Farming revolutionized the way humans consumed food. Instead of hunting and gathering, we began sowing and harvesting. The evolution of farming technologies helped feed people across the globe.

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In 2013, there were 2.1 million farms in America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), American farmers now produce 262 percent more food, with 2 percent fewer inputs — like labor, seeds, feed and fertilizer — than in 1950. That’s a lot of food.

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) has been increasing public awareness of the importance of agriculture by celebrating National Agricultural Day since 1973. Click through the slideshow above to see vintage photos of farming from the past century.