Agriculture and SocietyAgriculture and Society

Pa E & E Standards 4.4Pa E & E Standards 4.4

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

When you open your refrigerator to look for When you open your refrigerator to look for something to eat, do you ever stop to think something to eat, do you ever stop to think about all the steps it takes for the food to go about all the steps it takes for the food to go from the farm to your kitchen?from the farm to your kitchen?

– Not likely…Not likely…

• Let’s look at some facts about food… Let’s look at some facts about food…

1.1. Food is essential for life!!Food is essential for life!!2.2. Currently the world population is 6.6 billion Currently the world population is 6.6 billion

people. Is everyone’s food needs being met?people. Is everyone’s food needs being met?

– No, why not?No, why not? 3. What if I tell you that the world population is 3. What if I tell you that the world population is

expected to grow by 50% by 2050. What would expected to grow by 50% by 2050. What would the population look like in 2050?the population look like in 2050?

– Roughly 10 billion people…How are we Roughly 10 billion people…How are we going to feed them?going to feed them?

4. What if I told you that if everyone in the world 4. What if I told you that if everyone in the world were vegetarians, could feed 10 billion people were vegetarians, could feed 10 billion people with our present technology.with our present technology.

– Why is this not a reality?Why is this not a reality?

– Because we, the U.S. and other countries, Because we, the U.S. and other countries, enjoy eating meat. This diminishes our ability enjoy eating meat. This diminishes our ability to supply enough food to the people on this to supply enough food to the people on this Earth.Earth.

– What are some other reasons?What are some other reasons?

II. BackgroundII. Background1. Let’s look at Agriculture in the U.S. and in 1. Let’s look at Agriculture in the U.S. and in Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania.

2.2. Agriculture in the Agriculture in the U.S. has changed a U.S. has changed a lot in the last 200 lot in the last 200 years.years.

– In 1790, 95% of the In 1790, 95% of the population were population were farmers.farmers.

– In 2000, only 2% of In 2000, only 2% of the population are the population are farmers.farmers.

3.3. Despite the small Despite the small percentage, the U.S. percentage, the U.S. supplies:supplies:

– 25% of the world’s beef.25% of the world’s beef.– 15% of the world’s grain, 15% of the world’s grain,

milk, and eggs.milk, and eggs.– 25% of the world’s food 25% of the world’s food

exports.exports.4.4. The U.S. is blessed with The U.S. is blessed with

some of the most fertile some of the most fertile soils and favorable climates, soils and favorable climates, but most of all, the most but most of all, the most advanced farm practices and advanced farm practices and equipment.equipment.

5.5. Farms cover about 1/3 of Pennsylvania Farms cover about 1/3 of Pennsylvania with southeastern part the most fertile.with southeastern part the most fertile.

– There are roughly 60,000 farms.There are roughly 60,000 farms.– Rank 18Rank 18thth out of 50 states in annual income out of 50 states in annual income

produced by farms.produced by farms.

6. Milk is probably the most important 6. Milk is probably the most important agricultural product. Mushrooms are the agricultural product. Mushrooms are the number one crop.number one crop.

• Also corn, oats, potatoes, soybeans, tomatoes, Also corn, oats, potatoes, soybeans, tomatoes, apples, peaches, grapes, strawberries.apples, peaches, grapes, strawberries.

• Also cut flowers, houseplants, landscaping Also cut flowers, houseplants, landscaping plants, and Christmas trees.plants, and Christmas trees.

III. Food ProductionIII. Food Production

1.1. When we think When we think farming, we often farming, we often picture the small picture the small family farms.family farms.

2.2. However, most of However, most of the food produced the food produced are on large farms are on large farms owned and operated owned and operated by large by large corporations.corporations.

3.3. It is interesting that It is interesting that small family farms still small family farms still outnumber large farms outnumber large farms but have been but have been declining due to declining due to competition.competition.

4.4. The number of farms The number of farms has decreased from 6.5 has decreased from 6.5 million to about 2 million to about 2 million in 2000.million in 2000.

5.5. At the same time, farm At the same time, farm size has increased from size has increased from 143 acres to 434 acres.143 acres to 434 acres.

IV. The Green RevolutionIV. The Green Revolution

1.1. One the keys to success of U.S. agriculture One the keys to success of U.S. agriculture (and to other industrialized countries) has (and to other industrialized countries) has been the been the green revolutiongreen revolution..

2.2. The green revolution is the result of The green revolution is the result of improving farming methods by using improving farming methods by using scientifically engineered crops, the latest scientifically engineered crops, the latest farming technology, and increases in farming technology, and increases in fertilizers, pesticides, and water to increase fertilizers, pesticides, and water to increase crop yields.crop yields.

