How has farming changed since world war 2?
Probably the biggest change was in the availability of nitrogen fertilizer and its contribution to increased yields. During the war, lots of ammonium nitrate plants were built because that product is used to make explosives. After the war they needed to find another market for their product. Many farmers were skeptical of the stuff and whether it would really work or not. One old guy who sold the stuff back then said he’d be in the field with the farmer and he’d “accidentally” tear a bag and spill nitrogen on the ground as he walked. When the farmer saw how much better the crops were in that area, he was sold on it.
