Harvest mechanization helps agriculture remain competitive

Thompson, J; Blank, S

Harvest mechanization helps agriculture remain competitive

Authors

James F. Thompson
Steven C. Blank

Authors Affiliations

J.F. Thompson is Agricultural Engineer, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering; S.C. Blank is Agricultural Economist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 54(3):51-56. DOI:10.3733/ca.v054n03p51. May 2000.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

California farmers have remained competitive in the global marketplace by using technology to reduce their costs and to expand production. Case studies of rice and processing tomatoes show that harvest mechanization has reduced labor use by 92% to 97% and has also reduced labor costs, down from half to two-thirds of total costs to less than 20%. Mechanization is at least partly responsible for the steady increase in production of these two crops. Although mechanization has reduced the number of labor hours for harvesting, overall employment for rice and processing tomatoes has risen due to increased production, and so have harvester operator wages. Further advances in tomato harvest technology will continue to reduce labor needs, while the rice industry will experience moderate changes.

References

Blank SC. The End of Agriculture in the American Portfolio.. 1998. Westport CT: Quorum Books. 232p.

[CEDD] California Employment Development Department. Agricultural Bulletin.. 1996. Sacramento: CEDD.

Johnson H. President of Johnson Farm Machinery Company, personal communication. 1999.

Martin F, Olmstead A. The agricultural mechanization controversy. Science. 1985. 227:601-6. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.227.4687.601 PubMed PMID: 17781800

Olmstead AL, Rhode P. A Survey of the Development of California Agricultural Machinery. Working paper, series no. 11. UC Davis, Ag History Center 1983. pp.76-8.

Sarig Y, Thompson J, Brown G. The Status of Fruit and Vegetable Harvest Mechanization in the US. Paper 99109. Toronto: ASAE/CSAE-SCGR Meeting 1999. p.14.

Stirniman EJ. Rice production costs. Transactions of ASAE. 1927. 27:27-8.

Willson J. Rice in California.. Butte County Rice Growers Association 1979. p.254.

Also in this issue:

An ecological comparison of spiders from urban and natural habitats in California

UC research can foster science-based land-use planning

Sharpshooter on the move

Oaks deaths become epidemic

Wine growers face new complexities

Mapping vineyard expansion provides information on agriculture and the environment

Modeling vineyard expansion, potential habitat fragmentation

How the GIS was used to map and quantify policy impacts

Publicly funded weather database benefits users statewide

Avocado and citrus orchards along the coast may use less water

Broccoli residues can control Verticillium wilt of cauliflower

Commercial handling influences quality and ripening of Bartlett pears

Monitoring soil moisture helps refine irrigation management

Soil type affects accuracy of dielectric moisture sensors

Effectiveness of tensiometers and electrical resistance sensors varies with soil conditions