The agricultural revolution in which weed science played a role also achieved other things that are not regarded as equally good: rapid consolidation of farms and food companies, increasing damage from externalized costs1 From: A History of Weed Science in the United States, 2010
Only a couple of centuries ago, farming was very different and used very little technology. See how the agricultural revolution and inventions changed farming so that far less manual labor is needed to feed the world today than in previous eras.
Art Media / Print Collector / Getty Images This period featured the use and emergence of such farm equipment as oxen and horses for power, crude wooden plows, hay and grain cutting with a sickle, and threshing with a flail. All sowing was done by hand and cultivating by hoe.
ThoughtCo / Hilary Allison The farm technology revolution began in this period. Notable agricultural inventions and new farm technology included:
The agricultural revolution picked up steam during these years, with notable agricultural developments including:
In 1830, about 250 to 300 labor-hours were required to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat with a walking plow, brush harrow, hand broadcast of seed, sickle, and flail. Inventions included:
The growing use of factory-made agricultural machinery increased farmers' need for cash and encouraged commercial farming. Developments included:
In 1850, about 75 to 90 labor-hours were required to produce 100 bushels of corn (2 1/2 acres) with walking a plow, harrow, and hand planting. Other agricultural developments included:
The period from1862 to 1875 signaled a change from hand power to horses, characterizing the first American agricultural revolution. Farm inventions included:
Ephraim Muller Photography / Getty Images Silos came into use throughout the 1870s, and other developments included:
Underwood Archives / Archive Photos / Getty Images In 1890, 35–40 labor-hours were required to produce 100 bushels (2 1/2 acres) of corn with a 2-bottom gang plow, disk and peg-tooth harrow, and 2-row planter. Also in 1890, 40–50 labor-hours were required to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat with a gang plow, seeder, harrow, binder, thresher, wagons, and horses. Other developments included:
Throughout the decade, George Washington Carver, director of agricultural research at Tuskegee Institute, pioneered in finding new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, thus helping to diversify Southern agriculture. Additionally, the average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer was 3,738,300 tons.
Big open-geared gas tractors came into use in areas of extensive farming during the first half of the decade. Additionally:
Archive Photos / Getty Images
Edmund Garman / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 In the 1930s, the all-purpose, rubber-tired tractor with complementary machinery came into wide use. Additionally:
During this decade and through 1970, farms experienced a sea change from horses to tractors, including the adoption of a group of technological practices, which broadly characterized the second American agriculture agricultural revolution. One farmer could supply enough food for almost 11 people in the United States and abroad by 1940, and throughout the decade, the average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer was 13,590,466 tons. Additional agricultural developments included:
Throughout the decade, the average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer was 22,340,666 tons, and as early as 1950, one farmer could produce enough food for 15.5 people in the United States and abroad. Other agricultural developments included:
Throughout the decade, the average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer was 32,373,713 tons, and as early as 1960, one farmer could supply food to nearly 26 people in the United States and abroad. Additional developments included:
By 1970, one farmer could supply nearly 76 people in the United States and abroad with food. And throughout the decade, no-tillage agriculture was popularized. Additionally:
By the 1980s, many farmers began using no-till or low-till methods to curb erosion. Additionally, by the late 1980s, just one-and-one-half to two labor-hours were required to produce 100 pounds (1/5 acre) of lint cotton with a tractor, 4-row stalk cutter, 20-foot disk, 6-row bedder and planter, a 6-row cultivator with herbicide applicator, and 4-row harvester. Other developments from this period included:
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