Global AgricultureEssential Standard 2.00: Understand global agriculture

Objective 2.01• Understand the history of global agriculture.

Agriscience defined:

• The application of scientific principles and new technologies to agriculture• Applied science

• applies knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics• Agronomists use biology and chemistry

• develop new ways to control weeds• Entomologists use biology and chemistry

• develop new ways to control insects• Agricultural engineers use physics

• develop new, more efficient machinery

• Employs the scientific method• to solve problems

Agriculture defined:

• The production, processing, marketing and distribution of all agricultural products, related supplies and services

• Examples:• Cattle

• Production• farmer• cow-calf• feeder steers

• Processing• slaughter facility• Rendering• Beef• Leather

• Marketing• Butcher• Grocery• Steaks

• Transportation• Plane• Rail• Truck

• Related supplies and services• Veterinarian• feed dealer

Agriculture defined:

• Examples:• Wheat

• Production• Farmer• Grain• Processing

• Grain mills• Flour

• Marketing• Bakery• Bread

• Transportation• grain trucks• Rail

• Related supplies and services • fertilizer dealer• crop scouting• machinery dealer• GPS

Agriculture defined:

• Examples:• Roses

• Production• flower grower

• processing/marketing• Harvesters• wholesale • retail florist

• Transportation• Plane• Truck• floral delivery driver

• Related supplies and services• glass vase sales• greenhouse manufacturers• floral designers

Agribusiness defined:

• Agribusiness refers to commercial firms (businesses) that have developed with or stemmed out of agriculture• Examples of Agribusiness:• Farm related

• Chemical Company• Tractor Manufacturer• Pharmaceutical Company (veterinary medicines)

• Horticulture related• Landscape or nursery business• Seed company• Mower Manufacturer

Renewable natural resources defined:

• Resources provided by nature that can replace or renew themselves• Examples• Wildlife – deer, songbirds, birds of prey, fish, rabbits• Forests – trees, grasses

Progress in US Agriculture

• Mechanization• Helps 2% of America’s work force meet the food and fiber needs of

our nation• Reduction of 90% in production farming in the last 200 years

Cotton Gin

• Invented in 1793• Eli Whitney• Transformed cotton to

a usable product• Removed cotton seed

from cotton fiber

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin

George Washington Carver

• Late 1890’s• Developed crop rotations and the use of

legumes• plants that “make” their own nitrogen• Peanuts

• Significantly improve soil fertility in the U.S. south

Grain Reaper

• Cyrus McCormick• Invented in 1834• Cut grains• Cut wheat, oats, and other

crops

Cutting Grain

• With the sickle or reaping hook one man could cut from one-half to one acre in a hard day's work. • The cut grain was

later bound by hand

The Reaper

Grain Reaper

McCormick Reaper

Cast Iron Plow

• Invented in the early 1800’s

• Thomas Jefferson• Rough surface that dirt

stuck to

Steel Moldboard Plow

• 1837• John Deere• Smoother surface• Rich clay soil did not stick to

it• Made plowing easier and

faster

Henry Blair

• Seed planter• 1834

• Cotton planter• 1836

Corn Picker

• Invented in 1850• Edmund Quincy• Helped speed up the

harvesting of corn

Corn Picker

Modern Corn Picker

Barbed Wire

• Joseph Glidden• 1874• dramatically changed

raising livestock

Milking Machine

• Invented in 1878• Anna Baldwin• Used vacuum suction• Replaced hand milking

Modern Milking Machine

Modern Milking Machine

Perishable food preservation

• 1879• Thomas Elkins• designed a device that

helped with the task of preserving perishable foods by way of refrigeration

Tractor

• Invented in 1904• Benjamin Holt• Replaced the mule as a

source of power• Horse power

1849 - 1920

Steam powered Caterpillar tractor built by Holt in 1908.

