Over the past two centuries the methods of farming have changed very little, but the products grown have changed many times. As early as the 18th century broomcorn, onions, and tobacco were grown. By the mid 19th century tobacco had completely replaced broomcorn as the number one crop in the town. During the late 1800’s there was a severe labor shortage and drop in land values. Many of the farmers recruited Irish and Polish immigrants to solve their labor problems. By 1920 Asparagus became the popular crop in Hadley until the 1950’s when disease killed off much of the crop.
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