Description: In the years following World War II, airplanes were used to spray fields with chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, which led to an increase in farm production and crop yields. In the 1970s, as the environmental movement took root, there was evidence of the overuse of chemicals, and a more disciplined use of chemicals was called for. Joe Munroe expertly captures a plane in action in Salinas, California, in this 1970 photograph. Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B04_F01_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Agricultural technologies; Farms; Agricultural equipment; Aerial views
Places: Salinas (California)
 

Description: The postwar era brought about great advancements in farming technology, including the corn combine seen here, photographed by Joe Munroe in 1975. These technologies led to greater yields from the land and increased production. Thanks to these advancements, corn production grew from 3 million bushels a year in the 1940s to 6 million bushels a year by 1975 . Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B11_F01_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Corn; Agricultural technologies; Corn harvesting machinery; Farm equipment
Places: Grand Island (Nebraska)
 

Description: Technology of the postwar years not only helped in harvesting, but also in planting as seen in this 1975 photograph of a corn planter, taken by Joe Munroe. This planter could plant twelve rows at once, in addition to laying down fertilizers and insecticides. This was a great advancement from the 1940s, when two rows was the average on farmer could plant at a time. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B11_F01_004
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Farming; Corn; Crops; Agricultural technologies; Farm equipment
Places: Carroll (Iowa)
 

Description: As farms grew larger and fewer in number, technology and equipment became increasingly important to running a farm. This photograph, taken by Joe Munroe in 1949, shows the equipment necessary to run a 400-acre farm in central Ohio. This does not include the roughly 2,000 dollars worth of small tools like grinders and repair tools. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B11_F03_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Farming; Agricultural technologies; Farm equipment
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Aerial photograph taken by Joe Munroe during a crop dusting in Lodi, California, 1962. With the development and spread of the airplane, farmers could cover more ground when spraying insecticides and herbicides on their vast crops. Wide scale use, however, led to chemicals showing up outside of the field, and environmentalists cautioned the overuse of these types of crop treatments. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B11_F08_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Farming; Agricultural technologies; Farm equipment; Crop-dusting
Places: Lodi (California)
 

Description: Unexpected freezes and frosts can greatly damage a farmer's crop. Some resorted to new technologies like the ramjet-powered wind maker/warmer, photographed here by Joe Munroe in 1962. The tiny jet engines rotated in circles, creating a warming effect on the surrounding area. Although successful, they did not catch on because of high cost and noise. Today the warming process is carried out by electrically-powered fans. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B11_F12_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Farming; Agricultural technologies; Farm equipment;
Places: Ripon (California)
 

Description: 1962 photograph by Joe Munroe of a carrot-picking machine in Salinas, California. In addition to picking the carrots, this machine (along with its 70-man crew) can wash, sort, and box the carrots. In one day's work, the crew could have 3 railroad cars packed and ready for shipment. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B30_005
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Farming; Agricultural technologies; Farm equipment; Harvesting
Places: Salinas (California)
 

Description: Farming on hillsides can be a tricky task. Seen in this 1947 Joe Munroe photograph, farmers in southeastern Wisconsin have plowed their fields to flow along the contours of the land, thereby lessening water run-off. Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B03_F16_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Farms; Agricultural technologies;
Places: Wisconsin
 

Description: Photograph of Roswell Garst and his wife, Elizabeth, outside their home near Coon Rapids, Iowa, 1959. Nikita Khrushchev, who led the USSR from 1953 until 1964, visited the Garst Farm during his 1959 tour of the United States to look at Garst's new hybrid corn. The trip was viewed as a great help to US-Soviet relations in the midst of Cold War tensions. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B05_F02_1090_8_5
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Portrait photography; Cold War; Agricultural technologies; Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Company;
Places: Coon Rapids (Iowa);
 

Description: Group photograph of Roswell Garst and members of his family with Nikita Khrushchev, outside their home near Coon Rapids, Iowa, 1959. Garst is seen at center with his hand extended, while Khrushchev is third from right. Khrushchev, who led the USSR from 1953 until 1964, visited the Garst Farm during his 1959 tour of the United States to look at Garst's new hybrid corn. The trip was viewed as a great help to US-Soviet relations in the midst of Cold War tensions. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B05_F03_001
Subjects: Joe Munroe; ; Cold War; Agricultural technologies; Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Company; Nikita Khrushchev;
Places: Coon Rapids (Iowa);
 

Description: Photograph of Roswell Garst, likely on his farm near Coon Rapids, Iowa, 1959. Nikita Khrushchev, who led the USSR from 1953 until 1964, visited the Garst Farm during his 1959 tour of the United States to look at Garst's new hybrid corn. The trip was viewed as a great help to US-Soviet relations in the midst of Cold War tensions. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B05_F03_890
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Portrait photography; Cold War; Agricultural technologies; Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Company;
Places: Coon Rapids (Iowa);
 

Description: Photograph of Roswell Garst and Nikita Khrushchev surrounded by members of the media during Khrushchev's visit to Garst's Iowa farm, 1959. Khrushchev, who led the USSR from 1953 until 1964, visited the Garst Farm during his 1959 tour of the United States to look at Garst's new hybrid corn. The trip was viewed as a great help to US-Soviet relations in the midst of Cold War tensions. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B05_F04_1090_15_33
Subjects: Joe Munroe; ; Cold War; Agricultural technologies; Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Company; Nikita Khrushchev;
Places: Coon Rapids (Iowa);