Agriculture and SocietyAgriculture and Society

Chapter 4

Lesson 4.1

Theme OutlineTheme Outline Lesson 4.1Lesson 4.1

• Food ProductionFood Production

• Food Production in Industrialized CountriesFood Production in Industrialized Countries

• From Farm to MarketFrom Farm to Market

• Food Production in Developing CountriesFood Production in Developing Countries

PA Academic Standards for PA Academic Standards for Environment & EcologyEnvironment & Ecology

Standard 4.4.10.AStandard 4.4.10.A• Describe the importance of agriculture to society.Describe the importance of agriculture to society.

• Identify the major cash crops of Pennsylvania.Identify the major cash crops of Pennsylvania.• Identify what percentage of the United States’ population is Identify what percentage of the United States’ population is

involved in the food and fiber industry.involved in the food and fiber industry.• Compare and contrast the influence of agriculture on a Compare and contrast the influence of agriculture on a

nation’s culture, standard of living and foreign trade.nation’s culture, standard of living and foreign trade.• Identify laws that affect conservation and management of Identify laws that affect conservation and management of

food and fiber production in the local area and analyze their food and fiber production in the local area and analyze their impact.impact.

• Compare a contemporary economic issue in agriculture to its Compare a contemporary economic issue in agriculture to its historical origin.historical origin.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

• Students will identify what percentage of the U.S. Students will identify what percentage of the U.S. population is involved in the food and fiber population is involved in the food and fiber industry.industry.

• Students will identify the major cash crops of Students will identify the major cash crops of Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania.

• Students will compare and contrast the influence Students will compare and contrast the influence of agriculture on a nation’s culture, standard of of agriculture on a nation’s culture, standard of living, and foreign trade.living, and foreign trade.

• Students will compare a contemporary economic Students will compare a contemporary economic issue in agriculture with its historical origin.issue in agriculture with its historical origin.

Agriculture BasicsAgriculture Basics• Agriculture is an integral part of every society.Agriculture is an integral part of every society.• Advances in agricultural has resulted in more food being Advances in agricultural has resulted in more food being

grown on less land to meet the needs of a constantly grown on less land to meet the needs of a constantly growing population.growing population.

• ¼ of the world’s food exports come from the United States.¼ of the world’s food exports come from the United States. Why the U.S.? Why the U.S.? 1) Fertile soil1) Fertile soil

2) Favorable 2) Favorable ClimateClimate

3) Access to 3) Access to TechnologyTechnology

A change in times…A change in times…

• In 1790, first national census recorded 95% of the United States population as “farmers.”

• These “farmers” grew only enough food to meet their own needs.

• In 2000, the national census recorded 2% of the United States population as “farmers.”

• These “farmers” produce more food in greater

varieties than in any other time in U.S. history.

Food and Fiber SystemFood and Fiber System• DefinitionDefinition: : system that produces enough food to feed the system that produces enough food to feed the

more than 280 million people of the United Statesmore than 280 million people of the United States

Number of People Fed Annually By One Farmer

Pennsylvania Agriculture BasicsPennsylvania Agriculture Basics• About 59,000 farms in Pennsylvania, 9 million acres cultivatedAbout 59,000 farms in Pennsylvania, 9 million acres cultivated• 1818thth highest income by state from agriculture highest income by state from agriculture• One of the nation’s leading milk producersOne of the nation’s leading milk producers• First in the nation for mushroom productionFirst in the nation for mushroom production

http://agimpact.aers.psu.edu

Dairy Cattle Produce 10,740,000,000 Pounds of Milk Per Year in Pennsylvania. Generating Approximately $1,667,400,000.00.*

Across the nation…Across the nation…• Small farms (sell less than $ 250,000 worth of crops of Small farms (sell less than $ 250,000 worth of crops of

livestock annually) in the United States still outnumber the livestock annually) in the United States still outnumber the large scale farms in the nation.large scale farms in the nation.

• Bulk of the food produced in the United States now comes Bulk of the food produced in the United States now comes from large farms, owned and run by large corporations.from large farms, owned and run by large corporations.

