Farm Mechanization: Self-Propelled Equipment

Self-powered farm machines were more efficient and used less fuel than tractor-pulled equipment, and other specialized vehicles soon became common on American farms. Self-propelled corn pickers, for instance, were introduced in 1909 and were in common use by the 1920s. Airplanes were used for crop dusting beginning in 1921. By the 1930s, self-propelled tilling, cultivating, and harvesting equipment also were available. Some of the mechanical additions on farms were revolutionary. For instance, a self-propelled irrigation machine, consisting of sprinklers attached to motorized arms that rotate around a hub, revolutionized irrigation technology. A similar system was eventually used to apply both fertilizers and pesticides.