Farming Facts Timeline

Farming has come a long way… Have a look at the significant facts, events and contributions made by American farmers that have shaped and contributed to our food and fuel supplies over the last century.

1907	Henry Ford's first Model T is built and designed to run on pure ethanol, gasoline or a combination of the two.
1930s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 9.8 people. It takes 15 to 20 labor hours to produce 100 bushels (2 acres) of corn.
1933	Hybrid corn, developed by Henry Wallace in the 1920s, is commercialized. Growing hybrid corn eliminates the option of saving seeds. The remarkable yields outweigh the increased costs of annual seed purchase, and by 1945, hybrid corn accounts for 78 percent of U.S. grown corn.
1935	The number of farms in the United States peaked at 6.8 million. Today there are 2.13 million farms.
1940s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 10.7 people. It takes 10 to 14 labor hours to produce 100 bushels (2 acres) of corn. Change from horses to tractors and increasing technological practices characterize the second American agricultural revolution; productivity per acre begins sharp rise Ethanol sales increase again due to fuel shortages caused by WWII. U.S. Army builds first U.S. ethanol plant in Omaha, Nebraska, to produce fuel for the army and to provide ethanol for regional fuel blending.
1950s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 15.5 people.
1954	Number of tractors on farms exceeds the number horses and mules for the first time. The Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act (Food for Peace) is enacted.
1957	Farmers from nine states form the National Corn Growers Association.
1960s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 25.8 people.
1970s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 47.7 people. It takes 3-1/3 labor hours to produce 100 bushels (2 acres) of corn. The Green Revolution introduces hybrid seeds into food-short Third World countries. Ethanol use had dropped dramatically since WWII due to low cost fuel supplies.
1973	The Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act passed, which emphasizes maintaining or increasing instead of controlling food production.
1974	The Environmental Protection Agency issued the first regulation to phase out leaded gasoline, creating an opportunity for ethanol to be used as an oxygenate in gasoline.
1980s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 75.7 people. It takes 2-3/4 labor hours to produce 100 bushels (1 1/8 acres) of corn.
1982	4.0 tons of soil per acre eroded due to water annually. Today, that number has dropped 40 percent to 2.7 tons thanks to better farming practices and new tools.
1989	30 million acres of highly erodable land retired from production under the Conservation Reserve Program of the 1985 Food Security Act.
1990s	During this decade, it takes one farmer to feed, on average, 100 people.
	Farm families make up less than 10 percent of rural population but rural areas experience some growth.
1990	Clean Air Act begins mandating use of fuel oxygenates, cleaner burning additives including ethanol, in key areas.
1995	Commercial agriculture biotechnology was introduced, making a significant contribution to meeting the global needs for food, fuel and feed and to improving farmers' economic and environmental sustainability.
1996	Corn reaches highest average price on record of $3.53 per bushel, below the 2007 average price of $3.05 per bushel. Corn demand for uses other than ethanol begins to plateau, with growth over the coming decade to reach a total of 3.9 percent, while demand for corn for ethanol use will grow 492 percent in the next 10 years.
1997	The Conservation Buffer Initiative began, preserving and enhancing buffer strips which conserve soil and water resources while providing crop protection, less wind erosion and benefits for wild life. Major U.S. auto manufacturers began mass production of flexible-fueled vehicle models capable of operating on E-85, gasoline, or both. Depsite their ability to use E-85, most of these vehicles used gasoline as their only fuel because of the scarcity of E-85 stations.
2002	103.1 million of the 281.4 million acres farmed was tilled using some form of conservation tillage. U.S. automakers continued to produce large numbers of E-85 vehicles. Over 3 million of these vehicles were in use. At the same time, several states were encouraging fueling stations to sell E-85. With only 169 stations in the U.S. selling E-85, most E-85 capable vehicles are still operating on gasoline instead of E-85.
2005	President Bush signs the renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to reduce crude oil imports by 2 billion barrels annually. Ethanol production consumes more than 1.8 billion bushels of U.S. corn to produce 4.9 billion gallons of renewable fuel. This production reduced the use of foreign oil by 170 million barrels and saved $11 billion from leaving the domestic economy.
2006	Corn growers produced 372 percent more corn on 28 percent less acreage than in 1931. To produce an amount of corn equivalent to the 2006 crop using production practices from 1931 would require an additional 430 million acres- an area slightly larger than the state of Alaska. Ethanol reduces carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 25 percent—and less carbon monoxide helps reduce ozone formation and helps reduce levels of greenhouse gases. In 2006, the 4.9 billion gallons of ethanol helped reduce carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8 million tons. That's similar to removing 1.2 million cars from American roadways.
2007	110 ethanol plants are operating in the United States with a combined production capacity of 5.4 billion gallons of ethanol annually. More than 75 ethanol plants, with a capacity of 5.5 billion gallons, are in development. These plants would bring total U.S. ethanol capacity to 11 billion gallons per year.