Farming Outpost

FARMING OUTPOST

How the American farming industry has changed..

There was a time in the early years of American history that the overwhelming majority of our workforce was either directly or indirectly related to farming. The production of crops, meat and dairy products were traditional skills that farmers needed to supply their own families with food and income. In 1840, agriculture workers made up 70% of the entire American workforce, and by 1935, there were nearly 7 million.

A Timeline of Opposing Forces

When the stock market crashed in 1929, there was already speculation of a downturn based on low wages, debt, and an excess of large bank loans. Even though the economy would eventually rebound, a seemingly strong agricultural sector would soon start to struggle based on changing dynamics that had been manifesting before 1929. And there was one major force in particular that was already well on its way - industrial advancements.

The 1920's brought on a rapid expansion in the farming industry largely due to advancements in mechanization. The new technologies, such as the combine harvester, meant that most of the smaller family farms were replaced by larger and more business-oriented farms. Fortunately, even despite the increase in size, much of agricultural production continued to be undertaken by family-owned operations. Gradually however, advancements in the American agricultural industry meant that efficicent machinery would take the place of human labor, leaving less opportunity for employment.

Currently, farmers and ranchers add up to only 1.3% of employed American workers, adding up to about 2.6 million people. While the number of people in the farming industry has been slowly declining for decades, there is a glimmer of hope. Farming has been experiencing rapid innovation with smart technology that is not only changing the agriculture workplace, but also how Americans interact with their food on a daily basis.

Smart Technology

It seems that the farming industry may be looking good in some respects. Even though the number of people in the farming industry has been slowly declining for decades, at the same time the effects of the rapid growth in farming from innovation with smart technology seems to have helped somewhat. In fact, only two percent of the population produces enough food for the entire world to consume.

Indeed, the American way-of-life has been transformed from a nation of rural farmers into a nation of technology-savy employees. Today, the American workforce wakes up to the sound of their smartphone alarm to get ready for another day at the office. The livelihood of Americans is largely dependent on electronic hardware, telecommunication systems and information technology, and this is true for consumers as well as farmers...

We now have the ability to shop for fruits and vegetables and trace the journey from it's planting origin to the shelves at our grocery stores. Pointing your smart phone at the smart labels will ease fears consumers may have about where their food actually comes from. This is popular among consumers who largely shop at local farmers' markets and want to make sure that the food they purchase there really does come from their local community.
Vertical farming has enabled an increase in crop yields while using smaller land space. Moreover, it reduces the impact that farming has on the environment and reduces water and energy requirements up to 70%.
Crop and livestock production cycles have increased in efficiency with the use of robotics, drones, autonomous tractors, robotic harvesters, automatic watering, and seeding robots.

Three Types of Farming

There are three basic types of farming...

Arable farming - grows grain, vegetable, and fruit crops There are other crops as well, such as crops used for fiber, oil, ornamental and industrial.
Pastoral - raising animals such as cows, chickens and sheep.
Mixed - is both arable and pastoral.

Farming is hard work and takes planning. Aspiring farmers must first consider the geographical location they want for their farmland. Choosing the type of agriculture that is best for a specific place they farm can be intensive or extensive.

Intensive agriculture uses small areas of land but with expensive equipment, large amounts of labor and capital relative to it's small land area.
Extensive agriculture produces a lower yield per unit of land, so it uses larger quantities of land in order to be profitable.

Today, many relatively small farmers use some combination of intensive and extensive agriculture, and many of these operate relatively close to markets.

Farm Animal Enclosures

Animal enclosures are used for many purposes. They're used on farms as well as zoos, wildlife refuges and animal shelters. Various companies build enclosures for typical farm animals, exotic farm animals and show pets. Although enclosures are used in various capacities on farms, they can also be designed and manufactured for non-farm animals such as wolves, foxes and coyotes for purposes of rehabilitation and sanctuaries. Enclosure projects do not always involve housing animals, rather, some might have to do with long distance transportation or guiding animals from one area to another, such as a rodeo event.

Buy & Sell Farm Equipment

Find new or used farm equipment and machinery for sale at the Farming Outpost. Search our farm equipment directory for equipment, machinery, feed and services. You can also browse by category or dealer.

Sellers

Are you a farm equipment dealer and want to list your equipment for sale? We would love to hear from you! Or, if you're just someone who wants to list your used farm equipment for sale in our classifieds ads, just click here»

Buyers

For buyers, the Farming Outpost provides an excellent selection and value on a broad range of equipment, supplies, parts and feed. Whether you're looking for heavy equipment or just a few bags of feed, we guarantee your purchases are fully secure and that you receive your product as described.

Careers in Farming

According to CareerAddict, some of the most lucrative positions available in the field include:

agricultural economists - forecast trends and advise clients for an average of $105,000 per year.
agricultural lawyers - who handle cases dealing with proper land use, environmental protection and labor laws for an average of $115,820 per year.

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