During this century, however, the trends toward specialization, mechanization, and agrichemical inputs have significantly reduced the length and diversity of the rotations that farmers used in the past. These trends have resulted in dramatic yield increases, but the lack of diversity in today's specialized agricultural systems carries some potential negative consequences: Cropping systems are frequently plagued by increased economic risk, pest outbreaks, and a degradation in soil quality.

Commercial fertilizer spreader.

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