Introduction to Agricultural Science

1. Introduction to Agricultural Science Basic Ag Science Fall 2010 Mr. Parks

2. 5 Basic Human Needs • AIR • WATER • FOOD • CLOTHING - Fiber • SHELTER - Protect the body from the dangers in the environment • Agriculture provides the last three

3. Prehistory & Pre Agriculture • 10,000 B.C. • Hunter/Gather • Nomadic • Little or no villages • End of Ice Age • Burst of new vegetation • Follow herds

4. First Farmers • 8000 - 7000 BC. • Noticed that plants sprouted from seeds • Identified edible plants • Time of year matured • Planted at right time • Observed which animals would tolerate captivity

5. Effects of Agriculture • Dependable food supply • Domesticated plants • Domesticated animals • Trading began • Everyone did not have to farm • More free time to pursue other interests • Invented tools • Permanent Settlements • Life expectancy increased

6. Flint Scythe Bronowski, J. 1973. The ascent of man.

7. Wooden Plow

8. Civilization Begins • Humans could grow their own food • Ceased to wander • Cities were founded • Egypt, Jericho, Mesopotamia

9. American Agriculture • European settlers found a system of agriculture in place • Native Americans grew corn, squash, okra • Incas & Mayans had irrigation • Envy of the world • 1 farmers over 129 people • 101 in the US & 28 abroad • Americans spend less on food • US-9% • Italy-26% • India-53%

10. Scientific Research • 1862 – Morrill Act • Provided public land and funds for universities to teach practical methods of farming • 1872 – Hatch Act • Authorized establishment of experiment stations in states with land grant schools • 1914 – Smith-Lever Act • Established Cooperative Extension Service • 1917 – Smith-Hughes Act • Established Vocational Agriculture in public schools

11. Quiz • List the five basic human needs • List the three needs that agriculture provides • About when (years BC) did agriculture begin? • List two benefits of agriculture for society

12. Answers • List the five basic human needs • Water, Air, Food, Clothing, Shelter • List the three needs that agriculture provides • Food, clothing shelter • About when (years BC) did agriculture begin? • 8000 (or 7000) BC • List two benefits of agriculture for society • Dependable food supply, more free time, invented tools, permanent settlements (i.e. cities), life expectancy increased (i.e. lived longer)

13. Identify the Problem Formulate the Hypothesis Design & Conduct Experiments Collect Data Analyze the Data Draw Conclusions Make Recommendations The Scientific Method

14. Two types of Research • Basic Research • Why or how processes occur • No immediate application • Increases knowledge of topic • Applied Research • Uses knowledge gained in basic research to help in practical ways • e.g. • Basic – Researching animal hormones • Applied – Using hormones to increase growth of cattle

15. Milestones in Agricultural Research • Animal Immunization • 1870’s Louis Pasteur developed animal vaccinations (Anthrax in Sheep) • Also led to human vaccinations

16. Milestones Cont. • Canning & Refrigeration • Food spoiled faster than it could be eaten • Only previous way to preserve food was dry or salt cured • 1795 French government held contest to find a way to preserve food for the army • Nicholas Appert placed food in glass bottles & heated them in hot water • Later, food stored in boxes with ice

17. Milestones Cont. • Agricultural Mechanization • Originally used sharp sticks to plow • John Deere developed steel plow • 1831- Cyrus McCormick – Mechanical reaper • Eli Whitney – Cotton Gin • Internal combustion engine • Modern tractors

18. Plows

19. Cyrus McCormick Reaper

20. Milestones Cont. • Pesticides • Substances used to kill pests • Herbicide – Plants • Insecticide – Insects • Fungicide – Plant diseases • Avicide – Birds • Rodenticide – Rodents (Mice & Rats) • Piscicide – Fish • Applied correctly they protect crops & livestock • Bad reputation for damaging the environment

21. Milestones Cont. • Genetics • Study of how organisms pass on characteristics from one generation to the next • In the past selection of superior offspring • Now use DNA extraction & recombination

22. Milestones Cont. • Artificial Insemination • Allows access to genetics from all over the US • Most dairy animals • Embryo transfer • One superior female can produce 20 offspring per year • Producers can rapidly increase the quality of their herds at a low cost

23. Domestication • After animals become domesticated, they become dependent on man • Most can’t survive in wild • Most poultry can’t fly • Sheep don’t shed wool • Cows produce 20,000 lbs milk / year • Birds produce 250 eggs / yr. (20 in wild)

24. Sources of Food • Plant Sources • The cereal grains of wheat, rice, and corn are the major food items • Animal Sources • Four kinds of animals are raised in large numbers • Cattle • Pigs • Chickens • Sheep

25. Plants Used as food • Leaves - lettuce, cabbage • Seeds - beans, wheat, corn • Roots -carrots, rutabagas • Fruits - apples, strawberries, pears • Flowers - cauliflower and broccoli • Stems – onions, potatoes, celery, asparagus • Multiple parts -turnips (leaves and roots)

26. Animal Use as Food • Meat - (muscle tissue) Beef, Pork, Lamb, Goat, Poultry • Milk - inexpensive source of protein • cheese, ice cream, yogurt • Eggs - pastries, mayonnaise, custards

27. How much do people pay to eat?

28. United States’ Jobs • What percentage are agriculture and related? 21% or 1 in 5

29. Agricultural Careers