IF YOU MOW the lawn, you may be

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1 History of Production Agriculture IF YOU MOW the lawn, you may be thankful for your lawnmower. Machines, such as tractors, combines, and balers, provide farmers with the same type of convenience and efficiency in completing their tasks. However, this type of equipment has not been around for a long time. This E-unit will discuss some of the changes that have occurred. Objective: Describe the development of agricultural production. Key Terms: baler civilization combine drill geographic information system (GIS) global positioning system (GPS) grain truck horsepower hunters and gatherers internal combustion engine loader planter reaper steel plow stewardship thresher Agricultural Advances Throughout the Ages Although people around the globe used to hunt for their dinner, many now have the option of going to a grocery store to purchase food. The use of stewardship and modern equipment have changed agricultural production. Page 1

2 DEVELOPING CIVILIZATIONS A civilization is a group of people who settle in one place. The civilization must have food and water to survive. If the group needs food, individuals are assigned (hunters and gatherers) to go out and find food for its members. Eventually, the food supply will diminish, or the group will outnumber the available supply, and it will be necessary to move. Other groups plant, maintain, and harvest crops to sustain members. They may also raise animals. In the production of plants and animals, they are constantly seeking ways to improve their methods and to increase output. So these groups use scientific experimentation to expand their knowledge of agricultural science. As they become more dependent on plants and animals, stewardship is increasingly important. Stewardship is the practice of taking care of land and animal resources so they can benefit future generations. MAJOR INVENTIONS FIGURE 1. This man is practicing good stewardship. Farmers owe much to inventors for saving them time and money in the fields as a result of new machinery. Reaper In 1831, Cyrus McCormick invented a mechanical reaper that made harvesting crops more efficient. The reaper was a machine pulled by horses, and it was used to cut wheat at the base of the stem. Before the invention, plants had to be harvested by hand and stacked in bundles. Steel Plow In 1837, John Deere began manufacturing a steel plow. The steel plow was a farm implement with a steel edge that was light enough so that horses could pull it, but it was strong and heavy enough to break up the dense prairie soil. Thresher Soon after the invention of the reaper, the thresher was created. A thresher is a machine that separates the grain from the stem of the plant. Farmers would pick up the stalks cut by the Page 2

3 reaper and hand-feed them into the thresher. After the internal combustion engine was created, the thresher was added to a reaper to create a combine. Internal Combustion Engine An internal combustion engine is a device that uses fuel to create energy that is then used to do work. Work that once took days could be completed in minutes or hours. This invention allowed for the creation of tractors and combines. FIGURE 2. A thresher at work in the field. EQUIPMENT Powerful and complex equipment is used on most farms today to increase productivity. Tractor Because of their powerful engines and large tires, tractors can be used to pull other equipment around the farm and through the fields. Although horsepower is a term that was used to refer to the number of horses needed to pull something, it now refers to the power of an engine. Combine A combine is a machine used to harvest crops from a field. It is the combination of a reaper and a thresher. The head of the combine runs through the rows and cuts the plant stalks. Then the plants are pulled through the machine, and the grain is separated from the plant material. Planter or Drill A planter or drill is an implement used to drop seeds into the ground. A planter is typically used to plant corn or soybeans, and a drill is generally used to plant small grains like wheat or oats. Seed counters drop the right amount of seed into rows created by the planter. Before this invention, farmers had to dig and plant everything by hand. Page 3

4 Loader A loader is a large scoop or bucket that is placed on the front of a tractor. It can be used to move large amounts of hay, dirt, gravel, or manure in an efficient and effective manner. Grain Truck or Wagon A grain truck is a vehicle used to move grain from the field to storage bins or grain elevators. A combine has a bin behind the cab that stores grain as it moves through the field. When the bin is full, it is unloaded into a grain truck or wagon to be taken off the field. Baler A baler is a machine used to wrap straw or hay into tight bundles (bales). The baler is pulled behind a tractor and removes the hay or straw from the ground. Inside the baler, the hay or straw is tightly packed or bound into round or rectangular bales. When the bale reaches the proper size, the machine wraps the bale with wire or twine to secure it. FIGURE 3. A baler being used by a farmer. (Courtesy, Case Corporation) GPS A global positioning system (GPS) is a device that uses satellites and computers to tell a farmer the exact location in a field. Because this technology is so precise, it can guide tractors and equipment through a field and program machines to deliver certain amounts of seed, fertilizer, or herbicide. GIS A geographic information system (GIS) is a device used with a GPS to make maps or grids of a field. Summary: A civilization is a group of people who settle in one place. Although some remote areas of the world still rely on hunting and gathering, the United States and other industrialized nations use numerous machines to increase the efficiency of food production. As a result of the use of equipment, farmers can produce more food for less money. Page 4

5 Checking Your Knowledge: 1. Why is stewardship important? 2. What is the difference between a reaper and a thresher? 3. What is the difference between a combine and a baler? 4. When are planters and drills normally used? 5. Explain GPS and GIS. Expanding Your Knowledge: Use the provided links to research a specific invention. Write a paper about how the machine changed agriculture. Make sure you include advantages and disadvantages (short-term and long-term issues). Web Links: Agriculture and Farm Innovations A Condensed History of American Agriculture Growing a Nation Page 5