History of Farming USA 1600 to 1990

16th-18th Centuries	18th century - Oxen and horses for power, crude wooden plows, all sowing by hand, cultivating by hoe, hay and grain cutting with sickle, and threshing with flail
1776-99	1790's - Cradle and scythe introduced 1793 - Invention of cotton gin 1794 - Thomas Jefferson's moldboard of least resistance tested 1797 - Charles Newbold patented first cast-iron plow
1800	1819 - Jethro Wood patented iron plow with interchangeable parts 1819-25 - U.S. food canning industry established
1810
1820
1830	1830 - About 250-300 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat with walking plow, brush harrow, hand broadcast of seed, sickle, and flail 1834 - McCormick reaper patented 1834 - John Lane began to manufacture plows faced with steel saw blades 1837 - John Deere and Leonard Andrus began manufacturing steel plows 1837 - Practical threshing machine patented
1840	1840's - The growing use of factory-made agricultural machinery increased farmers' need for cash and encouraged commercial farming 1841 - Practical grain drill patented 1842 - First grain elevator, Buffalo, NY 1844 - Practical mowing machine patented 1847 - Irrigation begun in Utah 1849 - Mixed chemical fertilizers sold commercially
1850	1850 - About 75-90 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of corn (2-1/2 acres) with walking plow, harrow, and hand planting 1850-70 - Expanded market demand for agricultural products brought adoption of improved technology and resulting increases in farm production 1854 - Self-governing windmill perfected 1856 - 2-horse straddle-row cultivator patented
1860	1862-75 - Change from hand power to horses characterized the first American agricultural revolution 1865-75 - Gang plows and sulky plows came into use 1868 - Steam tractors were tried out 1869 - Spring-tooth harrow or seedbed preparation appeared
1870	1870's - Silos came into use 1870's - Deep-well drilling first widely used 1874 - Glidden barbed wire patented 1874 - Availability of barbed wire allowed fencing of rangeland, ending era of unrestricted, open-range grazing
1880	1880 - William Deering put 3,000 twine binders on the market 1884-90 - Horse-drawn combine used in Pacific coast wheat areas
1890	1890-95 - Cream separators came into wide use 1890-99 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 1,845,900 tons 1890's - Agriculture became increasingly mechanized and commercialized 1890 - 35-40 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (2-1/2 acres) of corn with 2-bottom gang plow, disk and peg-tooth harrow, and 2-row planter 1890 - 40-50 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat with gang plow, seeder, harrow, binder, thresher, wagons, and horses 1890 - Most basic potentialities of agricultural machinery that was dependent on horsepower had been discovered
1900	1900-1909 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 3,738,300 1900-1910 - 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.
1910	1910-15 - Big open-geared gas tractors came into use in areas of extensive farming 1910-19 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 6,116,700 tons 1915-20 - Enclosed gears developed for tractor 1918 - Small prairie-type combine with auxiliary engine introduced
1920	1920-29 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 6,845,800 tons 1920-40 - Gradual increase in farm production resulted from expanded use of mechanized power 1926 - Cotton-stripper developed for High Plains 1926 - Successful light tractor developed
1930	1930-39 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 6,599,913 tons 1930's - All-purpose, rubber-tired tractor with complementary machinery came into wide use 1930 - One farmer supplied 9.8 persons in the United States and abroad 1930 - 15-20 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (2-1/2 acres) of corn with 2-bottom gang plow, 7-foot tandem disk, 4-section harrow, and 2-row planters, cultivators, and pickers 1930 - 15-20 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat with 3-bottom gang plow, tractor, 10-foot tandem disk, harrow, 12-foot combine, and trucks
1940	1940-49 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 13,590,466 tons 1940 - One farmer supplied 10.7 persons in the United States and abroad 1941-45 - Frozen foods popularized 1942 - Spindle cottonpicker produced commercially 1945-70 - Change from horses to tractors and the adoption of a group of technological practices characterized the second American agriculture agricultural revolution 1945 - 10-14 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (2 acres) of corn with tractor, 3-bottom plow, 10-foot tandem disk, 4-section harrow, 4-row planters and cultivators, and 2-row picker 1945 - 42 labor-hours required to produce 100 pounds (2/5 acre) of lint cotton with 2 mules, 1-row plow, 1-row cultivator, hand how, and hand pick
1950	1950-59 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 22,340,666 tons 1950 - One farmer supplied 15.5 persons in the United States and abroad 1954 - Number of tractors on farms exceeded the number of horses and mules for first times 1955 - 6-12 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (4 acres) of wheat with tractor, 10-foot plow, 12-foot role weeder, harrow, 14-foot drill and self-propelled combine, and trucks Late 1950's - 1960's - Anhydrous ammonia increasingly used as cheap source of nitrogen, spurring higher yields
1960	1960-69 - Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer: 32,373,713 tons 1960 - One farmer supplied 25.8 persons in the United States and abroad 1965 - 5 labor-hours required to produce 100 pounds (1/5 acre) of lint cotton with tractor, 2-row stalk cutter, 14-foot disk, 4-row bedder, planter, and cultivator, and 2-row harvester 1965 - 5 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (3 1/3 acres) of wheat with tractor, 12-foot plow, 14-foot drill, 14-foot self-propelled combine, and trucks 1965 - 99% of sugar beets harvested mechanically 1965 - Federal loans and grants for water/sewer systems began 1968 - 96% of cotton harvested mechanically
1970	1970's - No-tillage agriculture popularized 1970 - One farmer supplied 75.8 persons in the United States and abroad 1975 - 2-3 labor-hours required to produce 100 pounds (1/5 acre) of lint cotton with tractor, 2-row stalk cutter, 20-foot disk, 4 -row bedder and planter, 4-row cultivator with herbicide applicator, and 2-row harvester 1975 - 3-3/4 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (3 acres) of wheat with tractor, 30-foot sweep disk, 27-foot drill, 22-foot self-propelled combine, and trucks 1975 - 3-1/3 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (1-1/8 acres) of corn with tractor, 5-bottom plow, 20-foot tandem disk, planter, 20-foot herbicide applicator, 12-foot self-propelled combine, and trucks
1980-90	1980's - More farmers used no-till or low-till methods to curb erosion 1987 - 1-1/2 to 2 labor-hours required to produce 100 pounds (1/5 acre) of lint cotton with tractor, 4-row stalk cutter, 20-foot disk, 6-row bedder and planter, 6-row cultivator with herbicide applicator, and 4-row harvester 1987 - 3 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (3 acres) of wheat with tractor, 35-foot sweep disk, 30-foot drill, 25-foot self-propelled combine, and trucks 1987 - 2-3/4 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (1-1/8 acres) of corn with tractor, 5-bottom plow, 25-foot tandem disk, planter, 25-foot herbicide applicator, 15-foot self-propelled combine, and trucks 1989 - After several slow years, the sale of farm equipment rebounded 1989 - More farmers began to use low-input sustainable agriculture (LISA) techniques to decrease chemical applications

