Introduction to Agriculture

Introduction to AgricultureUnderstand Global AgricultureObjective 2.01: Understand the history of global agriculture. Agriscience DefinedAgriscience- The application of scientific principles and new technologies to agricultureAgriculture- The activities related to the production of plants, animals and related processes.Agribusiness- Refers to commercial firms that have developed from agricultureApplied Science vs. Basic Science

Basic Sciences

Areas of AgriscienceThe Basic Sciences1) Biology- The study of living things2) Chemistry- Deals with elements and simple substances3) Biochemistry- Focuses on chemistry as it is applied over living things.

Fact!!!A United States Department of Agricultural study forecast that job opportunities for graduates in agricultural and life sciences will exceed the graduates available in the coming years.

Applied SciencesAquacultureAgricultural EngineeringAnimal ScienceCrop ScienceAgronomy

Soil ScienceBiotechnologyHorticultureHydroponics

Definition- The application of one or more of the basic sciences for practical (real life) purposes.Agriscience ExamplesAgronomyUses biology and chemistry to produce and control cropsCottonSoybeansTobaccoCornHay and Turf grass

Agriscience ExamplesEntomologyUses biology and chemistry to study insect lifeAgriculture EngineeringUses physics to develop new machines, tools and implements

Agriscience ExamplesBiotechnologyUses biology, genetics, and chemistry to modify or change organisms for a useful purpose

Scientific MethodAgriculture and other sciences use the Scientific Method to solve problems (we will discuss this more in Objective 3.02)

What is Agriculture?The activities concerned with the production of plants, animals, and related supplies, mechanics, products, processing, and marketingProduction agriculture (farming) only accounts for 1/5th of the total agriculture jobs in the USUSDA refers to agriculture as agriculture/agribusiness and renewable natural resources.

Examples of Agriculture:Cattle Production farmer, cow-calf, feeder steersProcessing Slaughter facility, rendering, beef, leatherMarketing Butcher, grocery, steaksTransportation Plane, rail, truckRelated Supplies and Services Veterinarian, feed dealer. Examples of AgricultureWheatProduction farmer, grainProcessing grain mills, flourMarketing bakery, breadTransportation grain trucks, railRelated Supplies and Services fertilizer dealer, crop scouting, machinery dealer, GPS

Examples of AgricultureRosesProduction flower grower, rosesProcessing/Marketing harvesters, wholesale and retail floristTransportation plane, truck, floral delivery dealerRelated Supplies and Services glass vase sales, greenhouse manufacturers, floral designers

What is Agribusiness?Refers to commercial firms that have developed with or stemmed out of agricultureTake a moment to name three agribusinesses in your notes:John DeereMonsantoTractor SupplyD.D. McCollsFCX

Examples of Agribusiness:Farm relatedChemical company, tractor manufacturer, pharmaceutical company (veterinary medicines)Horticulture relatedLandscape or nursery business, seed company, mower manufacturerRenewable Natural ResourcesResources provided by nature that can replace or renew themselves. Important both economically and for posteritys sake to maintain life. ExamplesWildlifeTreesFishProgress in AgricultureMechanization helps 2% of Americas work force meet the food and fiber needs of our nationThere has been a reduction from 90% of nations populace involved in farming 200 years ago to less than 2% in 2012. Farms are becoming larger and fewer.Eli WhitneyInvented the cotton gin1793Transformed cotton to a usable productRemoved cotton seed from cotton fiber

Eli Whitneys Cotton Gin

George Washington CarverLate 1890sSoil improvement and crop rotationUse of legumes Crops that make their own nitrogen, ie. Peanuts.Improved soil fertility in the US South.

