Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1946 The da aptation of farm buildings to meet changes in farm operation Norval Herbert Curry Iowa State College Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Agriculture Commons, Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons, Construction Engineering Commons, and the Construction Engineering and Management Commons Recommended Citation Curry, Norval Herbert, "The da aptation of farm buildings to meet changes in farm operation" (1946). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 16011. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/16011 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ADAPTATION OF FARM BUILDINGS TO MEEr CHAIDES IN FARU OPERATION by Norv&l H. Curry A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty for the Degree of lL'\S'l'l!R OF SCIENCE Major Subject: Agricultural Structures pproved: J. B. Davidson Head of Major Department R. E. Buchanan Dean of Graduate College Iowa State College l.946 ii. TABLE OF CONTEnt"l'S ~ I . INTRODUCTION .. • • • . ·- . ·- .. a fl • l A. Justification for t.he Study- .. .., l B. The Project • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE • . .. • • • • • • 5 III. OBJEC'fIVE OF THE Ib'VESTIOATlON • • • • • 6 IV. METHOD OF PROCEDURE • • • • • • • • • • 7 A. Remodeling Studies • • •••• . .. 7 l . General approach • • • • • • • .. , 7 2. Inspection trips • • • • .. • • • 9 .::; . Barn remodeling • • • • • • • • l.O 4. Barn remodeling sunmary • • • • 31 5. Hog house remodeling • .. • • • • 34 6. Poultry house remodeling • • .. • 36 1 •. Grain bins and corn cribs • • • JS a. General remodeling summ.aey • • • 39 B. New Construction Studies • • • • • • 40 l . Introduction • • • • .. • • • • • 40 2. Analyais ot new plan offerings • 41 a. Barn plans • • • • • • • • • 42 b. , ·nor service buildings • • • 42 V .. RESULTS • . •- . • • • • • • • • • • • 46 A. Elimination of Non- functional D~tail . Detail Simplifica.tion • • .. • • • • 46 B. Basic Structural Dimensions • • • • 54 C. Basic ~uipm.ent Dimensions • • • • • 60 iii. VI. DISCUSSIOlv OF RESULTS • • • • • Barn Remodeling • .. -· ..... B. llodular Planning o! New Buildings • 70 c. Barn Requirements to Receive Panel Equipment • • • .. • • • • • • • • • 71 VII . cmmLUSIONS • • • • .- . .. • • • • 76 VIII. SUfAIARY • • • • • • • • • • •••••• IX. .. x. • • • • • • • • • • • 81 iv. LIST OF TABLES Table l . Classification ot basic plan £eatures in barns (All Dimensions in feet.) • • 43 Table 2 . Classification af basic plliUl teatures in minor service buildings (All Dimensions in Feet) • • • • .. • • .. • 44 Table J . >;;idths of tuu-n equipment units • • • 58 Table 4 . Deviation of barn equipment. unit dimensions fr0.111 modti.lar st.and.a.rd • • 59 v. LIST OF FIGURES Figure l . Expenditures for and depreciation of rarm. buildings, fences, windmills and wells in the United States, 1910-1943 • • • 11 Figure 2 . e General Purpose Barn (2275 lier, Laurens, Io ) ••••••••• • • . • ll Figure J . Shed Addition to ~ew Barn (2275 ~ lier, Laurens, Ia a) • • • • • • • • •••• • • ll Figure 4 . Calhoun County rap • • • • • • • • • • • • 12 ·gure 5. Greene County ap • • • • • • • • • • • • 13 Figure 6. Hamilton County ' . .. 14 Figure 7. umboldt County ap • • • • • • • • • • • 15 Figure 8 . Pocahontas County ~ • • • • • • • • • • 16 Figure 9. ..right County !ap • • • • • • • • • • • • 17 Fi 10. Barn terations (2907 en, Paton, Io a) 20 Figure 11~ n terations and Shed ddition (3120 Heighst dt, son, Iowa) ••• • • • 20 Figure 12. esent Barn Plan and Section (2909 Hague, J3lairsburg, lo a) • • ·• • • • • • • • • • 20 Fi e 13. Proposed Barn t rations (2909 Hague, lair urg, Io a) • • • • • • • • • • • • 20 Figure 14. Present 4rn Plan and Section (28.26 Painter, en ick, Io a) •••••• • • • 23 Fi e 15. Barn Alterations (.2826 Pa.inter, Renwick, Iowa.) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 23 Figure J.6 . t'resent Barn Plan and ection (3153 Kettan h, Blairsburg, lo a) • • • • . ' 23 vi. Figure 17. Proposed Barn Alteration {3153 Kettaneh, Jl.airsburg, lo a) • • • • • • • • • • • • 23 Figure 18. Bara on Far 2820 ,nder5on fr Southeast 25 Figure 19. Present n Plan and Section (2820 1U1der- son, Cooper, Io a) • • • • • • • • • • • • 25 Figure 20. Proposed B rn teration (2820 Anderson, Cooper, Io a) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 25 Figure 21. Pro o ed Barn tera.tion (2820 derson, Cooper, Iowa) •••••••. •• • • • • • 25 Figur 22. Barn on F 3192 Jilson fro outhe st • 27 Figure 23. on F 3192 ilson from orth • • 27 Figure 24 . Present B· n Plan and Section (3182 ilson, bert City, Iowa) • • • • • • • • • • • 27 Fi e 