Farming in America – During the colonial era (1610-1775), American agriculture was mainly focused on maintaining food supply. It was mostly for the family and farmers earned their income by selling the surplus crops and animals. However, it wasn’t a focus on the national level to produce crops on a mass scale to contribute in the colonial economy. Famous crops of that era were Barley and Peas which the colonists brought from the England. But their major production was the Indian Maize (corn). The cultivation of Maize was taught to the colonists by the famous Native American tribe Tisquantum (squanto). They used small fish called herring or shads to fertilize this crop.
The methods of farming in the colonial era were typically centered at the ethnicity of the farmers. The German Americans farming practices were way different than the British-Scot methodologies. German immigrants were more inclined to keep their farming land in the family for a longer period in comparison to the Britons and Scots. The Scot-Irish farmers earned their living by growing crops for human and livestock consumption, mainly for hogs. However, trends in the agricultural tools evolved rapidly throughout the 18th century e.g. hand sickles were rapidly replaced with cradle scythe, this revolution tripled the amount of work done by the hand sickles. These improved production methods contributed greatly towards the mass production and self-sustainability in the agriculture of the USA later in the 18th century.
With the population explosion of the 18th century in the entire Europe, industrial age was knocking the door of mankind. It was becoming a matter of sustainability to boost the production of the crops that fed the humans. Therefore, wheat became a major concern of the entire world. Aside from wheat farming, high demands of flaxseed by the Irish industry. While the corn was an evergreen in demand by the West Indies. This was the changing dynamics in the agriculture of the American continent in the early to middle 18th century colonial era. 18th century was the transition phase between subsistence agriculture to the plantation agriculture in the America.
After the colonial era, Farming in America founding fathers declared independence from the parent British Empire. This was a turning point for all the 13 colonies in every aspect, agriculture was no different. Believe it or not, but the economy of the USA was primarily agricultural in the early 19th century. Therefore, they were naturally inclined to produce crops that could bring money and wealth to the newly born country of the USA. It goes without saying that cotton became a huge plantation crop in the early 1800s. This is what was happening on the national level. However, for the individual farmer, the main focus was still providing food for the family. With the westward expansion of the USA and the introduction of canal system and steam boats, the transportation drastically improved for the agriculture.
The eastern coast of New England was more focused on farming in america for supplying food for the rapidly growing industrial settlement all across the northern USA. Tobacco and cranberries emerged as specialty crops of the region. With the westward expansion, abundant farming land came into the hands of the American pioneers after the victory in the revolutionary war in 1781, to 1830. Freshly cleared agricultural land from 50 to 100 acres was put for sale by the government for the farmers. Fruit farming became popular across the USA since then.
This was the early American agriculture that led to a great sustainable agricultural practices and self-sufficiency of the entire country.
With such a great farming history of over 400 years in a row and continuous improvement through decades, we are able to sustain American population of over 320m in 2020. If it wasn’t for the efforts made by the early American farmers, we would not be able to sustain our industrial and population boom with food. CBI pipe & supply is honored to be a part of such a great historical improvement throughout the American existence. Words cannot describe our efforts to produce the best possible equipment in farm fencing supplies. Allow us to be your partner in your farm fencing and we promise you to be a great help in the continuously improving agriculture in the USA through the course of time.
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