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Food for thought

Agriculture in America. Food for thought. Question:. What would you be without Agriculture?. Answer:. Naked & Hungry. Agriculture defined. USDA refers to agriculture as “ agriculture/agribusiness and renewable natural resources. ” food, fiber, and environmental systems. www.usda.gov.

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Food for thought

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  1. Agriculture in America Food for thought

  2. Question: What would you be without Agriculture?

  3. Answer: Naked & Hungry

  4. Agriculture defined • USDA refers to agriculture as “agriculture/agribusiness and renewable natural resources.” • food, fiber, and environmental systems www.usda.gov

  5. What is Agriculture? • Agriculture: Activities concerned with the production of plants and animals, and related supplies, services, mechanics, products, processing, and marketing.

  6. Agriculture Progress • 2% of America’s work force produces the food and fiber to meet the needs of our nation • There has been a reduction from 90% of the nation’ population involved in farming 200 years ago

  7. Fields of Agriculture • Horticulture involves the producing, processing & marketing of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants

  8. Fields of Agriculture • Agronomy- The study of field crops. • Field crop = plants grown on a large scale in cultivated fields: grain, forage, sugar, or fiber crop.

  9. Fields of Agriculture • AnimalScience- the study of the biology and managementof domestic animals. • This includes livestock, small animals and pets.

  10. Fields of Agriculture • Forestry- timber management for lumber, poles, post, plywood, etc.

  11. Fields of Agriculture • Biotechnology- manipulation of living organisms and organic material to serve human needs • Improving plants or animals • To get desirable traits • Economic gain • Increase production • Etc…

  12. Fields of Agriculture • Soil Science- study of properties and management of soil.

  13. Fields of Agriculture • Aquaculture- growing and management of living things in the water.

  14. Common Field Crops • Corn- #1 field crop produced & exported in America • Corn production is more than 2 times that of any other crop • Produced in every state in the U.S and on every continent except Antarctica!!!

  15. Corn Production

  16. Corn – a zillion uses! • Peanut butter • Paper plates • Mustard • Ketchup • Candy • Mayonnaise • Jelly • Frozen food • Instant coffee • Malted products • Adhesives • Aluminum • Antibiotics • Aspirin • Babyfood • Batteries • Cereal • Soda • Gum • Cosmetics • crayons • Diapers • Leather • Yogurt • Wallpaper • Toothpaste • Syrup • Tacos • Soaps • Cleaners • Rugs • Carpet • Salad dressings

  17. CORN • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBuYUb_mFXA

  18. Wheat Production

  19. Specialized Agricultural Regions

  20. Common Field Crops • Soybeans- the word’s most important source of vegetable oil. • Good source of plant protein • Provides the basic materials for many products. • Ex: Crayons, shampoo, ink pens, Diesel Fuel, etc.

  21. Common Field Crops • Wheat- Important to survival of country. Contained in most bread products • Cotton- “The fabric of our lives”

  22. http://www.fb.org/newsroom/fastfacts/

  23. World Outlook • The worlds population is continually expanding. • More children are surviving to adulthood. • Adults are living longer. What impact will this have on our resources?

  24. World Outlook • Population growth will: • Add stress to environmental systems of air, water, soil, and natural resources. • Create challenges to meet the demands for food and fiber (clothing and shelter).

  25. While many people think that the “farmer” is becoming obsolete, this amount of population growth ensures that Agriculture will always be an essential industry.

  26. Food is Affordable in the United States • % Income spent on food • United Kingdom 10.2% • France 17.7% • Italy 19.2% • India 48.1% • Mexico 24% • USA 7 % Any idea why?

  27. http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Index • http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Country/Details#United States

  28. Where Your Dollar Goes

  29. What are we eating?? • The average US citizen consumes yearly: • 21.6 gallons Milk • 30.6 pounds Cheese • 64.9 pounds Red Meat • 253.4 Eggs • 416.6 pounds Vegetables • 194 pounds Flour and Cereal

  30. What is produced on America’s Farms? • Total Livestock, Dairy, and Eggs • ~280,000,000,000 pounds • Crops • ~,900,000,000,000 pounds • Corn ranks in the top five US exports every year

  31. Farms • Texas has the most farms • The average farm size in the US is 500 acres • 90% of farms are still family run

  32. Trend • The projection is for the average size of farms in the US to Increase while the number Decreases

  33. Commercial Agriculture in the U.S. Domination of agribusiness – vertical integration – capital & energy intensive – reliance on hybrid seeds / stocks

  34. What the farmer looks like • According to the Labor Department, the median age for farmers and ranchers is 55.9 years, second among tracked occupations only to “motor vehicle operators,” who have a median age of 59.2.

  35. Trends • Health concerns has caused an increase in consumption of poultry Why?

  36. U.S. chicken consumption per capita has risen from 68.8 pounds in 1995 to an estimated 85.6 pounds today • Poultry is generally cheaper per pound than other meat • Healthier (leaner) • Appeal to kids. (Beef nuggets, anyone?) • Versatile – baked, fried, soup, nuggets, wings, etc…

  37. Massachusetts Agriculture • Total acreage of farmland: 517,879 • Average farm: 67 acres • Total # of farms: 7,691 • Farm #’s grew 27% between 2002-2007 • Farmers markets: 202 • Revenue: $6 billion!

  38. Massachusetts Agriculture • Cash Receipts: • Greenhouse/nursery: 35% • Fruit/Vegetables: 19% • Cranberries: 17% • Livestock/poultry: 12% • Milk: 9%

  39. Massachusetts Agriculture • National rankings: • 2nd – Cranberries • 2nd – Wild blueberries • 9th – Squash • 9th – Maple Syrup • 10th – Raspberries • 12th – Apples • 13th – Pumpkins • 13th – Organic products • 15th - Pears

  40. Berkshire CountyAgriculture • Total Area in Agriculture: 66,352 acres • 522 Farms • $20,601,000 revenue • Crop sales: 38% • Livestock sales: 62% • Average farm is 127 acres and produces $57,091 • Top crops: forage (hay, silage), corn, vegetables, • Top livestock: cattle, layers, milk, horses, sheep

  41. Agriculture Education Animal Science Crop Science Entomology Genetics Horticulture Microbiology Biochemistry Zoology Biological & Agricultural Engineering Plant Biology Poultry Science Soil Science Sociology & Anthropology Food Science Agriculture Degrees

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