The Combine Harvester Revolution

If the harvest, in the agricultural world, went through a major revolution in the middle of the 19th century with the replacement of labourers by animal-drawn mowers, the arrival of state-of-the-art harvesters (also called combine harvesters) around 1880, accelerated the process.

And before adopting them, the farmers of the time were asking for clearer information.

Thus, on Saturday, August 14, 1886 in the large farm of Les Authieux owned by M. Savoye (the farm of Les Authieux today) the agricultural show of the borough of Rouen organized a great international competition of mowers which had a huge success.

As of 9 a.m. 10 single mowers, 3 combine harvesters and 8 mowing machines were gathered in the farmyard.

The assigned plots had been drawn at random and the teams went to work at 1 p.m.

At the signal, the cutting of wheat began under the watchful eye of thousands of people huddled along the road overlooking the plain.

As for rewards, an extra round had to be organized to decide between the different competitors.

The work of the harvesters, a novelty, was particularly noticed: the cut was perfect, the sheaves arranged with regularity, the driving as easy as for simple mowers.

Many of the farmers present wished they could use that kind of machine; the most reluctant ones were convinced.

In order to keep the harvest safe, the farmers of the neighborhood, and their staff, had the sheaves in stacks on the 62 acres of land.

Fore more information : La grande ferme des Authieux - Comice agricole