3.3. Everything is done on a Everything is done on a large-scale with less land.large-scale with less land.

– Food production has Food production has doubled without doubled without increasing the amount increasing the amount of land.of land.

– Facilities can raise Facilities can raise large numbers of large numbers of livestock with livestock with machines providing machines providing food and water.food and water.

– Irrigation allows food Irrigation allows food to be produced in to be produced in previously unsuitable previously unsuitable areas.areas.

4.4. The extra production The extra production means that:means that:

– Food is cheaper.Food is cheaper.– People eat better.People eat better.– The standard of living The standard of living

improves.improves.– Surplus food can be Surplus food can be

sold as exports.sold as exports.– Sounds great!!!Sounds great!!!

But…But…

5.5. Drawbacks of the green Drawbacks of the green revolution.revolution.

– Large scale livestock Large scale livestock facilities sometimes facilities sometimes means problems in means problems in handling animal wastes handling animal wastes and odors.and odors.

– Large scale farms rely Large scale farms rely heavily on oil-based heavily on oil-based fertilizers and fertilizers and pesticides.pesticides.

– The overuse also leads The overuse also leads to pollution (NPS), to pollution (NPS), desertification, water desertification, water shortages, pest shortages, pest resistance, etc…resistance, etc…

V. From Farm to MarketV. From Farm to Market

1.1. Farming has changed from being local and often Farming has changed from being local and often personal to global and impersonal.personal to global and impersonal.

– We don’t know who grows our food or where it We don’t know who grows our food or where it comes from.comes from.

– In some cases, we can buy fresh fruits and In some cases, we can buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmer’s markets or vegetables from local farmer’s markets or roadside stands.roadside stands.

2. 90% of the foods we buy are processed – frozen, 2. 90% of the foods we buy are processed – frozen, dried, powdered, canned, or otherwise altered dried, powdered, canned, or otherwise altered from their natural state.from their natural state.

3.3. In most cases, the food In most cases, the food from farms are shipped from farms are shipped thousands of miles to:thousands of miles to:

– Huge food processorsHuge food processors

oror– Wholesalers who then Wholesalers who then

sell the food to sell the food to supermarkets and supermarkets and school cafeterias.school cafeterias.

4.4. In both cases, food often In both cases, food often takes weeks to go from takes weeks to go from the farm to your kitchen. the farm to your kitchen.

5.5. Most food passes through the following Most food passes through the following farm to market steps:farm to market steps:

a.a. Production Production - growing/raising the food. - growing/raising the food.

b.b. Food ProcessingFood Processing – transforms the raw food – transforms the raw food stuffs from the farm into the food that you stuffs from the farm into the food that you consume.consume.

• Simple – food is washedSimple – food is washed

• Complicated – dry, can, freeze, pickle, Complicated – dry, can, freeze, pickle, powder, juice, mix, etc…powder, juice, mix, etc…

c. c. PackagingPackaging – protects food and adds attractive – protects food and adds attractive labels with recognizable brands and key labels with recognizable brands and key words such as “Organic, Natural, Low-fat or words such as “Organic, Natural, Low-fat or No Preservatives.”No Preservatives.”

d. d. Transportation and DistributionTransportation and Distribution – Since most is – Since most is consumed far from the place it is grown, trucks, consumed far from the place it is grown, trucks, trains (sometimes refrigerated) and even planes trains (sometimes refrigerated) and even planes transport food to processing plants and then to transport food to processing plants and then to wholesalers.wholesalers.

• Wholesalers store the food and sell it to Wholesalers store the food and sell it to restaurants, supermarkets, retailers, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, retailers, bakeries, and schools.and schools.

e.e. MarketingMarketing – the advertising, buying and selling – the advertising, buying and selling of products from retailers.of products from retailers.

f. f. RegulationsRegulations – the USDA regulates agriculture for – the USDA regulates agriculture for food safety, production safety, packaging food safety, production safety, packaging accuracy, import safety, and environment safety.accuracy, import safety, and environment safety.

g. g. Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development – developing new – developing new crops or products. Developing better or different crops or products. Developing better or different varieties to please the consumer.varieties to please the consumer.

VI. The Progression of FarmingVI. The Progression of Farming

1.1. Most of the developed countries of the world use Most of the developed countries of the world use the highly industrialized agriculture practiced in the highly industrialized agriculture practiced in the U.S.the U.S.

2.2. However, agriculture in the developing countries However, agriculture in the developing countries of the world varies due to location, economics, of the world varies due to location, economics, and climate.and climate.

3.3. Most of the developing countries cannot afford Most of the developing countries cannot afford all the technologies of the green revolution.all the technologies of the green revolution.

– So what do they do?So what do they do?

4.4. Most countries still Most countries still practice practice traditional traditional subsistence farmingsubsistence farming..

