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Famring Before 1920
Early FarmingBefore the 1920's all farmers were using horses or mules that pulled machines to plow, plant, and harvest crops. Picking corn and other harvest tasts were done by hand. In the late 1800's there had been a few steam tractor models but were very rare. In 1905 there were only six tractor makers. -
Famring in the 1920's
By 1920 there were more than 160 tractor makers selling hundreds of different models powereed by a variety of fuels. Early in the 1920's the number of tractors on farms approached 200,000. Since tractors and farming equipment were not that common, and very expensive, sometimes farmers would pool their funds to buy a piece of equipment and share it. Other times, an owner would rent out his tractor or thresshing machine to other farmers for a price. -
Farming in the 1930's
1930'sBy the 1930's most farmers had traded in their horses for tractors. By using tractors and other machinery, farmers could plow, plant, and harvest more acres with fewer workers. However, farming in the 1930's became perhaps the most difficult occupation in the world. Farmers faced a global economic crisis, but they also faced one of the worst and longest droughts in America's history. It was nearly impossible to plant and harvest the crops and people around the world had no money to buy products. -
Farming in the 1940's
1940'sWorld War II changed everything on the American farm. The war brought an end to the Great Depression and people were again willing to spend more money. There was a great demand for farm products, but many workers left for the cities or the Army. The tractor became the only way to get things done. Irrigation systens were build to water large parts of fields. People came home from the war with new skills, knowledge, and technologies to improve agriculture. -
Farming in the 1950's and 1960's
Farming during the 1950's and 1960's was very difficult and many people left for the cities and different job opportunities. If a famer did make it through these decades, they were pretty successful. After the depression and was, agriculture manufacturers found eager buyers for more sophisticated machines. An explosion in agricultural research resulted in better crops and better pesticides. Everyone on a family farm pitched in and helped. -
Farming during the 1970's to 2000's
During the last quarter of the 20th century quickened the pace of agricultural innovation. Consumers adpoted slowly to the new technologies in the first part of the century but by the endof the century, both urban and rural residents rapidly adopted to new inventions and technologies. Inventions such as electricity, phones, radio, television, computers and the internet made home-life and farm-life easier. Farmers had access to information they never did before. Farming machines were changing. -
Farming Today
Self-driving GPS TractorThe new innovations in agriculture made it possible for farmers to greatly increase their productivity. Innovation continued with the GPS. GPS's are used on everything from tractors to variable rate chemical applicators to combines. The GPS helps draw digital maps of individual fiels, plotting slope, soil type, moisture, historical yiels, and weed and insect problems. Some tractors are even driven, operated, and directed by a GPS. Farmers are also utilizing advisors and computerized programs.
