24. From a technological viewpoint, explain why farming has gotten less labor intensive over the last hundred years.
You two helped me on this yesterday, and I combined your answers and added my own to it. Please let me know if it is okay.
24. Farming has gotten less labor intensive over the last hundred years for a few reasons. Tractors, material handling systems, feeding system, feed and environmental controls are automatic. In other words, many repetitive functions have been replaced with machines. Basically, large, gasoline-powered machinery just uses less labor than a horse-drawn plow. Hay production is an example of an activity that has become mechanized. Most farmers raised their own hay and stored it in loose stacks until WWII. In recent years, however, the self-sufficient family farm has been disappearing. They are being replaced with larger farms that specialize in a specific crop. One group of farmers operate large dairy farms that do not raise hay, while other farmers specialize in raising and selling hay to these dairy farmers and beef cattle feed lots. This caused a problem that could be solved by technology. More recently another agricultural problem has surfaced, which is the fact that farm labor has become expensive. The solution to this problem is farm implements, which are machines that allow one person to do more work, assisted by the machine.
excellent.
thank you :)
Yes, your explanation is accurate and provides a good overview of why farming has become less labor-intensive over the last century. Here's a breakdown of the key points you mentioned:
1. Introduction of Machinery: The development and widespread adoption of tractors and other large, gasoline-powered machinery have greatly reduced the need for manual labor. These machines can perform tasks more efficiently and quickly than using traditional methods, such as horse-drawn plows.
2. Automation: Technological advancements in farming have led to the automation of many repetitive tasks. Material handling systems, feeding systems, and feed and environmental controls can now be controlled automatically, reducing the need for human intervention and labor.
3. Mechanization of Activities: Activities like hay production, which used to require significant manual labor, have become mechanized. Instead of manually cutting and stacking hay, machines now handle these tasks, making the process more efficient and less labor-intensive.
4. Specialization and Consolidation: Family farms have been increasingly replaced by larger, specialized farms that focus on specific crops or livestock operations. For example, some farms may solely focus on dairy production, while others specialize in growing and selling hay to support the dairy farms or feed lots. This specialization allows for greater efficiency and reduces the need for manual labor across different farming activities.
5. Solving Labor Cost Issues: As farm labor costs have increased, technology has been employed as a solution. Farm implements, which are machines designed to assist farm workers in performing tasks more efficiently, have allowed one person to accomplish more work than before. This helps offset the expensive nature of labor and increases productivity on farms.
Overall, advancements in technology have revolutionized farming by replacing manual labor with machines and automation. This has resulted in increased efficiency, improved productivity, and reduced labor-intensive practices in the agricultural industry.