Mechanization of farming during the 20th century led to sweeping changes in agriculture. Tractors, combines, harvesters, and other farm machines help farms produce more. Consequently, the trend since the early part of the 1900s is that fewer people can farm more land. Farm equipment is a major expense for American farmers, so it is difficult for small farms to keep up with the latest technological innovations. Machinery has also become more complicated and specialized. A simple tractor used on a small farm for many different tasks cannot be used efficiently on a large-scale farm. On large farms, huge air-conditioned tractors and combines costing well over $100,000 can cover vast areas in a relatively short amount of time. Mechanized irrigation systems have made more land available for farming. Click on PICTURES below to see additional photo of modern machinery in a wheat field. Click on MAPS for more information about the mechanization of farming.