Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Technology”
From Handmade Tools to a New Agricultural Era Prior to the 1800s, American farmers and ranchers relied almost entirely on handmade tools and equipment. These implements were often crafted locally and varied widely in quality and effectiveness. Farming during this period was labor-intensive, limited in scale, and largely focused on meeting immediate needs rather than producing surplus for broader markets. …
A Snapshot of Agricultural Progress American agriculture has always been shaped by innovation, but few changes were as transformative as the mechanization of farming. In this American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold outlines how corn production efficiency evolved between 1850 and 1930—revealing how fewer labor hours and less land dramatically increased productivity. Corn Production in 1850: Heavy Labor, Limited Efficiency …
USDA Launches New Online Portal to Report Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new online reporting portal designed to improve transparency and oversight of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land owned by foreign persons. The portal supports reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) and applies to transactions conducted …
New “Innovation Never Stops” Series Showcases the Future of Agriculture A new educational documentary series is now available for teachers, 4-H leaders, FFA advisors, and other youth educators looking to bring real-world agriculture into the classroom. Titled Innovation Never Stops, the nine-part video series highlights different aspects of modern agriculture and the innovative technologies shaping the industry’s future. Produced by …
Major GPS System Changes Coming in 2026 Could Affect Farmers and Ranchers Farmers and ranchers already face a long list of daily challenges, but experts at Iowa State University Extension say a new one is on the horizon: significant GPS system changes coming in 2026. These updates may impact everything from auto-steering accuracy to field boundary mapping, making it essential …
Sentinel Ag Uses Satellite Technology to Track Nitrogen for Crops As precision agriculture continues to evolve, Sentinel Ag is helping farmers make smarter nitrogen management decisions using cutting-edge satellite imagery. The company’s innovative Sentinel platform is designed to provide daily insights that drive more efficient crop input strategies. We spoke with Jack Stansell of Sentinel Ag to understand how their …
University of Nebraska Leads Efforts to Defend U.S. Agriculture from Cyberattacks With the rapid adoption of digital tools in modern farming, American agriculture is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. The same sensors, GPS, and cloud-based systems that drive precision and efficiency are also opening the door to cybercriminals targeting critical farm infrastructure and data. From livestock management software to automated …
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has released a new, data-driven study that showcases the significant economic and environmental benefits of precision agriculture across the United States. This research is the result of a collaboration with the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, CropLife America, and the National Corn Growers Association. According to the study, “technology adoption on farms …
Robert McCormick was a successful farmer in Virginia who owned a substantial 532-acre estate. This farm was nearly self-sufficient, a testament to the resourcefulness and hard work of the McCormick family. Notably, the estate included its own gristmill, which was used to grind grain into flour, providing an essential staple for the farm and its surrounding community. The McCormick farm …
The Reluctant Start of a Farming Innovation In the annals of American agriculture, few figures loom as large as Cyrus McCormick. His journey from invention to industrial impact is a classic tale of perseverance in the face of skepticism. In 1831, McCormick successfully demonstrated the world’s first mechanical reaper—an invention poised to transform farming. But while the machine showed immense …
