Increased agricultural productivity in the 19th century resulted from technological advancements during the Industrial Revolution, leading to mechanized farming and surplus production. This transformation supported the shift in the American economy from agrarian to industrial and challenged Malthus's predictions about population growth and food supply.
Increased agricultural productivity in the nineteenth century was largely due to advances in technology and industrialization during the Industrial Revolution. The introduction of machinery such as mechanical seeders, threshing machines, tractors, seed drills, and combine harvesters transformed farming from a labor-intensive subsistence activity to a more efficient and profitable enterprise. This evolution in agriculture accelerated food production, leading to surplus crops that needed storage, processing, protection, and transportation; significantly contributing to the economic development.
Amidst the Industrial Age in America, the transition from an agrarian economy to an industrial one saw farming practices change drastically. Industrialization caused newfound efficiencies and produced a variety of goods, including paper and glass, at lower prices for the average person, improving the overall quality of life. Moreover, the urbanization that followed introduced a range of new jobs, with farming equipment and systems needing to be created and serviced, a diversification that also helped to negate the Malthusian prediction about population growth eclipsing the food supply.