In the early 19th century, animals were the chief source of power in farming. Later in the century, steam power gained in importance. During World War I gasoline- (petrol-) powered tractors became common, and diesel engines later became prevalent. In the developed countries, the number of farm workers has steadily declined in the 20th century, while farm production has increased because of the use of machinery.
A third effect, discussed in detail in the next section, is that higher capital costs produce a bias in mechanization toward power-intensive operations. Finally, higher capital costs influence the design of machines; if repair costs are relatively low, designs emphasize repair over durability.

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In the early 19th century, animals were the chief source of power in farming. Later in the century, steam power gained in importance. During World War I gasoline- (petrol-) powered tractors became common, and diesel engines later became prevalent. In the developed countries, the number of farm workers has steadily declined in the 20th century, while farm production has increased because of the use of machinery.
A third effect, discussed in detail in the next section, is that higher capital costs produce a bias in mechanization toward power-intensive operations. Finally, higher capital costs influence the design of machines; if repair costs are relatively low, designs emphasize repair over durability.

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