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 Seats for Forklifts Iowa - Iowa State, known as the "American Heartland," is located in the Midwestern United States. The name "Iowa" comes from the loway people, that was among the areas tribes which occupied the state of Iowa at the time of European exploration. The state of Iowa was a part of the French colony of New France. After the Purchase of Louisiana, settlers laid the foundation for an economy based on agriculture in the heart of the Corn Belt. The state of Iowa is normally known as the "Food Capital of the World." Then again, Iowa's economy, culture, and landscape are diverse.
Iowa's agricultural economy transitioned during the latter half of the 20th century to a more diversified economy of advanced processing, manufacturing, financial services, biotechnology, and green energy production. The state has a population of just over 3 million in 2010, and its largest and capital city is Des Moines. Iowa has been listed as amongst the safest states in which to reside.
At times Iowa State is viewed as a farming state, though agriculture in reality is a small part of the economy of the state. Biotechnology, manufacturing, finance and insurance services, and government services contribute substantially to the economy of Iowa. This economic diversity has helped Iowa State weather the late 2000s recession better than most states, with unemployment substantially less than the rest of the US.
During 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. For the year 2006, its capita income was US $23,340.
Directly and indirectly, agriculture has always been a major factor of Iowa's economy. However, the direct sale and production of raw agricultural products contributes only about 3.5% of Iowa's gross state product. The indirect part of agriculture within Iowa's economy could be measured in many ways, but its total effect, including agriculture-affiliated business, has been measured at 16.4% in terms of value added and 24.3% when it comes to total output. This is lower than the economic effect in Iowa State of non-farm manufacturing, that accounts for 22.4% of total value added and 26.5% of total output. The major agricultural outputs of the state of Iowa are corn, hogs, soybeans, oats, dairy products, cattle and eggs. The state of Iowa is the country's biggest producer of corn and ethanol and some years is the largest grower of soybeans as well. In 2008, the 92,600 farms within Iowa produced 17% of the country's soybeans, 19% of the corn, 14% of the eggs and 30% of the hogs.
The key agricultural producers comprise Ajinomoto, Archer Daniels Midland, Diamond V Mills, Cargill, Inc., Garst Seed Company, Heartland Pork Enterprises, Hy-Vee, Monsanto Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and Quaker Oats.
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