What was a major factor in the decline of Georgia's farm population during economic progress?

The major factor in the decline of Georgia's farm population during economic progress is increased mechanization of agriculture. Mechanization refers to the introduction of machines and technology to perform tasks that were previously done by hand or with less efficient tools. In Georgia, as new agricultural technologies such as tractors and automated equipment became available, the need for manual labor decreased significantly.

This shift meant that fewer workers were needed on farms, leading to a reduction in the overall farm population. Many individuals and families that relied on farming for their livelihoods found it difficult to compete with the efficiency of mechanized farming, prompting them to seek employment in urban areas or in industries outside of agriculture. Consequently, the trend towards mechanization not only enhanced productivity but also fundamentally changed the landscape of agricultural labor in Georgia, resulting in a population shift away from rural farming communities.

In contrast, government incentives for farmers, the expansion of sharecropping, and increases in agricultural exports played roles in the agricultural economy but did not directly cause the significant decline in the farm population in the same way mechanization did.