Steel plow
The first steel plow, sometimes referred to as the "Sod-Buster" or "crust buster" was invented by blacksmith John Deere in the 1830's, and was being commercially manufactured by 1837.[1] Deere, after settling in the Midwestern United States, realized that the tough sod was too thick for the iron and wooden plows being used. It helped to cut the tough prairie ground, and the sticky ground stuck to the plow, which resulted in the farmer having to clean it after only a few yards of walking. His original design involved affixing a steel blade to the edge of the plow, which served its purpose well. However, he went back to the drawing board and redesigned the plow to be lighter and more durable, and the sod did not stick to the steel ploughshare. The plow was to be hitched to one or more draught animals, with the farmer holding onto handles and guiding the plow. By 1855, Deere's company was manufacturing and selling over 10,000 steel plows a year.
Steel Plow Met Prairie Needs Deere's steel plow proved to be the answer pioneer farmers needed for successful farming in what was then "the West." But his contribution to the growth of American agriculture far exceeded just the development of a successful steel plow. It was the practice of that day for blacksmiths to build tools on order for customers. But John Deere went into the business of manufacturing plows before he had orders for them. He would produce a supply of plows and then take them to the country to be sold - an entirely new approach to manufacturing and selling in those early pioneer days, and one that quickly spread the word of John Deere's "self-polishers."
"Major" Leonard Andrus, Deere's partner, had a role in the invention and early development of the steel plow. John Lane, a blacksmith in Lockport, Illinois, also experimented with early designs are the same time.[2] The first versions were made from British steel, but this was quickly replaced by lower cost American steel from the Pittsburgh area.
Steel is still widely used to make plows and they play a central role in world agriculture. Environmental concerns have led to alternatives such as no-till methods. [3]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Agriculture and Agribusiness". EBSCO. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ Moore, Sam (2017-11-09). "Debate: Who really invented the steel plow?". Farm and Dairy. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ Landers, Jackson (2015-10-28). "Did John Deere's Best Invention Spark a Revolution or an Environmental Disaster?". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-14.