History of Farm Tractors - Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Company

Minneapolis, Minnesota (1902-1929)

The Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Company (MS&M Co.) was founded in Minneapolis by J.L. Record and Otis Briggs on April 24, 1902, to manufacture steel components for buildings, bridges, and other steel structures.

Twin City "40" Farm Tractor

The MS&M Co. engaged in the singular steel fabrication business until 1910, when the Joy-Wilson Company of Minneapolis was hired to design a tractor for them. The tractor that was designed later evolved into the famous Twin City "40" tractor, and began the company's successful venture into the tractor business. A few years later, the MS&M Co. expanded its role in the tractor business by subcontracting to build heavy tractors for other manufacturers like Case Threshing Machine Company, and Bull Tractor Company.

Lightweight Farm Tractors

By the late teens, MS&M Co.

engineers realized the trend in tractor design was moving away from the massive behemoths that were their specialty, to smaller, cheaper, and more compact tractor designs. As a result, an entirely new line of lightweight tractors was engineered, supplemented by a new line of threshing machines and farm trucks. The new line of lightweight "Twin City" tractors were very well engineered, and as a testament to their quality they later served as the basis for the entire Minneapolis-Moline tractor line.

Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company

Overall, sales of "Twin City" products increased throughout the twenties with growing consumer acceptance, but in the depressed agricultural economy of that period it was very difficult for a short line company like MS&M Co. to survive on its own. Therefore, merger negotiations began with another short line company, the Moline Implement Company of Moline, Illinois, and later included the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company of Hopkins, Minnesota. An agreement was eventually reached, and on March 30, 1929, the three short line companies were amalgamated to form the Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company.

Hopkins, Minnesota (1887-1929)

The Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company (MTM Co.) was founded in Hopkins, Minnesota, by John S. McDonald as an outgrowth of the former Fond du Lac Threshing Machine Company. Initially, in 1887, the new company only manufactured threshing machines, but later it expanded into the manufacture of steam traction engines.

Minneapolis 35-70 Farm Tractor

After only a few years on the market, "Minneapolis" steam engines and threshing machines had established a highly regarded name for themselves among farmers in the grain-growing regions of the United States and Canada. By 1911, however, steam traction engines had begun to lose favor among progressive farmers, and so the MTM Co. decided to enter the vastly expanding tractor business. Therefore, Walter I. McVicker was hired to design a tractor which became, after some refinement, the successful Minneapolis "35-70."

In the late teens, MTM Co. followed the industry trend by expanding into the small tractor market with their newly designed "15-30" tractor. Refined, and identically styled larger horsepower tractors were later added to fill out the tractor line, replacing the older models. These newly designed tractors all featured the large bore, long stroke engine design that was to become a trademark of all Minneapolis-Moline tractors built after the merger in 1929.

