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US FarmingUS Farming
3% of workforce3% of workforce Family Farm vs Corporate FarmFamily Farm vs Corporate Farm SubsidiesSubsidies
To grow (Commodity)To grow (Commodity) Not to grow (Conservation)Not to grow (Conservation) DisasterDisaster Farm Subsidies Database
Top 10 World’s Food Crops 2010 :Top 10 World’s Food Crops 2010 :
By Quantity:By Quantity: Sugar CaneSugar Cane Corn Corn RiceRice WheatWheat PotatoesPotatoes SoySoy CassavaCassava Sugar BeetSugar Beet TomatoesTomatoes BarleyBarley
By Value:By Value:*Rice*Rice*Wheat (#2 US)*Wheat (#2 US)*Soy (#3 US)*Soy (#3 US)TomatoesTomatoesSugar CaneSugar CaneCorn (#1 US)Corn (#1 US)PotatoesPotatoesGrapesGrapesApplesApplesBananasBananas
http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx
Cassava Root, native to South America. Leaves are edible as well
Sorghum, used as a grain for making flatbreads
Barley, an edible grain used as fodder and for alcohol production
CropsCrops Cash/CommodityCash/Commodity: for selling & trading large scale: for selling & trading large scale
Food Crops Food Crops Includes coffee, teaIncludes coffee, tea
Non food:Non food: Fiber: cotton, hempFiber: cotton, hemp Biofuel: switchgrass, cornBiofuel: switchgrass, corn Pharmaceutical: tobaccoPharmaceutical: tobacco Biopolymer: latex, cornBiopolymer: latex, corn
ForageForage: for animal feed. : for animal feed. Alfalfa, sorghum, hay, cornAlfalfa, sorghum, hay, corn
Subsistence: used directly by farmer for food/feedSubsistence: used directly by farmer for food/feed
Food-Fuel Connection Food-Fuel Connection Use of food crop land to grow plants for Use of food crop land to grow plants for
biofuels: Biodiesel, ethanolbiofuels: Biodiesel, ethanol Corn, switchgrass, soy, sorghumCorn, switchgrass, soy, sorghum
Cost of fuel for farm equipment, delivery, Cost of fuel for farm equipment, delivery, processingprocessing
Petroleum used to make pesticides & Petroleum used to make pesticides & fertilizers.fertilizers.
Monocultures:Monocultures: One type of crop (corn field, sod, etc)One type of crop (corn field, sod, etc) PestsPests Degrades Soil FertilityDegrades Soil Fertility Use of PesticidesUse of Pesticides
Iowa Corn field: Corn Borer Heaven!
Soil HorizonsSoil Horizons ‘‘O’ : Organic Layer; decaying matter, O’ : Organic Layer; decaying matter,
leaf litterleaf litter ‘‘A’ : Topsoil. Darker than O, most A’ : Topsoil. Darker than O, most
nutrient rich. Lots of organic matternutrient rich. Lots of organic matter ‘‘E’ : Minerals leach out (leave) here and E’ : Minerals leach out (leave) here and
accumulate belowaccumulate below ‘‘B’ : light color, dense, low organic B’ : light color, dense, low organic
contentcontent ‘‘C’ : transition between soil & parent rockC’ : transition between soil & parent rock ‘‘R’ : Parent material, bedrockR’ : Parent material, bedrock
Changes in SoilChanges in Soil Erosion. Erosion.
Fertile Soil directly exposed to the elements. Fertile Soil directly exposed to the elements. Not rotating crops Not rotating crops Poor Tilling practicesPoor Tilling practices
Slash and Burn (swidden) Agriculture: clearing Slash and Burn (swidden) Agriculture: clearing areas of rainforest through controlled burning.areas of rainforest through controlled burning. Ash fertilizes soil, pests are removed. Ash fertilizes soil, pests are removed. Soil quality declines over time, then new area Soil quality declines over time, then new area
is selected.is selected.
Erosion (cont.)Erosion (cont.)
Increased Sedimentation downstreamIncreased Sedimentation downstream Increases toxins in water (heavy metals, nitrates, Increases toxins in water (heavy metals, nitrates,
ammonia)ammonia) Increases EutrophicationIncreases Eutrophication Leads to Biomagnificaton:Leads to Biomagnificaton:
Dust Bowl of the 1930sDust Bowl of the 1930s Video ClipVideo Clip
SalinizationSalinization of soilof soil Increased Soil SalinityIncreased Soil Salinity
Aquifers w/dissolved minerals used for irrigationAquifers w/dissolved minerals used for irrigation Water evaporates, leaves concentrated salt Water evaporates, leaves concentrated salt
behindbehind
To Prevent:To Prevent: Low water cropsLow water crops Drip irrigationDrip irrigation Use water w/low salt contentUse water w/low salt content
To mitigateTo mitigate Allow rain/irrigation to flush out saltAllow rain/irrigation to flush out salt Use salt-tolerant cropsUse salt-tolerant crops Strip CroppingStrip Cropping
Soil SustainabilitySoil Sustainability Contour Plowing: Land is plowed along its Contour Plowing: Land is plowed along its
contours, contours, perpendicularperpendicular to slope. Reduces to slope. Reduces erosion through runoff.erosion through runoff.
Terracing: decrease runoffTerracing: decrease runoff No-Till Agriculture: No plowing. Herbicides No-Till Agriculture: No plowing. Herbicides
are used to manage (not eliminate) weedsare used to manage (not eliminate) weeds
Example of No-Till Agriculture. Sunflowers are planted in the leftover wheat stubble from previous season. Stubble acts as mulch, keeping moisture in.
DesertificationDesertification
About 1/3 of land should be desertAbout 1/3 of land should be desert ~43% actually is. Occurs in poorest ~43% actually is. Occurs in poorest
countriescountries Causes:Causes:
Poor farming & forestry practicesPoor farming & forestry practices Conversion of ranges to cropland in marginal Conversion of ranges to cropland in marginal
areasareas Poisoning of SoilPoisoning of Soil Climate changeClimate change
Prevention Desertification:Prevention Desertification: Monitoring symptomsMonitoring symptoms Proper soil, forest conservationProper soil, forest conservation IrrigationIrrigation Use of WindbreaksUse of Windbreaks
Strip CroppingStrip Cropping
Planting crop in every other row; leave Planting crop in every other row; leave the other row permanently fallowthe other row permanently fallow
Helps stop erosion by creating a natural Helps stop erosion by creating a natural damdam
Helps pull salt away from crops through Helps pull salt away from crops through capillary actioncapillary action
Useful on steep slopesUseful on steep slopes