How does corporate farming How does corporate farming work?work?

Typical scenario…Typical scenario…• Technology costs have increased, making it harder for Technology costs have increased, making it harder for

small farms to grow crops competitivelysmall farms to grow crops competitively• Large corporate farms can afford this new technology, Large corporate farms can afford this new technology,

which allows them to grow more food per acre of landwhich allows them to grow more food per acre of land• Since small farms cannot afford this increased cost of Since small farms cannot afford this increased cost of

technology, many farmers abandon their fieldstechnology, many farmers abandon their fields• Corporations buy unused farmland from small scale Corporations buy unused farmland from small scale

farmersfarmers• Conclusion: corporate farms thrive, small farms Conclusion: corporate farms thrive, small farms

strugglestruggle

Food ProductionFood Production Main production types by nationMain production types by nation

• Food Production in Industrialized NationsFood Production in Industrialized NationsExample: United States of AmericaExample: United States of America

• Food Production in Developing NationsFood Production in Developing NationsExample: MexicoExample: Mexico

Green RevolutionGreen Revolution DefinitionDefinition: modern farming method that uses : modern farming method that uses

scientifically produced varieties of grain (rice, wheat, corn) scientifically produced varieties of grain (rice, wheat, corn) and fertilizers, pesticides, and water to increase crop yieldsand fertilizers, pesticides, and water to increase crop yields

Food Production in Food Production in Industrialized CountriesIndustrialized Countries

More food produced per acre, not by planting more, but by More food produced per acre, not by planting more, but by coaxing the land to produce more per acre as a result of the coaxing the land to produce more per acre as a result of the green revolution.green revolution.

Developed nations have increased their production, Developed nations have increased their production, growing enough food to feed themselves, as well as export growing enough food to feed themselves, as well as export

to other nationsto other nations

Industrialized Nations: Industrialized Nations: Irrigation SystemsIrrigation Systems

• Increase land productivityIncrease land productivity• Access to large amounts of waterAccess to large amounts of water• Sophisticated irrigation systems usedSophisticated irrigation systems used

Irrigation allows arid land to become suitable for farming.Irrigation allows arid land to become suitable for farming.

Industrialized Nations: Industrialized Nations: MachineryMachinery

• Increase land productivityIncrease land productivity• Access to labor-saving technologyAccess to labor-saving technology• Technology used throughout the farming practiceTechnology used throughout the farming practice

Example: used in planting, tending to, and harvesting cropsExample: used in planting, tending to, and harvesting crops

Example: automation in livestock facilitiesExample: automation in livestock facilities

What does this increased What does this increased production do to the overall cost production do to the overall cost

of food?of food?• More food produced means less expensive food in these More food produced means less expensive food in these

countriescountries• Less expensive food means consumers can afford to Less expensive food means consumers can afford to

purchase more product, spending less of their income on purchase more product, spending less of their income on food suppliesfood supplies

• Less money spent on food means more money left in the Less money spent on food means more money left in the consumer's pocketconsumer's pocket

What does this increased What does this increased production do to the overall food production do to the overall food

supply?supply?

• More food produced more surplus food available for More food produced more surplus food available for exportexport

• Surplus food means an increased revenue for exporting Surplus food means an increased revenue for exporting countriescountries

• Imported food drains the revenue of importing countriesImported food drains the revenue of importing countries

Cost of increasing productivityCost of increasing productivity

Concentrated animal and crop production can lead Concentrated animal and crop production can lead to issues such as…to issues such as…

• Manure disposal issuesManure disposal issues• Controlling flies and other insect populationsControlling flies and other insect populations• Suppressing odorsSuppressing odors• Over reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticidesOver reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides• Chemical pest resistant in insect populationsChemical pest resistant in insect populations

From Farm to MarketFrom Farm to MarketFarming has changed over the yearsFarming has changed over the years

• Historically, farmers raised just enough food for Historically, farmers raised just enough food for themselves and their families, doing their work almost themselves and their families, doing their work almost entirely by handentirely by hand

• The domestication of livestock to help with farm work, The domestication of livestock to help with farm work, allowed farmers to cultivate more land, thus producing allowed farmers to cultivate more land, thus producing a surplus of fooda surplus of food

• Modern agricultural technology allows only a small Modern agricultural technology allows only a small percentage of people to produce a majority of the world’s percentage of people to produce a majority of the world’s food supply.food supply.

