Agricultural engineering

People use science to help farms.

Engineers design tools for farming. They make machines to help grow food. Long ago, people used water paths to help plants grow.

These paths are called irrigation. Today, big machines do the hard work. Some machines even fly in planes.

These tools help us make more food for everyone.

Agricultural engineering is a way to use science to help farms.

These engineers use many skills. They use math, machines, and even software. They design tools to make farming more efficient. This means they help farms work better and faster.

People have used these ideas for a long time. Long ago, people in Peru and China used irrigation. Irrigation is a way to move water to plants.

Later, the Industrial Revolution brought new machines. For example, Andrew Meikle built a threshing machine in 1786. This machine helped separate grain from plants.

In the 1900s, machines got even better. Benjamin Holt built a harvester that used petrol in 1911. Later, people used planes to spread pesticides. These are chemicals that protect crops.

Today, engineers also work with GMOs. These are genetically modified organisms. They are plants changed to resist pests. This helps farmers grow much more food.

Agricultural engineering is a special way to use science to help farms.

It combines many different types of engineering to make farming better. Engineers use skills from mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering. They also use food science, software, and even chemical engineering. This helps farms work more efficiently and use resources wisely. These experts work to make sure natural resources stay healthy for a long time.

There are many ways these engineers help the world work. They might design machines to harvest crops or build structures for animals. Some engineers focus on irrigation, which is a way to move water to plants. Others work on soil management or how to protect forests. They might even study aquaculture, which is farming in water. They can plan how to control floods or how to drain wet land.

People have used these ideas for thousands of years. Before 2000 B.C., people used irrigation near the Nile and Euphrates rivers. The Incas in Peru and the Aztecs in North America also used irrigation. During the Industrial Revolution, farming changed a lot with new machines. In 1761, John Lloyd, Magnus Strindberg, and Dietrich introduced mechanical threshing. Andrew Meikle built a threshing machine in 1786. Charles Newbold made a cast iron plow between 1790 and 1796.

Many famous inventors helped build the tools we see today. John Deere made his first steel plow in 1833. James Smith built a mower in 1811. George Berry used a steam combine harvester in 1886. In 1911, Benjamin Holt built a harvester that ran on petrol. Erwin Peucker made bulldog tractors in 1936. Later, Deutz-Fahr produced a rotary hay tedder in 1961.

These engineering tools connect to the food we eat every day. They helped create a "second agricultural revolution" by moving from small farms to large markets. In the 20th century, engineers even used airplanes to spread pesticides on crops. They also worked with genetically modified foods, or GMOs, to help plants resist pests. This work helps grow much more food for everyone. In the United States, the ASABE was founded in 1907 to help set safety standards.

Agricultural engineering, often called agricultural and biosystems engineering, is a specialized field. It uses engineering science and design principles to improve farming. This discipline combines many different areas of study. These include mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical engineering. It also uses food science, software, and environmental engineering. The main goal is to make farms and agribusinesses more efficient. Engineers also work to ensure that natural and renewable resources remain sustainable.

An agricultural engineer is a professional with an agriculture background. They usually work in partnership with an agriculturist. An agriculturist is someone highly proficient in farming and agricultural science. While the agriculturist understands the biology of plants and animals, the engineer focuses on the technical designs. They create the plans and models for agricultural projects. This teamwork ensures that technology works perfectly within a living ecosystem.

Humanity has used agricultural engineering for thousands of years. Before 2000 B.C., people introduced large-scale irrigation in the Nile and Euphrates rivers. Large irrigation structures also appeared in Baluchistan and India before the Christian era. In Asia, these techniques were common in China. In South America, the Incas practiced irrigation in Peru. In North America, the Aztecs used similar methods. Later, settlers practiced irrigation near San Antonio in 1715. In 1847, Mormons used irrigation in the Salt Lake Valley.

The Industrial Revolution brought a new age of mechanization and steam power. Mechanical harvesters and planters began replacing human field hands. In 1761, John Lloyd, Magnus Strindberg, and Dietrich introduced mechanical threshing. Andrew Meikle built a beater bar threshing machine in 1786. Between 1790 and 1796, Charles Newbold made a cast iron plow. James Smith constructed a mower in 1811. John Deere created his first steel plow in 1833. Later, George Berry used a steam combine harvester in 1886.

These advancements led to a "second agricultural revolution." This period saw a shift from small subsistence farming to cash-farming for markets. It also included changes in crop rotations and livestock improvement. In the 20th century, engineers used airplanes as cropdusters to disperse pesticides. Benjamin Holt built a petrol-powered combine harvester in 1911. Erwin Peucker constructed bulldog tractors in 1936. In 1961, Deutz-Fahr produced the rotary hay tedder. In the late 20th century, genetically modified foods, or GMOs, helped increase yields and pest resistance.

Agricultural engineering includes many specific sub-disciplines. Common areas include agricultural machinery and agricultural structures. Other fields are aquaculture, forestry engineering, and irrigation. Engineers also study biomechanics, ergonomics, and land development. They work in soil management and precision agriculture. They may also focus on pesticides and surveying. These diverse branches allow engineers to solve very specific problems in the food system.

Agricultural engineers hold many different roles in society. They may work in academia or for government agencies. Some serve as consultants for private engineering firms. Others work in industry to manufacture machinery or processing technology. They might design structures for housing livestock or storing crops. In the Philippines, these professionals are called registered agricultural and biosystems engineers. They must pass a licensure examination after earning a four-year degree. In the United Kingdom, the term often describes people who repair or modify equipment.

The economic impact of agriculture is significant in many nations. In 2006, agriculture accounted for about 20 percent of Armenia's GDP. By 2010, this grew to about 25 percent. This was much higher than in neighboring countries. In 2017, Georgia's agricultural GDP was 6.88 percent. Azerbaijan was 5.63 percent, Turkey was 6.08 percent, and Iran was 9.05 percent. In the United States, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) was founded in 1907. This organization provides important safety and regulatory standards for the global industry.