– Subsistence farming Subsistence farming is is farming that just meets farming that just meets the needs of the farmer the needs of the farmer and their family.and their family.

5.5. In subsistence farming, In subsistence farming, farmers mainly use farmers mainly use human or animal labor. human or animal labor. Crop yields are low due Crop yields are low due to the smaller scale and to the smaller scale and lack of fertilizers and lack of fertilizers and pesticides.pesticides.

6.6. Sometimes there are Sometimes there are traditional intensive traditional intensive farmsfarms (similar to (similar to ones in developing ones in developing countries).countries).

– Traditional Traditional intensive farmingintensive farming use more labor and use more labor and some technology to some technology to produce more food produce more food to provide for both to provide for both the family and for the family and for income.income.

7. Subsistence farmers in 7. Subsistence farmers in tropical areas practice:tropical areas practice:

– Shifting cultivationShifting cultivation – – where plots of land are where plots of land are cleared and only cleared and only farmed for a few years farmed for a few years before moving to a new before moving to a new plot of land.plot of land.

– Slash and burn Slash and burn cultivationcultivation – – where plots where plots of land are cut and of land are cut and burned and farmed burned and farmed similar to shifting cult.similar to shifting cult.

8.8. Problems with farming in Problems with farming in tropical areas of the world.tropical areas of the world.

– Most of the nutrients in Most of the nutrients in tropical areas are held in tropical areas are held in the plants not the soil.the plants not the soil.

– Farming is limited to 2 to Farming is limited to 2 to 5 years on a plot of land. 5 years on a plot of land. New land needs to be New land needs to be cleared.cleared.

– Heavy rainfall promotes Heavy rainfall promotes soil erosion and nutrient soil erosion and nutrient loss.loss.

– Exposure to the sun, bakes Exposure to the sun, bakes and hardens the soil.and hardens the soil.

VII. Major Agricultural Regions VII. Major Agricultural Regions of the U. S.of the U. S.

1.1. The USDA recognizes ten U.S. farming The USDA recognizes ten U.S. farming regions. The climate, soil, and landforms regions. The climate, soil, and landforms of each region influence the agricultural of each region influence the agricultural products it produces.products it produces.

a. a. The NortheastThe Northeast – Cold – Cold winters and thin, stony soil to winters and thin, stony soil to moderate climate and ample moderate climate and ample rainfall.rainfall.– fruits and fruits and

vegetables, milk, vegetables, milk, mushrooms, fish, and mushrooms, fish, and poultry.poultry.

– Close to highly populated Close to highly populated areasareas

b. b. The Lake StatesThe Lake States – – excellent farm land.excellent farm land.– Dairy farms, fruits, Dairy farms, fruits,

vegetables, eggs, hogs, and vegetables, eggs, hogs, and field crops (corn, hay, field crops (corn, hay, wheat.)wheat.)

c. c. The Appalachian The Appalachian StatesStates – partly – partly mountainous but mountainous but productive farmlandproductive farmland

– Peanuts, cattle, hogs, Peanuts, cattle, hogs, dairy, and tobacco.dairy, and tobacco.

d. d. The SoutheastThe Southeast – – plentiful rainfall, mild plentiful rainfall, mild summers, and cool summers, and cool winters.winters.

– All livestock, fruits, All livestock, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, vegetables, tobacco, peanuts, and cotton.peanuts, and cotton.

e. e. The Delta StatesThe Delta States – – fertile farmland along the fertile farmland along the Mississippi River flood Mississippi River flood plain.plain.

– livestock, rice, corn, livestock, rice, corn, sugarcane, and fishing sugarcane, and fishing (including shellfish).(including shellfish).

f. f. The Corn BeltThe Corn Belt – It has – It has fertile land and a favorable fertile land and a favorable climate climate

– Great corn growing Great corn growing area, soybeans, hogs, area, soybeans, hogs, cattle, and dairy. cattle, and dairy.

g.g. The Northern and The Northern and Southern PlainsSouthern Plains – – grasslands that vary in grasslands that vary in rain from east to west.rain from east to west.

– Grass crops – wheat, Grass crops – wheat, corn, barley, sorghum, corn, barley, sorghum, and hay. Cattle in the and hay. Cattle in the west.west.

h.h. The Mountain StatesThe Mountain States – – varied terrain, most varied terrain, most farming in valleys.farming in valleys.

– Fruits, vegetables, Fruits, vegetables, cattle, and sheep.cattle, and sheep.

i.i. The Pacific RegionThe Pacific Region – the – the most diverse region. most diverse region.

– Fruits and vegetables, Fruits and vegetables, dairy, wheat, dairy, wheat, sugarcane, pineapples.sugarcane, pineapples.