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 Lift Truck Chain Iowa - Iowa is a state situated within the Midwestern United States, a part usually called the "American Heartland." It derives its name from the Ioway people, among the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state of Iowa at the time of European exploration. Iowa State was a part of the French colony of New France. After the Louisiana Purchase, settlers laid the foundation for an economy based on agriculture in the heart of the Corn Belt. The state of Iowa is usually called the "Food Capital of the World." However, Iowa's culture, landscape and economy are diverse.
Iowa's agricultural economy transitioned in the latter half of the 20th century to a more diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, biotechnology, financial services, and green energy production. The state of Iowa has a population of just over 3 million in 2010, and its capital and largest city is Des Moines. Iowa has been listed as among the states that is safest to reside in.
While Iowa State is normally viewed as a farming state, in truth agriculture is a small part of a diversified economy, with manufacturing, biotechnology, insurance and finance services, and government services contributing significantly to the economy of Iowa. This economic diversity has helped Iowa State weather the recession during the year 2000 much better than most states, with unemployment considerably less than the rest of the country.
In the year 2005, the economy of Iowa State had a GDP of $124 billion. The gross state product for that same year was $113.5 billion. Its per capita income for 2006 was US $23,340.
Directly and indirectly, agriculture has always been a major element of Iowa's economy. Then again, the direct sale and production of raw agricultural products contributes just around 3.5% of Iowa's gross state product. The indirect part of agriculture in the economy of Iowa could be measured in multiple ways, but its total impact, comprising agriculture-affiliated business, has been measured at 16.4% when it comes to value added and 24.3% in terms of total output. This is lower compared to the economic impact in Iowa of non-farm manufacturing, that accounts for 26.5% of total output and 22.4% of total value added. Iowa's main agricultural outputs are hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, eggs, dairy products and cattle. Iowa is the country's largest producer of ethanol and corn and some years is the biggest grower of soybeans as well. In 2008, the 92,600 farms in Iowa State produced 19% of the nation's corn, 17% of the soybeans, 30% of the hogs, and 14% of the eggs.
Major agricultural product processors of Iowa consist of Archer Daniels Midland, Ajinomoto, Cargill, Inc., Diamond V Mills, Heartland Pork Enterprises, Garst Seed Company, Monasato Company, Hy-Vee, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and Quaker Oats.
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