The Importance of Ag Mechanics MSAGED 7-6 Written by Melissa Moulton

What can Agriculture Mechanics do for you? It teaches important skills that can be used at home, in business, or for fun. We need ag mechanics to maintain equipment and keep productivity high. Many careers in agriculture involve basic ag mechanics skills.

Agriculture Mechanics are found throughout several jobs The engineer who designs tractors and other farm and ranch machines The Forester who keeps chainsaws and other equipment going The Soil Conservationist who construct terraces to control erosion The hardware store employee who must locate repair parts for agriculture tools and machines The designer and installer of field, turf, landscape, and golf course drainage and irrigation systems The lawn equipment service mechanic who repairs lawn tractors The welder who repairs farm machinery The mechanic who keeps the diesel trucks and machines going

The Influence of Mechanics America provided the inventors for many of the world’s most important agricultural machines. In 1776, 90% of the population were farmers with a farm to nonfarm ratio of 9 to 1 and food supply was at a minimum. Today, less then 10% of all Americans work in agriculture with a farm to nonfarm ratio of 1 to 9 and generally food surpluses in America. Mechanics has played a major role in this rise of production efficiency.

What advancements in Ag mechanics have had the greatest impact? Cotton Gin Reaper Steel Plow Mechanical Corn Picker Tractor Grain Elevator Automatic Baler Milking Machine Eli Whitney – 1793 Cyrus McCormick – 1834 John Deere – 1837 Edmund Quincey – 1850 Benjamin Holt – 1904 Joseph Dart - 1842 Ed Nolt - 1936 Anna Baldwin - 1879

What are some careers in Ag mechanics? Electrician Machinery and Equipment Specialist Parts Person Soil Technician Tractor Mechanics Ecology Technician Shop Supervisor

The efficiency of American Agriculture will increase in the future as computer controlled machines and robotics play an important part. Ag mechanics has been fundamental to the development of the agricultural industry in this country. Much of the tremendous increase in the efficiency of American producers is due to the innovations in mechanics.

The wiring of buildings to supply power The repairing of engines and equipment The laying of pipe for water supplies and the construction of buildings are only a few examples of mechanics in agriculture. As further advancements are made the role of mechanics in agriculture will be as important in the future as it has been in the past.