Tractor Wars: John Deere, Henry Ford, International Harvester, and the Birth of Modern Agriculture by Neil Dahlstrom (review)

Reviewed by: Tractor Wars: John Deere, Henry Ford, International Harvester, and the Birth of Modern Agriculture by Neil Dahlstrom Aiden Daly Tractor Wars: John Deere, Henry Ford, International Harvester, and the Birth of Modern Agriculture By Neil Dahlstrom (New York: Penguin Random House, 2022. Pp. 288. Selected bibliography, notes, index. Clothbound, 25. 00; paperbound, 19. 00; e-book, 12. 99. ) In Tractor Wars, Neil Dahlstrom presents a detailed and accessible account of the development and introduction of powered farm equipment. Through an engaging historical narrative of business and technology, Dahlstrom deftly weaves together the stories of John Deere, International Harvester, and the Ford Motor Company as each sought to bring viable tractors to market. In the process, Tractor Wars traces the individual innovations and business decisions that shaped the industry, drawing attention to an underrepresented period of technological advancement that shaped the development of modern agriculture. Dahlstrom's examination begins prior to widespread efforts to produce tractors, first detailing the early twentieth-century corporate division and consolidation that transpired as the agricultural implements industry matured. These corporate maneuvers in turn set the stage for competition to develop a viable tractor for mass consumption. Dahlstrom emphasizes the contingency at the center of tractor development as he describes the experimental nature of early powered agricultural machinery. Despite this uncertainty, International Harvester's gasoline tractors found early success and inspired other companies to develop End Page 170 competitors, leading to technological improvement, price reductions, and wider adoption by farmers. Within his work, Dahlstrom excels at highlighting the importance of individuals who drove the technological innovation that shaped the machines that companies mass produced. Branding also played a significant part in the story of the tractor. Dahlstrom details how Henry Ford's celebrity legitimized tractors in the eyes of consumers, repeating a trade journal's prediction that "the Ford tractor will be a means of stimulating the buying of all makes of tractors" (p. 77). This approach reflects Dahlstrom's efforts to contest a perceived inevitability of the tractor, as powered farm equipment relied on individual efforts to improve tractor design and production to create more reliable, accessible machines. Dahlstrom's work reflects his expertise navigating John Deere's archives, as he utilizes detailed technical descriptions and estimated sales and production numbers to support his narrative. Although Dahlstrom acknowledges the imperfection of these estimates, their inclusion enables readers to follow the industry trends, as consumers responded to improving products and changing agricultural conditions that made powered machinery economically viable for farmers. Coupled with analysis of twentieth-century trade journals and personal accounts of individuals involved in the agricultural machinery industry, Dahlstrom provides a detailed account of the tractor's ascent from the perspective of innovators, producers, and companies. He could perhaps have done more to support the ideas that the invention and adoption of the tractor are often taken for granted and overlooked in scholarship, but this should not take away from the effectiveness of the narrative. By centering the tractor, Dahlstrom invites further historical examination into the widespread adoption of powered agricultural machinery. In particular, this work provides a foundation for the examination of agricultural mechanization with greater emphasis on consumers. Dahlstrom adeptly unveils the historical contingency behind an underexamined industry that heavily influenced modern agricultural practices. While Indiana does not receive specific attention within the book, readers will nevertheless appreciate the deeply researched narratives that track familiar names and brands that continue to shape modern agricultural practices. This focus on brands and people contributes to an engaging examination of the development of powered agricultural machinery that remains accessible to a broad readership. Tractor Wars represents a useful addition to the history of agricultural business and technology, as it details the technical improvements and savvy business decisions that facilitated widespread adoption of the tractor. End Page 171 Aiden Daly Mississippi State University Copyright © 2024 Trustees of Indiana University