In the Service of Abundance

This article focuses on the role of agriculture mechanization in the growth process in different fields. Many innovations in agricultural mechanization occurred in the middle of the 19th century. Agricultural mechanization is often exemplified by the development of the tractor. A key figure in the development of tractors was a Michigan farm boy who first became interested in technology when he saw a large steam traction engine. The adoption of the gasoline tractor was aided significantly by successful demonstrations and tests. The many 20th-century advancements in machinery to till soil, plant, remove weeds, and apply fertilizers and pesticides are too numerous to discuss here. However, at least harvesting equipment should be discussed because its mechanization trailed only tractors in importance. Cyrus McCormick’s reaper replaced human-powered cutting tools in small grains with a horse-drawn machine in the 19th century.