History of corn: In the Pioneer days, women spent most of their time growing, preserving, and preparing food. Corn could be prepared in many different ways, such as Johnny cakes, hominy, corn bread, and cornmeal mush. Hand-picking corn was still the hardest job on the farm. It started in October and it might take the whole family several cold months to finish. Corn has been the leading crop in Iowa for more than 150 years. Iowa produces more corn than the entire country of Mexico. On average, Iowa grows 183 bushels of corn per acre. Nationally the average is 173 bushels per acre (USDA). Tractors are becoming more technologically advanced and planting and harvesting corn is becoming easier over time. Scientists discovered that allowing the pollen from one corn plant to pollinate itself created an inbred plant with special characteristics. This plant was called a hybrid, which had some unique traits, such as a higher yield or resistance to insect pests. Even though hybrid corn cost more to produce, farmers liked the improved yield, and hybrid corn became popular across the Corn Belt. In 1933, less than 1% of all corn raised in Iowa was hybrid corn. Just nine years later, in 1942, virtually 100% of all corn raised in Iowa was hybrid corn.