Do you ever look/watch/do this job without thinking how long it would have taken to do the same job 100 years ago? I suppose when you are so involved in the doing, you don't really have time to dwell on the past. But I seldom see the big fields without thinking of it.
I often marvel how far farming has come over the last 50 years… how machinery has changed so much in that time. But over 100 years… that’s quite mind blowing! I did some research for you. On average a farmer with a team of horses could sow 2-3 acres/day in the early 1920’s. Today we average about 8ha/hr (20acre/hr). So this paddock of 60ha (148acres) has taken about 7½ hours to sow… 1920’s with that team of horses it would have taken about 2 months to sow.
NO! I had not seen this...I just didn't think about you looking up info...makes me wonder why I haven't cause this is just the type of thing I would look up. But thank you so much for taking the time to do this. It is hard to imagine how the work ever got done before.
I grew up on a small farm in East Tennessee, and we had basically retired our work horse by the time I could remember much. He died/had to be put to sleep when he was about 31. I was 16 at the time. Oh, I seen him plow the garden a few times, but sure not many.
No not plough. We use what’s called “no till” for our sowing to minimise soil disturbance and decrease the loss of soil moisture. It also means we leave last years stubble intact which improves the health of soil by increasing organic matter. This seeder has a series of discs at the front that slice the soil like a knife, the seed drops in that little furrow and then press wheels at the back press the soil back together. In the photo to the left of the tractor has been sown and you can just pick out cut lines if you look carefully.
![[Farm-ily]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuDYSq5EPweb5CZ7W8NcUY4_T4lFZkLVN0DwbOwni4ZXBAAOxDyJGxvLd_RDakNspup1Q0RZBYzARRIbF_c4gb9v6EaIzJSk32VP4vEm1C7UkUYZFoueUzhGZvdTeK207GRyMDOZSIzE/s1028/76.+May+2021+Blog.jpg)
Hopefully with sufficient rain at the right times.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever look/watch/do this job without thinking how long it would have taken to do the same job 100 years ago? I suppose when you are so involved in the doing, you don't really have time to dwell on the past. But I seldom see the big fields without thinking of it.
ReplyDeleteI often marvel how far farming has come over the last 50 years… how machinery has changed so much in that time. But over 100 years… that’s quite mind blowing! I did some research for you. On average a farmer with a team of horses could sow 2-3 acres/day in the early 1920’s. Today we average about 8ha/hr (20acre/hr). So this paddock of 60ha (148acres) has taken about 7½ hours to sow… 1920’s with that team of horses it would have taken about 2 months to sow.
DeleteNO! I had not seen this...I just didn't think about you looking up info...makes me wonder why I haven't cause this is just the type of thing I would look up. But thank you so much for taking the time to do this. It is hard to imagine how the work ever got done before.
DeleteI grew up on a small farm in East Tennessee, and we had basically retired our work horse by the time I could remember much. He died/had to be put to sleep when he was about 31. I was 16 at the time. Oh, I seen him plow the garden a few times, but sure not many.
Plough and sow at the same time?
ReplyDeleteNo not plough. We use what’s called “no till” for our sowing to minimise soil disturbance and decrease the loss of soil moisture. It also means we leave last years stubble intact which improves the health of soil by increasing organic matter. This seeder has a series of discs at the front that slice the soil like a knife, the seed drops in that little furrow and then press wheels at the back press the soil back together. In the photo to the left of the tractor has been sown and you can just pick out cut lines if you look carefully.
DeleteThank you for the explanation. I had a feeling something like that was taking place.
DeleteHere's hoping for a bountiful crop!
ReplyDeleteHope the rain returns. Cheers Diane
ReplyDeleteAt least it makes planting a lot easier that it used to be. : )
ReplyDeleteReminds me of when we lived on the farm, sewing wheat...men came home dusty as no cabins in those days.
ReplyDelete