A Bit About Farming

My apologies to any reader who is already familiar with the subject of farming, its history, and practice. My intended audience is anyone who knows little to nothing about the topic but would like to learn more, including me.

In the interest of time and your attention, I am condensing thousands of years of farming history into a few paragraphs, focusing instead on some of the discoveries and events that I stumbled upon during my research. As with some of the other topics I have chosen, this is a big one--I am just scratching the surface here. I have undoubtedly omitted, or glossed over something of importance--please feel free to comment on anything that I missed or got wrong.

Before It Had A Name What we refer to as organic farming today owes a great deal to a collection of farming methods that ancient cultures practiced for millennia. Terraced fields, crop rotation, natural fertilizers, sophisticated irrigation systems, artificial wetland islands (chinampas), nitrogen-fixing crops, and the use of fire (fertile ash) represent some of the organic farming methods introduced by various cultures and refined over time.

From ~10,000 BCE until the advent of pre-industrial agriculture, there were no synthetic inputs, no chemical fertilizers, and no synthetic pesticides. 

That all changed in the 1840s, when German chemist Justus von Liebig introduced his "Theory of Mineral Nutrients" which laid the groundwork for agricultural chemistry. The principle of the "Law of the Minimum" developed by Carl Sprengel and later popularized by von Liebig, posited that maximum plant growth is not determined by total available nutrients, but by the least available nutrients. He determined that essential plant growth required a balance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

Phosphorus (as phosphate rock) and potassium (as potash) were readily available—the major challenge was producing nitrogen at an industrial scale. Nitrogen is incredibly stable and unreactive. The two nitrogen atoms in a molecule of atmospheric nitrogen are held together by a strong triple covalent bond, and under normal conditions, it is inert, making up about 78% of the air we breathe.  It is a critical component of fertilizers and explosives.

Biological limitations: At the time, fixed (usable) nitrogen was primarily provided by a small number of organisms, manure, and other organic waste. These methods were not adequate to keep up with the demands of a growing population.

The other primary source of fixed nitrogen came from mineral deposits like saltpeter and guano, which were limited and projected to run out by the early 20th century.

Fast forward to 1909. German chemist Fritz Haber, with his assistant Robert Le Rossignol developed the high-pressure devices and catalysts needed to produce ammonia from the air. In the summer of 1909 they demonstrated their process, producing ammonia from the air, drop by drop at a rate of about 4 US fl oz (125mL) per hour.

The process was purchased by the German chemical company BASF. Carl Bosch was assigned the task of scaling up the Haber process to industrial scale. He succeeded in 1910. Fritz Haber (ammonia synthesis) and Carl Bosch (high-pressure chemistry) were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 and 1931, respectively, for their work in overcoming the chemical and engineering problems of large-scale, continuous-flow, high-pressure technology.

As with most of these transformational events, there were undoubtedly many unsung "others" whose contributions supported and/or built upon Liebig, Haber, and Bosch's work. This all had the indirect effect of contributing to the steady decline of organic practices--but first, a bit of context.

Population: In the 1700s nearly 80% of the population farmed. By the 1900s, over half of the U.S. population either farmed or lived in rural areas. At the time, most farms were diversified, growing a range of crops and raising different animals together in ways that supported each other. Farmers typically possessed a broad set of skills and maintained control over how they managed their land and livestock. Animals were usually raised with outdoor access, and most farm labor was performed by people or animals. it was just 40% of the population. Today, the percentage of U.S. farmers has decreased to less than 2% of the population.

Some Stats

Farms: In 1935, the number of farms peaked at 6.8 million--that number fell steadily in the 1970s. Since 1982, the decline has continued. In the most recent survey (2024), there were 1.88 million U.S. farms, down 8 percent from 2.04 million found in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Acreage: Similarly, acres of land in farms continued a downward trend with 876 million acres in 2024, down 3 percent from 900 million acres in 2017. The average farm size was 466 acres in 2024, only slightly greater than the 440 acres recorded in the early 1970s.

Aesop's Fable: The Crow and the Pitcher

A thirsty crow discovers a pitcher containing water that is just beyond the reach of its beak. Unable to push it over, the bird drops pebbles into the pitcher, raising the water level, allowing it to drink. The proverb, "necessity is the mother of invention," became a hallmark of ingenuity in agriculture. Here are a few examples.

