What technological advancement in agriculture emerged during the Industrial Revolution?

The mechanical reaper is recognized as a significant technological advancement in agriculture that emerged during the Industrial Revolution. Developed by Cyrus McCormick in the early 1830s, the mechanical reaper transformed the process of harvesting crops, particularly wheat. Before its invention, harvesting was labor-intensive and relied heavily on manual labor with sickles and scythes. The mechanical reaper enabled farmers to harvest crops more efficiently and with less labor, dramatically increasing productivity and allowing for larger areas of land to be cultivated.

This innovation not only improved the speed and efficiency of harvesting but also contributed to the shift from subsistence farming to market-oriented agriculture. As farmers could produce more grain, they could invest in other improvements and increase their profit margins. The widespread adoption of the mechanical reaper helped to lay the groundwork for later agricultural innovations and supported the growing population and urban workforce during the Industrial Revolution.

In contrast, while the mechanical plow and steam tractor also represented important advancements in agriculture, they came after the mechanical reaper and focused more on soil preparation and transportation, rather than the harvesting process itself. The cotton gin, invented before the peak of the Industrial Revolution, specifically revolutionized the cotton industry by separating cotton fibers from seeds but did not have the same broad impact