3.1 Changes in farming Flashcards
What catalysed new farming methods during 1876-1895
The government sponsored new scientific experiments to develop new methods to help farming in the west.
Who discovered Dry farming?
Hardy Webster Campbell
Explain the impact dry farming had on farming
- explain what it is and what it did to crops
- Dry farming was an experimental technique aimed to conserve water in the soil to tackle low rainfall.
- Dry farming prepared the soil so that it trapped rainwater under the surface. Campbell’s techniques also promoted strong root growth by crops, which meant they could access more water in the soil. Farmers found that this worked well with wheat. Agricultural experts promoted dry farming methods as the best way for homesteaders to farm the Plains.
What limited the usefulness of Dry farming?
a series of severe droughts in the 1890s stopped it becoming really widespread until the start of the 20th century
How were wind pumps developed
In 1854, Dabuek Halladay, an engineer developed a self-regulating windmill. this was important dor the Plains, which had very strong winds that frequently changed direction. However, it took years of development to become widespread.
Despite, windmills developed previously couldn’t pump up water where groundwater in the West was over 100m down or in some places 400m. Wooden windmills failed to withstand winter storms. Maintaining them was expensive and time-consuming.
By the 1880s, efficient, all-metal windpumps that needed oiling once a year (at ground level) had been developed. Pumping power was increased by making the windmill blades larger, setting windmills on large towers and using sophisticated geared mechanisms to convert maximum energy from the rotating blades to the water pump. Strength was added by using steel instead of wood for blades and towers.
As a result, windpumps were used all over the West by both cattle ranchers and farmers.
Why did many many farmers give up on their claims and what was the solution to this?
Many farmers gave up on their claims because they could not access enough water for their crops. There was plenty of water underground but in many places, it was very deep down.
solution: windpumps
Explain how barbed wire developed
- With timber being so scarce, barbed wire was a cheap and effective way for farmers to fence off their claims and protect their crops and livestock from roaming livestock.
- Through the 1880s, cattle ranchers began to use barbed wire to keep their livestock in particular areas and to stop other people’s animals from straying onto their pasture.
- By then, the problems of barbed wire corroding quickly and breaking was fixed by applying a coating to protect the wire, reducing cost production.
What’s the deal with mechanisation
Inventors and manufacturers made good money solving farmer’s problems.
- Many many agricultural machines were developed which made farming easier and more productive. Some were specifically targeted at dry farming techniques. Improved steel ploughs were developed to plough the soil very deeply for dry farming (so rainfall went deep into the soil).
- Also, seed drills were developed to plant seeds at the correct depth for farming.
What benefits does mechanisation have on farming
- mechanisation made farming faster, more efficient and more productive. It enabled farmers to farm larger areas, so successful homesteads expanded
- mechanisation strengthened the connection between industry and farming. Manufacturers helped farmers become more successful, and as farmers became more successful they bought more industrial products which boosted the US economy.
