Productivity Growth in U.S. Agriculture

changes over the second half of the 20th century were dramatic: between 1950 and 2000, the average amount of milk produced per cow increased from 5,314 pounds to 18,201 pounds per year, the average yield of corn rose from 39 bushels to 153 bushels per acre, and each farmer in 2000 produced on average 12 times as much farm output per hour worked as a farmer did in 1950. The development of new technology was a primary factor in these improvements.