Gene Gun

• 1987• John Sanford• A device for injecting cells

with genetic information

GPS technology

• 1993• tractor based GPS systems

together with GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

• Used to gather data such as soil condition, humidity, temperature and other variables

• Used to control• intensity of planting• application of fertilizer• application of pesticides• watering schedules

Robotic Milking Machines

• Late 1990’s• First used in Ontario, Canada• Benefits by a reduction in labor• Initial cost is primary disadvantage

especially to small producer

Land Grant Institutions

• An institution designated by its state legislature to receive funding (Morrill Acts of 1862 &1890) to teach agriculture, military tactics and the mechanical arts.• Agricultural experiment stations (Hatch Act 1887).

Examples:• North Carolina A&T (1890) Greensboro, NC• North Carolina State University (1887) Raleigh, NC• Clemson University (1889) Clemson, SC• University of Georgia (1785) Athens, GA• University of Tennessee (1794) Knoxville, TN• Virginia Tech. University (1872) Blacksburg, VA

Agriculture related Government Agencies

• Established to assist farmers, ranchers and the general public • Information• professional assistance• funding

Examples of some of the agencies we now have:• (USDA) United States Department of Agriculture• 1862• Provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources,

rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

• Examples of branches/agencies of USDA:• NRCS (1935) - Natural Resource Conservation Service• APHIS (1972) – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service• NASS (1863) – National Agricultural Statistics Service• USFS (1905) –United States Forest Service• Mmission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the

nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

Examples of some of the agencies we now have:

• NCCES North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service • 1914• To put research –based knowledge to work for economic

prosperity, environmental stewardship and an improved quality of life

• North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) • Services that promote and improve agriculture…..

Origins of Major Food Crops1. Fruits and Vegetables• Peaches - China• Tomato – South America• Peanut – Peru, South America• Sweet potato – Central America

Origins of Major Food Crops2. Grain, Oil and Fiber Crops• Corn – Cuba, Mexico• Soybeans – Southeast Asia • Cotton – Mexico, Africa, Pakistan• Wheat – Southwest Asia (Syria, Jordan, Turkey, India)

• Note: Sources vary on actual country of origin but generally agree on region of the world.

Major US Agricultural Production Regions for Selected Crops and Livestock

• Regions develop based on a variety of factors:• Soils• Weather• market development• Feed availability

Examples of agricultural production regions and/ or states that generally rank high in U.S. production.

• Citrus fruit • Florida• Texas• California

• Corn belt• Includes all or parts of these Midwestern states• Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas

and Nebraska,

Examples of agricultural production regions and/ or states that generally rank high in U.S. production.

• Wheat • Hard Red Spring Wheat – (highest protein content, excellent

bread wheat, superior milling and baking characteristics)• Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, (also Oregon,

Washington, California)• Soft Red Winter Wheat – (high yielding, low protein, used for

cakes, biscuits, pastries)• Southeastern states including North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky,

Georgia and others, as well as Midwestern states including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri.

• Spearmint • Washington, Oregon, Idaho

• Floriculture crops• California, Florida, Michigan, Texas, North Carolina

Examples of agricultural production regions and/ or states that generally rank high in U.S. production.

• Beef cattle• Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri,

South Dakota (corn belt area)• Dairy• Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York,

Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, • California, Idaho and Texas are leading producers but are not

located in this region

Examples of agricultural production regions and/ or states that generally rank high in U.S. production.

• Hogs • North Carolina and Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota• Corn belt area

• Poultry (broilers)• Southern and southeastern states

• North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas

North Carolina Agriculture

• NC is divided into three basic geographic and agricultural regions• Mountains• Piedmont• Coastal plains

North Carolina Agriculture

• Mountain counties• Christmas trees• Apples• Trout

North Carolina Agriculture

• Piedmont counties• Greenhouse and Nursery crops• Broilers• Turkeys• Dairy cattle

North Carolina Agriculture

• Eastern counties• Hogs• Turkeys• Broilers• Tobacco- flue-cured• Sweet potatoes• Vegetables• Peanuts• Cotton• Corn• Soybeans

• world’s most important source of vegetable oil

Farm Cash Receipts (2011)

• Statewide exceeds $10,000,000,000 ($10B) annually• Livestock, Dairy and Poultry

• Approximately 2/3 of all farm cash receipts• Broilers and hogs account for nearly half of this amount

• Crops• Approximately 1/3 of all farm cash receipts• greenhouse, nursery, floriculture and Christmas trees

Objective 2.02• Compare the current and future issues in global agriculture.

