Major Land Uses

Jul 23, 2019

By Ray Massey

Missouri has 44 million acres of land, 64 percent of which is listed as agricultural land. Taking the long view of land use clarifies the impact of agriculture on the environment. The USDA Census of Agriculture has published the number of acres in major land use categories since 1945. Exhibit 2.1 shows that the number of acres in cropland reached a maximum of 21.5 million acres in 1969. Since then, land dedicated to crop production decreased to 15.6 million acres in 2012. The black line in Exhibit 2.1 shows that the amount of land used for crop and livestock production decreased from 36.2 million acres in 1945 to 28.8 million acres in 2012.

Using less land for crop and livestock production has resulted in an additional 6.2 million acres of forestland not grazed and an additional 700,000 acres of parks and wildlife areas.

Exhibit 2.1 — Missouri land uses, 1945–2012

Source: missouri.edu

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.