Cyrus McCormick1834Invented the grain reaperCut grainsCut wheat, oats, and other crops

Cutting GrainWith 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

While this first machine required only 2 people for operation (a person to ride the horse and a man to rake the cut grain from the platform), it cut as much grain in one day as 12-16 men with reaping hooks. Cast Iron PlowInvented in the early 1800sThomas JeffersonRough surface that dirt stuck to

Henry Blair1834 Seed Planter1836 Cotton Planter

Steel Moldboard PlowInvented 1837John DeereSmoother surfaceRich clay soil did not stick to itMade plowing easier and faster

Corn PickerInvented in 1850Edmund QuincyHelped speed up the harvesting of corn

Joseph Glidden1874Barbed WireDramatically changed raising livestock

Milking MachineInvented in 1878Anna BaldwinUsed vacuum suctionReplaced hand milking

Thomas Elkins1879Perishable Food PreservationDesigned a device that helped preserve food by way of refrigeration.

Benjamin HoltInvented in 1904TractorReplaced the mule as a source of powerHorse power

John Sanford1987Gene gunDevice for injecting cells with genetic information

GPS & GIS1993Tractor based GPS systems together with sophisticated GIS used to gather dataUsed for Soil condition, humidity, temperature and other variables, which system then uses to control such things as intensity of planting, application of fertilizer and pesticides, water schedules, etc.

Robotic Milking MachinesLate 1990sFirst used in Ontario, CanadaReduction in laborHigh initial cost = disadvantage to small producerEstablishment of Land Grant InstitutionsNCSUNC A&T State UniversityClemson

DefinitionAn institution designated by its state legislature to receive funding (Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890) to teach agriculture, military tactics, and the mechanical arts. Key component is the agricultural experiment station (Hatch Act 1887)Examples North Carolina A&T (1890)- Greensboro, NCNorth Carolina State University (1887) Raleigh, NCClemson University (1889) Clemson, SCUniversity of Georgia (1785) Athens, GAUniversity of Tennessee (1794) Knoxville, TNVirginia Tech University (1872) Blacksburg, VAThe TruthGovernment AgenciesAgriculture related AgenciesEstablished to assist farmers, ranchers, and the general public with information, professional assistance and, in some cases, funding. ExamplesUSDA (1862) United States Department of AgricultureProvides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. Branches NRCS (1935) Natural Resource Conservation ServiceAPHIS (1972) Animal Plant and Health Inspection ServiceNASS (1863) National Agricultural Statistics ServiceUSFS (1905) United States Forest ServiceSustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nations forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

ExamplesNCCES (1914) North Carolina Cooperative Extension ServiceHelp individuals, families, and communities put research based knowledge to work for economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and an improved quality of life. NCDA&CS North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Promote and improve agriculture.

Origins of Major Food Crops Fruits/VegetablesPeaches ChinaTomato South AmericaPeanut Peru, South AmericaSweet potato Central America

Grain, Oil, and Fiber CropsCorn Cuba, MexicoSoybeans Southeast AsiaCotton Mexico, Africa, PakistanWheat Southwest Asia

US Agricultural ProductionRegions develop based on a variety of factors including soils, weather, market development, feed availability, etc.

High Ranking RegionsCitrus Fruit Florida, Texas, and CaliforniaCorn Belt Midwestern statesWheat Hard Red Spring Wheat highest protein content, excellent bread wheat, superior milling and baking characteristicsMN, ND, SD, MT, ID, OR, WA, CASoft Red Winter Wheat High yielding, low protein, used for cakes, biscuits, pastriesNC, TN, KY, GA, OH, IN, IL, MOProduction RegionsSpearmint WA, OR, IDFloriculture Crops CA, FL, MI, TX, NCBeef Cattle TX, KS, NE, IA, CO, OK, MO, SDDairy MN, WI, MI, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, MA, ME (CA, ID, TX)Hogs NC, IA, IL, IN, MNPoultry (broilers) NC, GA, AL, AR, MS, TXNC AgricultureMountainsPiedmontCoastal Plains

NC Ag Production by RegionMountain countiesChristmas Trees, Apples, TroutPiedmont countiesGreenhouse and nursery crops, broilers, turkeys, dairyEastern counties Hogs, turkeys, broilers, tobacco (flue-cured), sweet potatoes, vegetables, peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans.Farm Cash Receipts (2011)$10,000,000,000 ($10B) annuallyLivestock, Dairy, and Poultry - 2/3 of all FCR Broilers and hogs account for nearly of this amountCrops 1/3 of all FCR