Global outlook

• The world population will continue to grow with expectations of 9 billion humans on the planet by 2050.• More children survive to adulthood worldwide.• More adults are living longer worldwide.

• Population growth will:• Add stress to environmental systems of air, water, soil and natural

resources. • Create challenges to meet demands for food and fiber.

Global outlook

• Examples of agriscience research to meet these demands:• Genetically engineered crops

• a bio-engineered tomato that resists rotting• New fuel sources

• biodiesel from animal fat• Human nutrition

• decreasing the amount of animal fat in the diet and raising the proportion of fat from vegetable sources

• Satellite technology (gps)• determine various nutrient levels/deficiencies in plants

Trends and Issues in Global Agriculture

• Agriculture will always be an essential industry.• Food is essential to life

• an iPad is not• Clothing and shelter are basic needs of humans

• smartphones are not

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• Food Insecurity • Global importance• Defined as not knowing where a human will find their next meal

• the situation where people need to live with hunger and fear starvation

• Food insecurity results from several factors• Climate issues• Urban development• Corrupt governments• Population growth• Oil price shifts

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• Sustainability• We must meet the needs of the present without compromising

the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• Organic Food Production • Crops are raised without using most conventional pesticides,

petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers• Animals must be fed organic feed and be given access to the

outdoors• Antibiotics and growth hormones may not be used in organic

production• Accounts for more than 3% of all U.S. food sales

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• GMO’s• Genetically modified organisms• Combing genes from different organisms results in an organism

being called genetically modified or transgenic• Controversies surrounding this practice include safety, ethics,

labeling and others• European countries will not purchase GMO foods from the US

• Fewer exports

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• Local Food Movement • Can be defined in terms of geographic proximity of producer to

consumer.• Is a very popular concept in regards to food safety, food

freshness, and reduction of environmental impact due to shorter shipping distances

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) • Direct-to-consumer programs

• Buy shares of a farms projected harvest• Pay for their share of the harvest up front• Distributes risk between the farmer and the consumers

• Pick up their share regularly in a communal location or the shares are delivered directly

• USDA estimates as many as 2500 CSA’s are operating nationally

Examples of current/future agriculture related issues

• Water (quantity and quality)• US water shortages are a major issue in the western portion of

the nation where expanding cities needs are competing with farmers needs for the same water resources

• The aquifer that underlies Long Island represents the only drinking water for the 3 million plus residents

• Southeastern US, including North Carolina, Water Wars have become common place

• In Third World countries a safe water supply is a luxury• Most areas of the world, supplies of safe water have become

generally insufficient because of misuse, poor management, waste, pollution and climate change

2 year agriculturally related degree programs in NC

• Aquaculture Technology• Equine Business and Training• Fish and Wildlife Management Technology• Forest Management Technology• Golf Course Management• Greenhouse and Grounds Maintenance• Horticulture Technology• Landscape Gardening• Marine Sciences• Poultry Management• Sustainable Agriculture

2 year agriculturally related degree programs in NC

• Swine Management• Turfgrass Management• Viticulture Technology• Agricultural Biotechnology• Environmental Science Biotechnology• Agribusiness Management• Field Crops Technology• General Agriculture• Livestock and Poultry Management

Examples of 4 year agriculturally related degree programs in NC

• Agricultural Economics• Agricultural Education• Animal Science• Biological Engineering• Landscape Architecture• Agricultural and Environmental Technology• Food Science• Plant and Soil Science • Poultry Science• Genetics• Horticultural Science