Final answer:
The Industrial Revolution initiated profound changes in agricultural methods, shifting from subsistence farming to mechanized, profit-oriented agriculture. Technological advances like tractors and refrigeration changed food production and distribution, leading to a specialized workforce and urbanization. These changes, part of the agrarian revolution, greatly impacted both the economic and social fabric of society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contributions to the Agricultural Industry
The Industrial Revolution was a pivotal era that saw the transformation of agricultural practices. Subsistence farming gave way to agricultural advancements as new, gasoline-powered farm tools like tractors, seed drills, threshers, and combine harvesters were introduced. This mechanization allowed for the cultivation of large fields with single crops, aiming to maximize profits.
Transportation improvements and the invention of refrigeration enabled farmers to ship their produce globally, thus creating a surplus that fed growing urban populations. The abundance of food led to specialization within the agricultural sector, with jobs in storage, processing, and transportation of food emerging as new markets developed. Known as the agrarian revolution, this period also fostered technological inventions like the steam tractor and steel farming implements, which further propelled global agricultural productivity.
All these factors combined to reshape not only the agricultural landscape but also societal structures. As farm labor demand decreased due to mechanization, rural populations were driven towards urban industrial jobs, leading to increased urbanization. Moreover, massive agricultural production fostered by technological advances sometimes led to overproduction, which in turn caused prices to drop. Nevertheless, these innovations helped to sustain growing populations and contributed to the evolution of the modern agricultural industry.