• Agricultural has become impersonal, being consumers do Agricultural has become impersonal, being consumers do not generally know the people who have actually farmed not generally know the people who have actually farmed their foodtheir food

• A simple process…A simple process…… … crops are grown and sold at roadside stands, farmers’ crops are grown and sold at roadside stands, farmers’

co-ops, and farmer’s markets by local farmersco-ops, and farmer’s markets by local farmers

• A more complicated process…A more complicated process…… … crops are sold to large companies, processed, and used crops are sold to large companies, processed, and used

to produce processed foods, which are then shipped for to produce processed foods, which are then shipped for distribution and saledistribution and sale

Example: applesauce from locally grown applesExample: applesauce from locally grown apples

From Farm to MarketFrom Farm to Market

Food Production in Food Production in Developing CountriesDeveloping Countries

Agricultural practices vary greatly by countryAgricultural practices vary greatly by country• Some farmers have large modern farming Some farmers have large modern farming

operations without the use of expensive green operations without the use of expensive green revolution technologyrevolution technology

• Restricted access to expensive suppliesRestricted access to expensive supplies High-yield seedsHigh-yield seeds FertilizersFertilizers PesticidesPesticides Modern machineryModern machinery Irrigation systemsIrrigation systems

Food Production in Food Production in Developing CountriesDeveloping Countries

• Developing nations have a lower crop yield than developed Developing nations have a lower crop yield than developed nationsnations

• Developing nations face a challenge that most industrial Developing nations face a challenge that most industrial nations do not facenations do not face

ProblemProblem: Populations are increasing in many developing nations. : Populations are increasing in many developing nations. If these countries can currently not produce enough food and If these countries can currently not produce enough food and can not afford to import food from other countries, who are these can not afford to import food from other countries, who are these countries going to meet the needs of their growing populations?countries going to meet the needs of their growing populations?

Subsistence FarmingSubsistence Farming• DefinitionDefinition: : farming method that just meets a farming method that just meets a

farmer’s survival needsfarmer’s survival needs

• Two main types of subsistence farmingTwo main types of subsistence farming Shifting cultivationShifting cultivation Slash-and-burn agricultureSlash-and-burn agriculture

Shifting CultivationShifting Cultivation DefinitionDefinition: : farming method in which farmers clear a farming method in which farmers clear a

plot of land in the forest, plant crops in it for a few years plot of land in the forest, plant crops in it for a few years until the soil is depleted, and then move onto clear a until the soil is depleted, and then move onto clear a different fielddifferent field

Slash-and-burn AgricultureSlash-and-burn Agriculture

DefinitionDefinition: farming method in which farmers clear fields : farming method in which farmers clear fields by cutting the trees and burning the vegetation where it by cutting the trees and burning the vegetation where it lies on the groundlies on the ground

Problems with subsistence Problems with subsistence farmingfarming

Occurs mainly in tropical regions of the worldOccurs mainly in tropical regions of the world Characteristic of tropical regionsCharacteristic of tropical regions

Poor soilPoor soil Nutrients locked away in vegetationNutrients locked away in vegetation Tropical rains quickly leach soil nutrientsTropical rains quickly leach soil nutrients Soil bakes in hot sun forming dry, impenetrable soilSoil bakes in hot sun forming dry, impenetrable soil

Forces farmers to relocate every several years, after soil Forces farmers to relocate every several years, after soil nutrients have been exhaustednutrients have been exhausted

Forces farmers to constantly clear large tracks of land, Forces farmers to constantly clear large tracks of land, resulting in global deforestation concernsresulting in global deforestation concerns