Agriculture and Agriculture and SocietySociety

Chapter 4

Lesson 4.2

Theme OutlineTheme Outline

Lesson 4.2Lesson 4.2• The Food and Fiber System in the United StatesThe Food and Fiber System in the United States• The Farm-to-Market ProcessThe Farm-to-Market Process• Major Agricultural Regions of the United Major Agricultural Regions of the United

StatesStates

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

Standard 4.4.10.CStandard 4.4.10.C Explain the functions of the components of the food and Explain the functions of the components of the food and

fiber system.fiber system. Compare and analyze growing conditions in the United States to Compare and analyze growing conditions in the United States to

determine which plants and animals are most suitable to each determine which plants and animals are most suitable to each region.region.

Compare the management practices needed for a commodity Compare the management practices needed for a commodity (i.e., production, processing, research and development, (i.e., production, processing, research and development, marketing, distribution and regulations.marketing, distribution and regulations.

Identify a commodity, its origin and its steps of production. Identify a commodity, its origin and its steps of production. Compare and analyze the cost of a commodity to its production Compare and analyze the cost of a commodity to its production

cost.cost. Identify and describe how food safety issues have impacted Identify and describe how food safety issues have impacted

production in agricultureproduction in agriculture..

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives• Students will compare the management practices needed Students will compare the management practices needed

for a commodity (i.e., production, processing, research and for a commodity (i.e., production, processing, research and development, marketing, distribution, and regulation).development, marketing, distribution, and regulation).

• Students will compare and analyze growing conditions in Students will compare and analyze growing conditions in the United States to determine which plants and animals the United States to determine which plants and animals are most suitable to each region.are most suitable to each region.

• Students will compare and analyze the cost of a commodity Students will compare and analyze the cost of a commodity and its production cost.and its production cost.

• Students will identify a commodity, its origin, and the steps Students will identify a commodity, its origin, and the steps in its production.in its production.

• Students will identify laws that affect conservation and Students will identify laws that affect conservation and management of food and fiber production in the local area management of food and fiber production in the local area and analyze their impact.and analyze their impact.

The Food and Fiber System The Food and Fiber System in the United Statesin the United States

The Farm-to-Market ProcessThe Farm-to-Market Process ProductionProduction Food processingFood processing PackagingPackaging Transportation and DistributionTransportation and Distribution MarketingMarketing RegulationsRegulations Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

The Farm-to-Market ProcessThe Farm-to-Market Process

ProductionProduction• Initial stage in processInitial stage in process• Farmers produce fruits, vegetable, grains, livestock, or Farmers produce fruits, vegetable, grains, livestock, or

clothing fiberclothing fiber• Historically, this was the only step in the process since Historically, this was the only step in the process since

most of the product was consumed by the families who most of the product was consumed by the families who produced itproduced it

Food ProcessingFood Processing

• Converts raw foodstuffs into consumable foodConverts raw foodstuffs into consumable food• Farmers have contracts to sell their product to a food Farmers have contracts to sell their product to a food

processorsprocessorsExample: food processors then convert raw materials into Example: food processors then convert raw materials into

processed food by adding preservatives, flavoring, or processed food by adding preservatives, flavoring, or otherwise improving food quality otherwise improving food quality

• Ranchers and farmers who raise livestock sell their Ranchers and farmers who raise livestock sell their product to meatpackers at marketsproduct to meatpackers at markets

Example: meat processors then convert raw materials into Example: meat processors then convert raw materials into processed foodprocessed food

DefinitionDefinition: : transformation of raw foodstuffs from the farm transformation of raw foodstuffs from the farm into the food that humans can consumeinto the food that humans can consume

Food Processing

PackagingPackaging• Final stage of food processing Final stage of food processing

stagesstages• Protects food from spoiling, Protects food from spoiling,

spilling, and breakingspilling, and breaking• Labeling occurs in this stageLabeling occurs in this stage• Packaging needs depends on the Packaging needs depends on the

needs of the productneeds of the productExample: eggs are packaged into Example: eggs are packaged into

cardboard containers labeled cardboard containers labeled “fragile” or “breakable”“fragile” or “breakable”

Transportation and DistributionTransportation and Distribution• Necessary stage since most food produced today is not Necessary stage since most food produced today is not

consumed locallyconsumed locally• Mode of transportation variesMode of transportation varies

Example: ships, trains, trailersExample: ships, trains, trailers

• Vital shipping roleVital shipping role Transports raw goods directly to marketTransports raw goods directly to market Transports raw goods to processing facilitiesTransports raw goods to processing facilities Transports processed goods to marketTransports processed goods to market Transports processed goods to warehouse facilitiesTransports processed goods to warehouse facilities

