Agriculture and Agriculture and SocietySociety

Chapter 4

Lesson 4.4

Theme OutlineTheme Outline

Lesson 4.4Lesson 4.4• Agriculture and TechnologyAgriculture and Technology• Some Important Agricultural AdvancesSome Important Agricultural Advances• BiotechnologyBiotechnology

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

Standard 4.4.10.DStandard 4.4.10.D Analyze the efforts of increased efficiency in Analyze the efforts of increased efficiency in

agriculture through technology.agriculture through technology.• Compare various technological advancements and Compare various technological advancements and

analyze each for its contribution toward labor and cost analyze each for its contribution toward labor and cost efficiency.efficiency.

• Compare the current market value of both natural and Compare the current market value of both natural and alternative energy sources involved in the production alternative energy sources involved in the production of food and fiber.of food and fiber.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Students will compare various technological Students will compare various technological advancements and analyze each for its advancements and analyze each for its contribution toward labor and cost efficiency.contribution toward labor and cost efficiency.

Students will compare the current market Students will compare the current market value of both natural and alternative energy value of both natural and alternative energy sources involved in the production of food and sources involved in the production of food and fiber.fiber.

Agriculture and TechnologyAgriculture and TechnologyToday's farmers have a variety of tools not available Today's farmers have a variety of tools not available

to previous generations.to previous generations.• Global positioning software (GPS)Global positioning software (GPS)• Computer applicationsComputer applications• Satellite technologySatellite technology• Genetically modified plants and livestockGenetically modified plants and livestock

Productivity of Productivity of Farmers in the United StatesFarmers in the United States

YearYear Needed to Produce 100 Bushels (5 acres) of WheatNeeded to Produce 100 Bushels (5 acres) of Wheat

18301830 250-300 labor hours250-300 labor hours

18901890 40-50 labor hours40-50 labor hours

19301930 15-20 labor hours15-20 labor hours

19551955 6-12 labor hours6-12 labor hours

19651965 5 labor hours5 labor hours

19871987 3 labor hours3 labor hours

Some Important Agricultural Some Important Agricultural AdvancesAdvances

• Cotton Gin (1793)Cotton Gin (1793)Goal: mechanically separate Goal: mechanically separate

seeds, hulls, and unwanted seeds, hulls, and unwanted parts from cotton fiberparts from cotton fiber

• Cast-Iron Plow (1797)Cast-Iron Plow (1797)Goal: allow farmers to till soil Goal: allow farmers to till soil

betterbetter• Reaper (1831)Reaper (1831)

Goal: harvest wheat more Goal: harvest wheat more efficientlyefficiently

• Steel Plow (1837)Steel Plow (1837)Goal: easily till thick, sod-Goal: easily till thick, sod-

covered soilscovered soils

Some Important Agricultural AdvancesSome Important Agricultural Advances• Chemical Fertilizers (1849)Chemical Fertilizers (1849)

Goal: allow farmers to enrich depleted Goal: allow farmers to enrich depleted soils and increase crop productionsoils and increase crop production

• Transcontinental Railroad (1869)Transcontinental Railroad (1869)Goal: opened new areas for agriculture Goal: opened new areas for agriculture

for production and tradefor production and trade• Barbed Wire (1874)Barbed Wire (1874)

Goal: allow farmers to fence off areas Goal: allow farmers to fence off areas of their land effectivelyof their land effectively

• Pasteurization (mid-1880s)Pasteurization (mid-1880s)Goal: preserve foods longer by killing Goal: preserve foods longer by killing

bacteria and other microbesbacteria and other microbes• Tractor (1926)Tractor (1926)

Goal: allow farmers to work the land Goal: allow farmers to work the land faster, leading to an increase in farm faster, leading to an increase in farm productionproduction

BiotechnologyBiotechnology• DefinitionDefinition: management or manipulation of living : management or manipulation of living

organisms for the benefit of peopleorganisms for the benefit of people

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering• DefinitionDefinition: alteration of the physical characteristics of : alteration of the physical characteristics of

plants and animals by transferring genesplants and animals by transferring genes

GeneGene • DefinitionDefinition: part of a cell that determines the : part of a cell that determines the

characteristics that living things inherit from their parentscharacteristics that living things inherit from their parents

Biotechnology in AgricultureBiotechnology in Agriculture Identify geneIdentify gene Change characteristics of the geneChange characteristics of the gene

Example: Vitamin A in carrotsExample: Vitamin A in carrots Transplant geneTransplant gene

• The federal government must approve the production of The federal government must approve the production of all genetically modified foodsall genetically modified foods• Concern: Genetically modified foods are a recent innovation. Concern: Genetically modified foods are a recent innovation.

Doubt still remains on the possible downsides to their use.Doubt still remains on the possible downsides to their use.

• Future Applications for CropsFuture Applications for Crops• Increase pest resistanceIncrease pest resistance

• Ability to resist drought conditionsAbility to resist drought conditions

• Ability to tolerate salty soil and water conditionsAbility to tolerate salty soil and water conditions

• Future Applications for LivestockFuture Applications for Livestock• Increase the number of offspringIncrease the number of offspring

Genetically modified food … video clip 1

Genetically modified food … video clip 2