25 . Proposed Barn teration {3182 · ilson, bert City, Io a) ••••••••• • • 27 igure 26 . Dairy n (3121 Frazer, Humboldt , I a) • 30 Fi e 27 . Barn epair and racing ( 3121 Fr zer, H boldt, Io a) • • • • • • • • • • • • • Figure 28. sonry log House (2905 Porteous, Humboldt , Iowa) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 30 Figure 29 . Hog Hous onverted to Beef Feeding Barn (2905 ort us, lurnboldt, lo a) • • • • • 30 Fi re 30. og l.ouse Insulation (3121 Frazer, H oldt lo~a) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 37 Figure 31. Overhead Bins Adde to Double Corn Crib (2902 illen, Paton, Io a) • • • • • • • • 37 Figure 32• Poultry ou e Alt ration (2909 hague, Blairsburg, Iow ) • • • • • • • • • • • • 37 Figur 33 . 1oultry House terations (3121 Rrazer, H oldt, Iowa) • • • • • • • • • • • • • 37 vii. Figure 34 . Iowa La¥ing House Plan • • • • • . .. 48 Figure 3; . Revised lovva Laying House Plan • • • 49 Figure 36 . Simplified Gothic Arch Barn Framing 52 Figure 37. 11ultiple Use Building Frames • • •' • '57- a Figure 38 . Assembled .Equipment in Structural Frame Note hinge feature of panels • • • • 63 Figure ,39 .. The S.even Basie It.ems of Equipment • . Panels are 3' :x4 1 , 3tx6 1 , 3•.x.a •. Lumber is 2"m" & 2nxJ.ouxe 1-0u • • • 6) Figure 40. scale del of 8 1 Section of Feed Bunker and Manger • • • • • • • • • 64 Figure 4l. Scale Model ot Combination Horse Stall and :Box Stall • • • • • • • • 64 Figure 42 . Scale dodel of Farrowing Pen • • • • 64 Figure 43 . Scale ' odel of Dairy Cow Stanchions (Standard stanchions and sectional plat- forms are r equired in addition to the seven basic items) • • • • • • • • • 64 Figure 44. Composite Barn Plans. All areas are laid out upon a .Uodular scheme • • • 65 Figure 45 . Steel Panel Details • • • • • • • • 67 F'igure 46 . f ull Scale S• Section of 1Feed Bunker and Manger • • • • -· • • • • • • • • 66 Figure 47 . Full Scale Lambing Pen or Farrowing Pen • • •. • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6S Figure 4S . Full Scale Combination Horse Stall-Box Stall • • . • . • . • 68 Figure 49 . Box Stall Panels Hi nged Up and Back to Facilitate Cleaning • • • • • • • 68 viii. Figure 50 . New Midwest Plan Based on Uodular Design ........ ....... • • 73 Figure 51 . Alternate Masonry rJall Construction For Barn (Figure 50) •. • • • • • • • • 74 Figure 52. Alternate R-001' Construction For Barn (Figure 50) • • • • ... • • • • • • • • 75 1. l . Irn'RODOCTION A. Justification tor the St~ fhe general decline in the condition of ~.gricultural buildings in Iowa and nationally during the past 25 years should be obvious to even the rather casual observer. U.S . Bureau of Agricultural Economics data setting forth relative annual depreciation and replacement of agricultural buildings during this period are presented in Figure l as an indication ot the extent of this decline. Many factors have contributed to t his condition. In general these include: l . A l.ow level of ta.rm prosperity during the decade from 1930 to 1940. s the eompara.tive service life of farm buildings is very long, even with considerable neglect, when contrasted itl1 that of other consumer durable goods which farmers requir , replace- ment of these other i te.r.ns took priority in the gradually improv- ing economy in the latter part o! this decade. 2. Specific regulations in April of 1942 with many later revisions limited construction during the war to only the most essential buildings. These regulations were made effective at about the same tae that f building replacement bad equaled depreciation for the first time in nearly 20 years. 3. Nearly one half of the farms in the North Central region of the United States are tenant. operated. Standard -torms of tenant- owner agreements provide lltt1e incentive to t.he owner to invest .money in either new buildings or improvements since the tenant receives practically all direct benefits accruing from the owner' s expenditure. 4. Developments in agricultural machinery and power equipment tor farm £ield operations within the lifetime of now exl.sting farm buildings have permitted individual farmers to increase the labor effieieney in field operations many fold. While some devices which promote labor economy in chore operations have also been adopted, they do net 1 in general, provide the same degree of increase in labor efficiency. It is therefo.re normal that farmers have first invested in :production machinery which would appear to produce a higher rate of return on the .money invested than money invested in new or improved buildings. ; . The mechanization of farm operations has not only adversely affected the desirability of further