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Agriculture  then...    

Chapter  1  

Development  of  Agriculture  

•  Why  did  agriculture  occur?  – To  secure  food  supply  

– To  feed  more  people  

– Natural  step  from  hunAng  and  gathering  

•  Humans  lost  nomadic  lifestyle  

Development  of  Agriculture  

Cu#ng  wheat  with  a  grain  cradle.  

•  Farming  started  as  labor-­‐intensive  subsistence  agriculture    

•  1600s–1700s  –  Hand  labor  was  the  primary  approach  to  farming    

Development  of  Agriculture  •  Farming  started  as  labor-­‐intensive  subsistence  agriculture    

•  1600s–1700s  –  Hand  labor  was  the  primary  approach  to  farming    

•  1800s–1900s  – Mechanical  invenAons  were  developed  for  all  phases  of  producAon    

Teams  of  horses  pulling  disk  harrows  in  prepara9on  for  seeding.  

•  1900s–2000s  – Farming  became  independent  operaAons  – Development  of  mechanical  power,  ferAlizers,  pesAcides,  and  herbicides    

– Human  labor  and  animal  power  were  replaced  

Development  of  Agriculture  

Tractors  and  harvesters.  Mechaniza9on  improved  the  produc9vity  of  farming.  

American  Farms  •  Farm  producAvity  increased  while  inputs  remained  stable  –  Inputs  =  land,  labor,  ferAlizer,  and  seed  

•  Farms  and  farmers  –  #  of  farms  has  declined  over  60%  from  peak  

–  Farms  are  bigger,  but  less  diverse    

–  1%  of  US  populaAon  is  engaged  in  farming  

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Agriculture  then...  and  agriculture  now    

Chapter  2  

What  Is  a  Farm?  

1.  Plot  of  land  devoted  to  agriculture  and  raising  of  crops  and  livestock  

2.  Place  where  humans  live  and  pracAce  stewardship  of  land  and  nature    

3.  Place  from  which  $1,000+  of  agricultural  products  are  sold  annually  (USDA)  

Farms  in  the  United  States  •  50%  of  land  in  US  is  farmland  (~2.1  million  farms)  – Texas  has  the  most,  New  Jersey  the  least  

•  Average  size  =  444  ac  (180  ha)  – Larger  size  in  the  West,  smaller  in  the  East  

Land  Use  in  the  United  States  

•  Use  varies  by  region  – Cropland  greatest  in  Midwest  – Forestland  and  urban  areas  increase  in  East    – Pasture  and  rangeland  greatest  in  Southwest  

Farmers    •  1%  of  U.S.  populaAon  is  in  farming  •  98%  of  farms  are  family-­‐run  •  Average  U.S.  farm  household  income  ~  $90,000  in  2007  

Farming  in  the  United  States  •  25  primary  crops  •  4  crops  grown  on  50%  of  cropland!  – Corn,  soybean,  wheat,  and  rice  

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Farming  in  the  United  States  •  8  crops  produce  more  than  $1  billion  worth  of  value  –  Corn,  soybean,  hay,  wheat,  potato,  sugar  beet,  rice,  and  tobacco  

•  Many  crops  grown  exclusively  for  livestock    –  Beef/dairy  caele,  sheep,  and  goats  

–  Corn,  soybean,  and  hay  

The  Importance  of  Farming    

•  1  farmer  produces  food  and  fiber  for  150  people  

•  Farming  contributes  about  $140  billion  to  economy  

•  Americans  spend  less  than  10%  of  their  income  on  food  – Less  than  anywhere  else  in  the  world  

The  Importance  of  Farming    1.  Economic  impact  

The  Importance  of  Farming    1.  Economic  impact  2.  Agricultural  exports  and  imports  – Agricultural  exports  =  $115  billion  – Agricultural  imports  =  $80  billion  

The  Importance  of  Farming    1.  Economic  impact  2.  Agricultural  exports  and  imports  3.  Agricultural  jobs  – 23  million  Americans  employed  in  agriculture  •  2.3  million  people  directly  employed  in  farming  •  Other  agriculturally  related  jobs  are:  chemical  ferAlizer  and  pesAcide  producAon,  crop  consultants,  seed  and  equipment  dealers,  food  processing,  and  food  wholesaling    

Feeding  the  (Growing)  World  

1.  Human  populaAon  growth  2.  DistribuAon  of  global  food  producAon  3.  Environmental  limitaAons  of  agriculture  4.  SoluAons???  

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Human  PopulaAon  Growth  •  PopulaAons  increasing  due  to  technological  advances  – é  birth  rates  and  ê death  rates  

•  PopulaAon  and  populaAon  growth  are  unevenly  distributed  in  the  world  

World  popula9on  growth  and  projected  growth  Countries  categorized  by  their  state  of  development  

ImplicaAons?  

World  popula9on  growth  and  projected  growth  

•  Inadequate  distribuAon  of  food  to  feed  the  world  •  Soil,  water,  and  energy  resources  are  criAcal  for  agriculture  

•     Greater  growth  in  areas                    with  less  resources    

•  We  need  a  sustainable  agricultural  producAon  system!  

SoluAons??  •  Protect  exisAng  land  used  for  crop  and  animal  producAon  

•  PracAce  water  conservaAon  •  Expand  alternaAve  approaches  to  crop  producAon  

•  Plant-­‐breeding  research  aimed  at  increasing  producAon  efficiency    

•  Preserve  geneAc  diversity  of  exisAng  crops    •  Use  more  crops  for  renewable  energy    

TED  talk