farmers run the world
If you ask the average American who they believe runs the country, you might get answers like Wall Street, Big Tech, or possibly the government. They’d all be wrong. In actuality, the backbone of the United States is someone who goes unnoticed, and it isn't the deck builder or the concrete contractor, it's the farmer. Farming is likely the oldest profession as well, beginning around 10,0000 B.C. during the first Agricultural Revolution.
In those days there weren’t any cross-fruits or organic hybrid corn (it was all organic back then!), there were only a few crops that could be sowed in various parts of the country. Along fields, you’d find wheat, peas, barley, chickpeas, and beans all lined up ready for harvest. There was quite a lot of money in farming, which started the second Agricultural Revolution.
This next step in farming history started around 1700 and lasted until about 1900. Farmers could use horses and wooden plows to sow and weed the fields, but there were still many long hours of work necessary to feed families and communities across the country. Those who farmed in the Midwest soon realized that those measly wooden plows wouldn’t cut through the thick soil. Seeing this issue so abundant around him, John Deere invented the first steel plow(1) in 1837, near the end of the second revolution.
Interesting fact: Many third-world countries are still experience the second Agricultural Revolution. Places like the United States, Mexico, Europe, and China are in the midst of the Green Revolution.
The Green Revolution brought biotechnology to the forefront of farming, creating genetically modified foods, chemical fertilizers, and mass production of vegetables and crops. Americans are living through the Green Revolution as we speak, and part of that revolution is the unsung heroes of the land.
In those days there weren’t any cross-fruits or organic hybrid corn (it was all organic back then!), there were only a few crops that could be sowed in various parts of the country. Along fields, you’d find wheat, peas, barley, chickpeas, and beans all lined up ready for harvest. There was quite a lot of money in farming, which started the second Agricultural Revolution.
This next step in farming history started around 1700 and lasted until about 1900. Farmers could use horses and wooden plows to sow and weed the fields, but there were still many long hours of work necessary to feed families and communities across the country. Those who farmed in the Midwest soon realized that those measly wooden plows wouldn’t cut through the thick soil. Seeing this issue so abundant around him, John Deere invented the first steel plow(1) in 1837, near the end of the second revolution.
Interesting fact: Many third-world countries are still experience the second Agricultural Revolution. Places like the United States, Mexico, Europe, and China are in the midst of the Green Revolution.
The Green Revolution brought biotechnology to the forefront of farming, creating genetically modified foods, chemical fertilizers, and mass production of vegetables and crops. Americans are living through the Green Revolution as we speak, and part of that revolution is the unsung heroes of the land.
FarmersFarmers sure don’t get the respect they need in this day and age, back in the early ages of farming, you’d have to tread miles in order to get some wheat or lentils to make dinner for your family. If you were the farmer, you’d spend hours a day picking crops off the stems just to make a couple of dollars. Now a days, it’s easy to just go to the grocery store and stock up on prewashed, presoaked beans, or even head to the nearest fast food joint. What most people don’t realize is that for those beans, corn, apples, or other fruits and vegetables to end up on the store shelf, they need to come from somewhere. |
Not an easy jobEven though farming isn’t as difficult as it used to be before electricity, it’s still not an easy job. You can expect to work more than 40 hours a week as a farmer, but don’t worry, if you make a career out of it, you could potentially make up to $71,000 a year(2) as a farmer. There are all types of farmers around the United States, from dairy farmers to livestock and crop farmers. No matter what type of farming you want to get involved in, you will need quite a bit of equipment and knowledge to get started. |
Getting started with a farmThe first thing that are going to want to do when considering starting a farm is to talk to farmers in your area. By doing this, you will learn about the types of crops that are likely to grow in your state, which animals to include on your property, and the benefits of operating a farm. Don’t go into farming completely oblivious, the next step is to read as many books as you can about farming, and also get as much knowledge from classes, the Internet, and independent studying. |
There are many great books to get you started on your journey in farming:
These books should get you started, but if you’re more of a visual learner, there are many Youtube videos and even university or community college courses that can lead you in the right direction.
These books should get you started, but if you’re more of a visual learner, there are many Youtube videos and even university or community college courses that can lead you in the right direction.
Keep learningWhile you bury your nose in every gardening book you can find, you may also want to think about some of the reasons why you want to farm. Consider the vision that you have for your future. Do you plan to farm for the rest of your life? Is this something you want to profit from, or feed your family? |
After you’ve covered your basic knowledge of farming, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of it all. If you have farming space, you’ll need to section it out, typically starting with a fence contractor, and make sure you have room for all of your crops to grow and flourish like they need. You’ll also need to make sure any animals have all of the accouterments before committing to taking care of them.