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ENGINES OF CHANGE

Before the engine-powered tractor was invented, farmers plowed the fields using horse, mule, or ox powered plows. It took approximately 10 hours for a single farmer, using a two animal team to plow 1 acre of land. This estimate of 10 hours does not include hitching the horse up to the plow or getting to and from the field. Once the engine powered tractor came into use, the amount of land a farmer could plow in the same 10 hour period more than doubled to 2 ½ acres. Today, there are machines that advertise they are able to plow 150 acres in that same 10 hour day.

From the early part of the 1900’s to today, the advances and development of the tractor have been at the heart of change in rural America. While some farmers were able to increase the size of their farms, others left farming. Farm size increased while the number of farms decreased. The farmer is able to accomplish more in less time.

According to data compiled by The Illinois Farm Bureau, in 1900 there were 1,131 farms in Scott County. By the year 1954 the number of farms dropped to 677 and as of 2012 there were 356 farms in Scott County.

The Illinois Farm Bureau also keeps records on the size of farms in each Illinois county. In 1925 there were 336 farms with 100-174 acres, 7 farms of 500-999 acres and 1 farm with over 1,000 acres. These statistics changed for 1954 having 161 farms of the 100-174 acres size, 33 farms of 500-999 acres and 5 farms with over 1,000 acres. Comparable numbers for 2002 show the 100-174 acre category at 83, the 500-999 acre farms numbering 44 and the 1,000 and over farms growing in number to 32.