Whats the difference between farming years ago and farming now?

Question

Whats the difference between farming years ago and farming now?

Answer 1

It really depends on how many years ago.  

Farming has its origins around 10,000 years ago.

I would say the principles remain the same, that is to cultivate crops and breed animals to be eaten used for clothing (or used in other applications).

The rise in the use of technology has led to greater crop yields which has had a impact on the environment such as pollution, animal welfare issues, loss of traditional farm landscape etc.  

Aside from the other points noted based on chemical use and tractors there have also been the development of new strains of crops such as wheat.

And then also worth considering is the diversification now seen on some farms.  Would you have seen ostriches on an English farm 60-100 years ago?

Another difference is the subsidies farms now get from the government (which means us as we pay through taxes).  So we buy farmed produce and pay the farmer again not to grow it!

Answer 2

Technology, as with most jobs, changes lots of things.  That and law. eg health and safety including COSHH

Answer 3

Machinery is the most obvious answer. The use of pesticides, artificial fertilisers, aggregating land using machinery........

In Ireland the school holidays are still very long in the summer, especially in rural parts, as the children were expected to help with the harvest and needed the time off school.

With the use of modern machinery, everything is done with more speed and effieciency. Even milking the cows is donw using machines, not be hand which was very time consuming.

Answer 4

machinery

Answer 5

tractors

Answer 6

more machinery less people.

Answer 7

years ago they used horses for all the farm work now its all modern mach. and more money.

Answer 8

there was alot more digging with a shovel years ago. it used to take me ages to dig a field ready for potatoes. now when i plant my genetically modified crops is done in no time .

Answer 9

You have heard the saying "The more things change, the more they stay the same". Everything, to include agriculture, runs in cycles, and history repeats itself. As the "peace sign" finds it's way back into the main stream, so does a lot of agricultural practices. Armed with a boat load of new knowledge and high tech, we do what? Take a step back to smaller farms, organic products, and a kinder hand in the environment. Many years ago, products grown remained local. They were smaller farms, with limits on transportation and it was enough to provide for the community. With time and people living and working in the cities doing more specialized non agricultural pursuits, the farmers had a huge demand. The rise of huge mono cultures came and ways were devised to utilize huge tracts of land and put them into production with an increasingly mechanized force. Long story short, we found many practices to be unsound, land became damaged, as was the environment, and the government stepped in.

     For all that, we are getting back to smaller and sound farming practices as was the earlier form of agriculture, but with a whole lot of knowledge and many lessons, learned or unlearned, under our belt.

Answer 10

Agree with the machinery & the pesticides but at the end Its the hard work side of it & the goverment and the Dairy Farmers had the Quotas , Pig Farming saw the prices drop rapidyly & foot & mouth came (was it ready made)!!!!!many lost alot of money, farming is being slowly but surely wiped out & will be managed by the big boys!!!

Answer 11

The machinerys and the planting of plants using artificial means

Answer 12

Now farmers:

1. use technology i.e. tractors and other agricultural machinery.

2. use modern methods.

3. use tunnels, green houses

4.use chemical fertilizers

5.use pesticides, herbicides, etc.

6. are more knowledgeable

7. More hi-tech farmers go for hydroponics and aeroponics.

Answer 13

You could ask what's the difference between industrial farming in 'the west' and subsistence farming in 'the third world'.

Many of the technical/mechanical advances we take for granted in Europe/US are still years away from being available to farmers in rural Africa, Asia and South America.

Access to irrigation, fertilisers, even horse/cattle drawn ploughs is still beyond many farmers outside of the industrialised nations.

Answer 14

The main difference is time.

Farming back then was back then.

Farming now is now.

Answer 15

Farming years ago was more manual work with animals and natural fertilizers. presently farming is with all artificial manures, machines and everything in short time.