[perrygeo]

The Cucurbita pepo squash was domesticated 10k years ago in the Americas. So there was absolutely small-scale "agriculture" throughout the Americas, roughly on the same timeline as Asia. In fact, they were experts at it (see the Three Sisters - one of the most brilliant sustainable agricultural technologies ever invented with no rival in Eurasia).

So Americans knew of advanced planting techniques but didn't deploy them at scale for another 6k years. Why? The population had not yet risen to the density that necessitated full-scale, crop-dependent communities. Far from being behind the technology curve, I'd interpret this as wise governance and population management to avoid resorting to a lifestyle that some viewed as a low-class labor. Why break your back toiling in the field when you can eat buffalo and fish?