American inventor and manufacturer John Deere played a major role in changing agriculture in the United States during the 19th century. Born on February 7, 1804, in Rutland, Vermont, Deere apprenticed as a blacksmith at the age of 17. After learning the trade, he opened his own blacksmith shop and spent more than a decade working in several towns across Vermont.
In 1837, Deere moved west in search of new opportunities and eventually settled in Grand Detour, Illinois. There he opened a blacksmith shop and later partnered with Major Leonard Andrus. While repairing farming tools for local farmers, Deere noticed a major problem with the plows being used on the prairie.
At the time, farmers relied on wooden and cast-iron plows that had been designed for the lighter soils of the eastern United States. The thick, sticky prairie soil of the Midwest constantly clogged those plows, making farming slow and difficult.
Determined to solve the problem, Deere began experimenting with new designs. In 1837 he created one of the first successful steel plows capable of cutting through Midwestern prairie soil without clogging. That same year he began manufacturing the new plows. Early production started small, with only three plows sold in 1838, but demand quickly grew.
Deere continued improving his design and expanding production. By 1839 he had produced 10 improved plows, and by 1840 that number had increased to 40. As more farmers discovered the benefits of the steel plow, production surged. By 1846, the shop was producing about 1,000 plows each year.
Looking to expand further, Deere moved his operation in 1847 to Moline, Illinois, a location with better access to transportation and raw materials. There he began using imported English steel and later worked with manufacturers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to develop similar steel plates in the United States. By 1857, annual production had climbed to around 10,000 plows.
Deere eventually brought family members into the growing business, including his son Charles in 1858 and son-in-law Stephen H. Velie in 1863. In 1868 the company officially incorporated as Deere & Company, now widely known today as John Deere. Deere remained president of the company until his death on May 17, 1886.
Over time, the company expanded beyond plows, manufacturing cultivators and other farming equipment that helped modernize agriculture.
Farm machinery itself has evolved dramatically over the centuries. Early farming relied heavily on hand tools and animal power. By the late 19th century steam-powered machines began appearing on farms, and during World War I gasoline-powered tractors became more common. Later, diesel engines would dominate farm equipment.
Today, agricultural machines range from simple implements to advanced harvesters and tractors. Equipment is used for nearly every farming task, including planting, fertilizing, pest control, harvesting, irrigation, transportation, and storage.
Modern farms also use powerful machines like tractors and bulldozers to manage land. A Bulldozer is commonly used for pushing soil, clearing trees, leveling land, and digging shallow trenches. The machine features a large steel blade mounted to the front of a tractor, allowing it to move large amounts of earth.
Meanwhile, the Tractor remains one of the most important machines in agriculture. Designed for high power at low speeds, tractors provide the pulling power needed to operate a wide variety of farm implements and equipment.
Although the number of farm workers has declined in many developed countries over the past century, agricultural production has increased significantly thanks to advances in machinery and technology. Much of that progress traces back to early innovators like John Deere, whose steel plow helped open the American prairie to large-scale farming.
