Agriculture Unit

Where does my cereal grow?

Wheat History

Cultivated and used for human food for thousands of years

Has been grown in Egypt since about 4000 B.C.

Ancient Egyptians ground it into flour and mixed it with liquid to bake bread

Was popular because of the ability to rise and form a high loaf when yeast is added

Did not become a popular crop in U.S. until after the French Revolution in the late 1700s

Wheat

Today U.S. is the worlds largest producer of wheat Dry and mild climates are the most favorable Needs lots of sunshine, 12-15 inches of

water, and temperatures of 70-75°F. Winter wheat – planted in fall, harvested in

spring Becomes dormant when temp. is below freezing

Spring wheat – planted in spring, harvested in summer

Wheat

Uses Worlds largest and most cultivated food crop King of grains 1/7 of all farmland in the world is used for

growing wheat American wheat is exported and feeds

millions of people all over the world Where it’s grown in the U.S.

Kansas-North Dakota-Montana-Washington-Oklahoma-Idaho

Wheat

Soybean

History

Probably originated in eastern China

Introduced into the U.S. in early 1800s

Originally grown as a minor forage crop

In 1920s, processing industry gave soybean

cultivation boost

Soybean

Today Technically a bean -- dicot In U.S. leading crop after corn and wheat U.S. produces about 33% of the worlds

soybeans Plant is 2 to 5 ft tall Large leaves, small white, pink, or purple

flowers Seeds are round and usually light yellow Seeds contain about 20% oil and 40%

protein

Soybean

Uses Basic products of soybean are protein meal

and oil More than 90% of oil is consumed as

margarine, shortening, mayonnaise, salad oils, etc.

Also used for paint, varnish, linoleum, and rubber.

Where it’s grown in the U.S. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and

Missouri

Soybeans

Corn

History 80 thousand year old pollen grains found

under Mexico City. Called maize by Native American’s Migrated to North America Did not require oxen or plows to cultivate

the soil Columbus took seeds back to Spain Within 2 generations it had spread

around the world

Corn

Today Maize, or corn, is one of the top agricultural

crops in the U.S. Grown in most mild and tropical regions of

the world Needs hot sun, and at least 20 inches of

rainfall per year to mature The United States produces 36% of the

world’s supply Second largest grain crop in the world

Corn

Uses Can be found in over 4,000 food and non-

food products Leading source of sweetener Bread, breakfast cereals, and chips Ceramics, paints, paper goods, batteries,

and fireworks Where it’s grown in the U.S.

Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio

Corn

Rice

History

Native of Asia

Grown and used for food before written

records

Arrived in North America in 1694

For many people it is their only source of

protein

Rice

Today Third-leading grain in the world Staple food for over half the world Thrives in tropical areas Rice fields are flooded to water and

kill weeds Needs annual rainfall of 40 inches and

temperature of at least 70°F Grown in more than 100 countries China and India are top rice-producing

countries

Rice Uses

Inexpensive and easy to prepare and store

Mixes will with lots of flavors Rice flour used in noodles, pancakes,

breakfast cereals, muffins Sometimes used for fertilizer, insulation,

and cement Rice starch is used for face powders

Where it’s grown in the U.S. Arkansas, California, Louisiana,

Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas

Rice

Great Grains Game

Subject: Trivial Facts about the 4 grains grown most in the United States.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

1. The grain that is grown and harvested the most in the entire world.

Wheat

2. Oil is the main thing created from this crop.

Soybean

3. The U.S. produces 36 percent of the worlds supply of this.

Corn

4. This grain was grown by the ancient Egyptians.

Wheat

5. This grain is the second most produced grain in the world.

Corn

6. The U.S. produces 33% of the world’s supply of this crop.

Soybean

7. This crop is a native of Mexico

Corn

8. This grain does very well in tropical climates

Rice

9. These seeds are small, round, and usually light brown in color.

Soybean

10. This plant grows to be about two to five feet tall.

Soybean

11. This grain is used in more than 4,000 food products

Corn

12. This grain is used to make batteries.

Corn

13. This grain needs an average temperature of 70° F.

Rice

14. Of the four grains, this is the only Dicot.

Soybean

15. This grain first arrived in the U.S. in 1694.

Rice

16. To grow this plant properly, the fields must be flooded.

Rice

17. The King of all grains.

Wheat

18. This grain needs 12 to 15 inches of annual rainfall.

Wheat

19. This grain prefers 20 inches of rain per year.

Corn

20. This grain is a primary ingredient in many sweeteners.

Corn

21. This grain can be planted in either the spring or the fall.

Wheat

22. This grain is a native of Asia.

Rice

23. This grain is used to make face powders (Make up).

Rice

24. This grain remains dormant during the winter months.

Wheat

25. The seed of this grain is 40% protein.

Soybean