The 25 years of the Club of Bologna Evolution and prospects of agricultural mechanization in the world 12-13 November 2016 EIMA INTERNATIONAL Bologna, Italy Sinfonia Hall Mechanization in the United States of America John K. Schueller (schuejk@ufl.edu)
Mechanization Always Important to USA Settler Colonialism and European/African/Native Interactions Led to Labor Shortages Early Leaders Were Farmers (Washington, Jefferson, ) Equipment Innovators (McCormick, Case, Deere, Ford, ) World Wars and Industrial Development
Agricultural Mechanization Varies Almost 100,000,000 km 2 Variety of climates, topographies, soils, social structures Great range of crops and production systems Disclaimer: Following are broad, general statements Easy to disprove by examples
Illinois $16.29B Farm Receipts by State
Farm Receipts by State North Dakota $7.53B Illinois $16.29B
Farm Receipts by State Illinois $16.29B North Dakota $7.53B Florida $8.36B
Northeast and North Central Dairy Farms Smaller grain farms Family vegetable farms Moderate tractors and equipment Corn Belt (Heartland) Corn/Soybean Monoculture High tech moderately-large tractors and equipment Heart of equipment manufacturing industry Wheat Belt Drier climate Large farms Large equipment
South and Southeast Add warmer weather crops Cotton, rice, peanuts, sugarcane, Variety of farms and equipment Mountain Region Dry, grazing land Equipment to support Relatively simple and reliable Fruitfull Rim High value specialty crops Some operations in some crops not mechanized Some special machinery
Tractorization Early in USA, but took a long time 1910 more value in horses and mules than all farm equipment Key tractors Fordson Farmall Ford-Ferguson New Generation and Competitors
Tractorization Early in USA, but took a long time 1910 more value in horses and mules than all farm equipment Key tractors Fordson Farmall Ford-Ferguson New Generation and Competitors Engines Gasoline Diesel Transmissions Clutched Power-Shift in Range Power-Shift CVT
Most Interest Row-crop 100-300 HP Ackerman steering Powered front High Technology Utility Smaller Moderate technology 2015 Sales <40 HP 118,348 >40 HP, <100 HP 59,401 >100 HP 23,930 4WD 3,111 2017 Tractor of the year announced at EIMA Generally 10,000 25,000 per month, depending upon commodity prices economic conditions month
Tillage Moldboard plows are history No-till, Minimum-Till, Conservation Till Wind and water erosion; tillage costs Strip-till
Tillage Moldboard plows are history No-till, Minimum-Till, Conservation Till Wind and water erosion; tillage costs Strip-till Primary: chisel plows, disks, rippers Secondary: field cultivators, disks, harrows, Combined equipment: Timeliness E.g., chisel points, disks, rolling baskets on same machine E.g., tillage, fertilization, pesticide application, and planting on same machine
Crop Establishment Mostly from seed No-till and conservation challenging Faster speeds and more rows
Crop Establishment Mostly from seed No-till and conservation challenging Faster speeds and more rows Dynamic research and development Seed trench environment Seed metering and placement Air seeding of small grains
Crop Promotion and Protection Fertilizers, Pesticides (weeds, insects, diseases) Pre-plant, During Planting, Post-plant GPS and nozzle controls common Some variable rate Mechanical to replace some pesticides?
Florida Orange Production (million boxes) 2003-2004 242 2015-2016 81.6 2016-2017 70? 2026-2027 27.3?? CD C USDA
Harvesting Mechanization Grain and Forage Early Large rotary self-propelled combines Round, small, and large bales; SP Choppers Cotton after WWII; Sugarcane (billets) late Processing vegetables sophisticated machines Fresh fruits and vegetables partially mechanized
Cotton Harvesting Has Changed
Transport Wagons Trucks
Equipment to Support Animal Agriculture
How can the smallholder remain sustainable? Farmsteads of my brother and a neighbor Part of another neighbor s farmstead Google Maps
Equipment for Smaller Farmers is Widely Available
Due to USA size, distribution, sales, and service are still very important
Range of Materials & Processes in a Tractor Manufacturing Processes for Engineering Materials, 5th ed. Kalpakjian Schmid 2008, Pearson Education ISBN No. 0-13-227271-7 FIGURE 1.1 Model 8430 tractor, with detailed illustration of its diesel engine, showing the variety of materials and processes incorporated. Source: Courtesy of John Deere Company.
Manufacturing Trends Digital Rapid Remanufacturing
Trend: Drones
Trend: Robotics
www.sentera.com Trend: Sensors
www.intelinair.com
Thank you John K. Schueller schuejk@ufl.edu