Farm Equipment Innovations (2024)

FAQs

What were some innovations in farm machinery that lead to improved results in agriculture in the Great Plains? ›

John Deere's invention of a steel plow that scoured the sticky prairie sod from the blade made turning prairie sod much faster and easier. That was rapidly followed by the adoption of horse-drawn reapers, sulky plows, mowers and threshing machines that enabled one farmer to cultivate and harvest much larger holdings.

Some innovative agricultural advancements include precision farming techniques using drones and satellite imagery, genetically modified crops for higher yields and resistance to pests, vertical farming for efficient use of space, and precision irrigation systems for water conservation.

Advances in farm machinery production changed the way farmers worked. They were able to cover more land at a faster pace; and as manufacturers added seats to farm machinery, farmers found some relief from their backbreaking labors.

Four innovations in farming techniques that led to great productivity include crop rotation, drought-resistant seed, contour plowing, and disease control. Crop rotation involves alternating the type of crops grown in a field to maintain soil fertility and reduce pest and disease accumulation.

The invention of the tractor was crucial in making farming more efficient. Before tractors, farmers had to rely on their own strength or the power of animals, like oxen, mules, and horses, to work in the fields. British inventor Richard Trevithick invented Steam-propelled tractors as early as 1812.

The cotton gin, invented by New Englander Eli Whitney in 1793. The mechanical reaper, invented by Virginian Cyrus McCormick in 1831. The self-polishing steel plow, invented by John Deere in 1837.

To finish, if we speak about innovations according to their degree of change, there are three types: radical, incremental, and disruptive.

Inventions included: 1834: The McCormick reaper was patented. 1834: John Lane began to manufacture plows faced with steel saw blades. 1837: John Deere and Leonard Andrus began manufacturing steel plows—the plow was made of wrought iron and had a steel share that could cut through sticky soil without clogging.

Indoor Vertical Farming

This new concept can be defined as the practice of growing produce stacked one above another in a closed and controlled environment. Its key attribute is that it can significantly reduce the amount of land space needed to grow plants compared to traditional farming methods.

Industrialized agriculture is highly concentrated and mechanized, relying on chemical inputs like fertilizers, pesticides and non-therapeutic antibiotics. However, sustainable agriculture, which uses methods that protect the environment, public health, human communities and animal welfare, is gaining traction.

What is the difference between local technology and modern technology in the agriculture sector? ›

Modern agriculture uses advanced technology, it is less labor intensive than traditional agriculture, and the yield quantity is larger because there is a focus on maximizing production and maintaining a consistent quality. Modern agriculture uses advanced technology , such as plant breeding techniques and pesticides.

Agricultural data collection involves gathering comprehensive information related to farming activities, including crop health, soil conditions, weather patterns, and farming practices. It's crucial for optimizing crop yields, improving farm management practices, and ensuring sustainable agricultural development.

Between 1950 and 1984, as the Green Revolution transformed agriculture around the globe, world grain production increased by 160%. The production increases fostered by the Green Revolution are often credited with having helped to avoid widespread famine, and for feeding billions of people.

Some good examples are: Advances in data collection technologies (in situ and remote sensors) Adoption of precision agriculture machinery (digitization and datafication of agriculture) Advances in data processing (artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud computation and increased computing power)

Farming on the Great Plains depended on a series of technological innovations. Lacking much rainfall, farmers had to drill wells several hundred feet into the ground to tap into underground aquifers. Windmill-powered pumps were necessary to bring the water to the surface and irrigate fields.

Although steel plows, mowers, mechanical reapers, seed drills, and threshers contributed to the development of agriculture in the Great Plains and the West, tractors enabled the western farmer to sow and harvest large acreages with less manpower.

Major changes to farming techniques included selectively breeding livestock, systematic crop rotation, and the development of chemical fertilizers. The Third Agricultural Revolution, or the Green Revolution, took place during the 1950s and 60s.