combines, but for sure the combine leaves far less cover and food on the ground.
Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 08/07/23 11:30 AM.
