Tractors were mainly used for tillage and as power sources for stationary machines such as threshers, saws, silo fillers, and choppers. The same pattern of tractor use was common in Europe until about 1960 and is now common in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. The only differences are that direct power takeoff has replaced the belt and pulley and that tractors are now more frequently used for transport. Although modern tractors are more efficient than prewar ones, wages in Asia are much lower than in the prewar United States. Asian countries are therefore likely to make continued use of animals along with tractors, until rising wages make the animals' drivers, and thus the animals, too expensive.In the mid-20th century, diesel-powered tractors became popular due to their increased fuel efficiency and durability. Today, tractors are an essential tool in modern agriculture, and they come in a wide range of sizes and types to suit different needs. Tractors are used for tasks such as plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting, and they are equipped with a variety of attachments and implements to perform these tasks.