Joining the Merger Negotiations

Much like the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Comapny, was a short line manufacturer, the MTM Co. realized that it could not remain competitive as an independent company. In 1928, officials of the MTM Co. heard about the ongoing merger negotiations between Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Co. and Moline Implement Company, and made it known to both parties that they wished to be included.

This proposition was ultimately accepted by the other companies, because besides possessing a respected name in farm equipment, the MTM Co. brought a quality combine and corn sheller into the fold. An agreement was eventually reached, and on March 30, 1929, the three short line companies were amalgamated to form the Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company.

History of Farm Tractors - Gas Traction Company

Minneapolis, Minnesota (1908-1912)

Around the turn of the century, D.M. Hartsough began conducting his own tractor design experiments. In 1904, Hartsough's tractor design was one of the earliest to incorporate a multi-cylinder engine, providing smoother operation and power transmission to the rear wheels.

Big 4 Farm Tractors

This early design was later improved and became the basis for the famous "Big 4" tractor line, so named because of their massive 4-cylinder engines and overall size.

Transit Threshers

By 1906, Patrick Lyons had become interested in Hartsough's tractor design, and an agreement was reached to build the tractor at a factory in Minneapolis. Originally, the new company was named the Transit Thresher Company, which reflected the notion of Lyons to eliminate bundle wagons by moving the tractor and threshing machine around the field to the grain shocks.

The "transit thresher" concept proved to be unpopular, and therefore the company was reorganized in 1908 as the Gas Traction Company, to manufacture just tractors.

The Gas Traction Co. remained an independent entity until 1912, when it was purchased by the Emerson-Brantingham Implement Company of Rockford, Illinois. Emerson-Brantingham continued to build the venerable "Big 4" line of tractors, eventually expanding it to include several power sizes.

The Last of the Big 4 Farm Tractors

Throughout the teens, Emerson-Brantingham was devoted to the task of heavily promoting the "Big 4" line at various fairs and exhibitions in the United States and Canada. By 1920, however, the massive "Big 4" tractors had lost favor among farmers and were rapidly being replaced by lighter and more maneuverable models. Therefore, the decision was made by Emerson-Brantingham executives to discontinue the revered "Big 4" tractor line. While the name may have disappeared, no one should forget the role that "Big 4" tractors and others like it played in breaking the vast open prairies.

History of Farm Tractors - Geiser Manufacturing Company

Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (1855-1912)

The Geiser Manufacturing Company (Geiser Mfg. Co.) was founded in 1855 by Peter Geiser at Smithburg, Maryland, to manufacture threshing machines. In 1860, the company moved to Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, on land that was purchased from a competitor, George Frick.

Peerless Steam Engine

By 1881, the company had become incorporated and their first steam engine was introduced, nicknamed the "Peerless ." The new "Peerless" steam engine was intended to directly compete with the neighboring Frick Company steam engine, the "Eclipse." Soon, Geiser "Peerless" steam engines established a reputation as being solid, well-built, quality steam engines.

To further broaden their product line, Geiser Mfg. Co. developed a steam-powered "Peerless" gang plow, to go along with the "New Peerless" threshing machines, hay presses, and sawmills that were already in the line.

Early Gasoline Powered Farm Tractors

In addition, the Geiser Mfg. Co. was engaged in the early developmental work on gasoline tractors and introduced their own model in 1910. The Geiser Mfg. Co. attempted to expand into the lucrative Midwestern market, but their success was hindered by the large transportation costs incurred from shipping their products westward. Even with several high quality products, the Geiser Mfg. Co. realized it could not survive as an independent company without a larger Midwestern market share.

Therefore, in 1912, the company, the plant, and all designs and manufacturing rights were sold to the Emerson-Brantingham Implement Company of Rockford, Illinois. Emerson-Brantingham continued to manufacture the respected line of "Peerless" steam engines and threshing machines until the mid-1920s. Surviving that long was truly a testament of their quality, for by that time most companies had already abandoned the manufacture of steam engines.

1 F.A. Pazandak Photograph Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo.

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Seeding with Big 4 tractor.

Side view of Big 4 tractor seeding with three drills hitched in tandem followed by packers. Man standing on tractor, and another man seated behind packers.

2 F.A. Pazandak Photograph Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo.

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Big 4 tractor plowing.

F.A. Pazandak, seated on tractor with plow attached. In front is a self-steering mechanism with arrow atop it.

3 F.A. Pazandak Photograph Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo.

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Rear View of Disking with Big 4 Tractor

Rear view of Big 4 tractor pulling seven 6 ft. disks hooked in tandem. Unidentified man on tractor.

4View Full-Size

Geiser steam plow, Highland Farm, Fullerton, N.Dak..

Front view of Geiser steam engine pulling a twelve bottom plow. Two unidentified men

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