Mechanization

Cotton Gin (1794, Eli Whitney): While patented in the late 18th century, its widespread adoption and impact on cotton production and the Southern economy extended well into the 19th century. It significantly sped up the process of separating cotton fibers from seeds. Mechanical Reaper (1831, Cyrus McCormick): This invention revolutionized grain harvesting, allowing farmers to harvest much larger fields in a shorter time, reducing the need for manual labor.

Steel Plow (1837, John Deere): Improved upon earlier plows, the steel plow was more durable and efficient, particularly in the tough prairie soils of the American Midwest. Threshing Machines: These machines separated grain from stalks, significantly speeding up the post-harvest process. Here's an interesting side note: The Swing Riots in the UK were partly a result of the threshing machine. In 1892 John Froelich invented the first successful gasoline-powered tractor with forward and reverse gears. This invention laid the groundwork for the more widespread adoption of tractors in the 20th century. Hay Cultivation Equipment: Development of cutting devices resembling reapers, eventually leading to modern mowers and balers. Grain Elevators (1842, Joseph Dart): These structures revolutionized grain storage and transportation, allowing for more efficient handling of large quantities of grain.

Agricultural Science and Practices

Included advancements in crop rotation, like the Norfolk four-course system. The first Morrill Act (1862) provided federal support for post-secondary education focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts. The Hatch Act (1887) was instrumental in spurring agricultural science by establishing agricultural experiment stations.

The 20th Century continued "industrial agriculture's" steady march with advances in mechanization and widespread adoption of tractors and specialized mechanical pickers further reducing the amount of manual labor needed.

Other Influences

The automotive industry led to the demand for better roads. Better roads led to an enormous increase in the production of motor vehicles. Improvements in roads and motor vehicles led to a shift of goods from water and rail to a greater reliance on truck transportation.

Development of Efficient Distribution Systems. The Eisenhower presidency was instrumental in the creation and passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which established the US system of interstate highways. It had an indirect but profound impact on the growth of the suburban and car culture, creating in its wake the expansion of the shopping mall and supermarket industries.

The Cold War pitted capitalism against communism. On July 24, 1959, at the opening of the American National Exhibition at Sokolniki Park in Moscow, U.S. vice president Richard Nixon and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev participated in "The Kitchen Debate", a heated exchange regarding which political system was better able to provide for its citizens, food abundance being a crucial indicator of success. It became a propaganda tool. Overflowing US supermarkets were showcased as an example of American prosperity and freedom, often contrasted with the shortages and inefficiencies of the Soviet system.

National Security. Ensuring a stable and plentiful food supply was a matter of national security, essential for maintaining social order and projecting global influence.

The "Green Revolution" involved substantial investment in agricultural research and technology, promoting mechanization, the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and the development of high-yield crop varieties.

Government Subsidies supported farmers, encouraged production, and stabilized prices. Surplus agricultural goods were distributed to allies and developing nations as a showcase of American abundance. The impact and unintended consequences of these developments will be the subject of another blog. Think DDT. Think Rachel Carson and "Silent Spring."

The commercialization of F1 hybrid seeds, particularly for corn in the 1930s, revolutionized crop yields. Hybrid vigor led to significantly higher productivity.

Norman Borlaug (1914-2009), an American agronomist who is widely credited as the "Father of the Green Revolution." His groundbreaking work in plant breeding and agricultural development, particularly with wheat, is estimated to have saved over a billion lives from starvation. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his contributions to global food security.

The late 20th and 21st centuries have witnessed a revolution in genetics, and now, AI promises to accelerate future biotechnological advancements in agriculture. Advances in Precision Agriculture with its implementation of GPS, sensors, and data analysis to optimize the application of water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Projected food demand and production gaps

"Under a medium population growth scenario, feeding 9.75 billion people in 2050 would require a 47% increase in crop calories from a 2011 baseline, according to the USDA.

As per capita incomes rise, consumption patterns tend to shift towards diets richer in animal products, which require more resources (land, water, feed) to produce compared to plant-based foods.

The World Resources Institute has identified a "food gap" of 56% between crop calories produced in 2010 and those needed in 2050 under business-as-usual growth."

Here are a few websites you might visit if you'd like to learn more.

Population and income drive world food production projections

Food Security, Climate, and Health

How to Sustainably Feed 10 Billion People by 2050, in 21 Charts

Your comments, suggestions, and insights are always welcome.

Paz