Plowing By Oxen

I often hear questions about things like how long it would take Pa to plow a field with oxen. Here’s an estimate by a living historian:

“My much less qualified estimate is : as much a 2 acres a day would be possible given the good conditions you describe, and assuming the plow was well designed, well made, and adjusted right.  As a general rule of thumb: oxen can walk around 2 mph without undo exertion.  When you plow an acre, you walk about 9 miles.  2 acres = 18 miles at 2 mph  = 9 hours, if my math is right. Wayne Randall’s estimate of 1 acre per day is probably  a more accurate rule of thumb.” – Barb Corson

UPDATED May 9 2020: I made the image bigger and put the quote into italics. Then I added my signature block.

Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help?  Attend one of her programs,  schedule one  yourself,  watch her videos,  listen to her podcast,   look at her photos, and find her  on   Facebook ,   Twitter ,     LinkedIn ,     SlideShare,   and  Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.