Electric Farm Power Revolution

October 15, 2022

Key points from this story:

• Evolution of farm power
• Growing pressures on arable farmland
• Balancing food production and environmental impact
• Challenges of non-renewable fuel use
• Introduction of electric tractors in agriculture
• Anticipated impact of electric farm power

It takes energy to produce crops - that is simply the way it is. At times that has meant Doukhobor women pulling plows over the land because horses were not affordable. It has meant horses at work in the field. It has meant steam engines. Today it generally means diesel powered tractors. Collectively they have provided the power to plant, protect and reap crops -crops that are largely headed to markets which will eventually see them become food for human consumption. It's a rather critical process, and one which will see growing pressures as arable farmland is lost to desertification, urban sprawl, salinity and other impacts.