MarketingMarketing• Involves the advertising, Involves the advertising,

buying, and selling of buying, and selling of products products

• Vital selling roleVital selling role Product must be Product must be

appealing toappealing to customerscustomers

Example: packaging Example: packaging requirementsrequirements

Product must be readily Product must be readily availableavailable

Example: sold in vending Example: sold in vending machines, grocery stores, machines, grocery stores, or butchersor butchers

RegulationsRegulations The U.S. government regulates agricultural The U.S. government regulates agricultural

practices in several areaspractices in several areas• Food safetyFood safety

Example: accuracy of ingredient labelsExample: accuracy of ingredient labels• InspectionInspection

Example: inspection of products and facilitiesExample: inspection of products and facilities• GradingGrading

Example: eggsExample: eggs

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development Strives to create new agricultural productsStrives to create new agricultural products

• New crop and livestock varietiesNew crop and livestock varieties

Example: cherry tomatoExample: cherry tomato• New food and fiber productsNew food and fiber products

Example: new flavor of ice creamExample: new flavor of ice cream• New methods for producing, processing, and storing New methods for producing, processing, and storing

foodsfoods

Example: new packaging for a fruit drink productExample: new packaging for a fruit drink product

Major Agricultural Regions Major Agricultural Regions of the United Statesof the United States

Ten Major RegionsTen Major Regions NortheastNortheast AppalachiaAppalachia SoutheastSoutheast Lake StatesLake States Corn BeltCorn Belt Delta StatesDelta States Northern PlainsNorthern Plains Southern PlainsSouthern Plains MountainMountain PacificPacific

Major Agricultural Regions Major Agricultural Regions of the United Statesof the United States

What determines what grows where?What determines what grows where?• Physical geographyPhysical geography

ClimateClimate SoilsSoils LandformsLandforms

In order to concentrate our focus of agriculture in In order to concentrate our focus of agriculture in Pennsylvania, we will focus on the Pennsylvania, we will focus on the Northeast Northeast Region.Region.

Northeast Region: Location

StatesStates PennsylvaniaPennsylvania MarylandMaryland DelawareDelaware MaineMaine ConnecticutConnecticut Rhode IslandRhode Island VermontVermont New HampshireNew Hampshire New JerseyNew Jersey New YorkNew York

Northeast Region: Summary

ClimateClimate• Ample average rainfallAmple average rainfall• Moderate climateModerate climate

LocationLocation• Close to large markets of customersClose to large markets of customers• Allows for the quick distribution of products to Allows for the quick distribution of products to

customerscustomers

Northeast Region: Summary

What products are produced What products are produced where?where?

• Cranberries Cranberries Example: MassachusettsExample: Massachusetts

• ApplesApplesExample: New York Example: New York

• Dairy farmingDairy farmingExample: Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Example: Pennsylvania, Vermont, and

New YorkNew York• PoultryPoultry

Example: Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Example: Pennsylvania, Maryland, and DelawareDelaware

• MushroomsMushroomsExample: PennsylvaniaExample: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania MushroomsPennsylvania Mushrooms• Pennsylvania produces more mushrooms than any other Pennsylvania produces more mushrooms than any other

state in the United Statesstate in the United States• In 2003-2004, Pennsylvania produced 465 million pounds In 2003-2004, Pennsylvania produced 465 million pounds

of mushrooms valued at 379 million dollars. of mushrooms valued at 379 million dollars. • In 2003-2004, Pennsylvania mushroom exports were In 2003-2004, Pennsylvania mushroom exports were

valued at just over 1 million dollars.valued at just over 1 million dollars.

Top Commodities, Exports, and Counties

Top 5 agriculture commodities, 2006

  Value of receipts

thousand $

Percent of state totalfarm receipts

Percent of US value

1. Dairy products 1,560,594 33.3 6.7

2. Cattle and calves 466,354 9.9 0.9

3. Greenhouse/nursery

411,441 8.8 2.4

4. Mushrooms, agaricus

388,524 8.3 64.4

5. Broilers 320,825 6.8 1.7

 

All commodities 4,691,681   2.0

Top 5 agriculture exports, estimates, FY 2006

 Rank among states Value

million $

1. Other 3 483.1

2. Wheat and products 13 167.0

3. Live animals and meat 13 151.6

4. Dairy products 5 107.7

5. Feed grains and products 16 92.4

 

Overall rank 18 1,353.8