Seed companies take to the airwaves

USDA Agricultural Research Service sent this bulletin at 10/21/2021 08:00 AM EDT

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Collection Highlights

On the left is the 1928 catalog cover from Earl May Seed Company and on the right is the 1935 catalog cover from the Henry Field Company.

Covers of seed catalogs from Earl May(1928) and Henry Field (1935)

The competitive seed trade industry of the 1900s called for creative measures to entice new customers. In an effort to expand their base, rivals Earl E. May and Henry Field of Shenandoah, Iowa, took to the airwaves with their own radio broadcasts (May on station KMA and Field on station KFNF).

The National Agricultural Library has digitized more than 60,000 catalogs. View the May and Field catalogs and many more in the Henry G.Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection.