Agricultural machinery is a hugely valuable addition to the industry and has transformed the way crops are harvested and farmland is maintained. The modernized machinery we see nowadays has arisen from a rich history that dates back centuries and shaped how the agricultural industry looks today.
The initial creation of agricultural machinery has been traced back to the 18th century when the seed drill was invented, moving away from farmers having to sew seeds by hand by allowing them to be neatly positioned in rows. This improved the efficiency of manual labor and saw the start of other agricultural mechanization that began to take shape.
The Industrial Revolution was a huge turning point for the industry, with the 19th century seeing the creation of steam power. Steam power provided increased speed and power which in turn reduced the need for intense labor processes, giving the farmers the ability to manage more land than they could previously. Some of the key machinery creations from this time were traction engines and threshing machines, revolutionizing the harvesting of crops.
Later in the 19th century, the creation of gasoline-powered tractors completely transformed farming as these heavy-duty machines could replace the need for slower and weaker animal-powered systems. The internal combustion engine further transformed these practices and enabled agricultural farmers to plant seeds and plow fields with an added level of precision and speed.
Towards the end of the 20th century, technological advancements had come a long way and farmers started to get access to computerized systems which allowed for real-time data and decision making. The extreme advancements included integrated electronics, sensors, and GPS-guided machinery which optimized the resources available and took external factors into account, creating a significantly more efficient and cost-effective solution for farmers.
Nowadays, agricultural machinery continues to evolve as technological capabilities provide new solutions. With so many traditional processes becoming automated, such as milking cows and sorting fresh produce, efficiency is maximized and the desperation for manpower is reduced as agricultural machines take on the tasks at hand.
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