The cast steel plow was invented in 1838 by blacksmith John Deere. Although most of the plough was constructed of cast iron, the steel share allowed the plough to cut through the tough turf of the American Great Plains without breaking, and was designed to handle sticky soil without clogging. Deere became a millionare through his invention.

In 1868 John Lane patented a "soft center" steel plough, in which the hard, brittle face was backed by a softer, more flexible metal. This reduced plough breakage.