Basic Ag AwarenessAgriscience Applications

What is Agriscience?

The application of scientific principles and new technologies to agriculture.

Agriscience is……

An applied science because it uses principles learned in biology, chemistry, and physics (the basic sciences) in a practical way.

Examples of Agriscience

AgronomyUses biology and chemistry to discover new ways to control weeds in crops.

EntomologyUses biology and chemistry to study insect life.

Agricultural EngineeringUses physics to develop new machinery.

Agriscience employs…..The scientific method to solve problems.The steps to the scientific method are….

Identify the problem.Review literature.Form a hypothesis.Prepare a project proposal.Design the experiment.Collect the data.Draw conclusions.Prepare a written report.

What is Agriculture?

Activities concerned with the production of plants and animals, and related supplies, services, mechanics, products, processing, processing, and marketing.

USDA refers to agriculture as….

“Agriculture/ Agribusiness and renewable natural resources”.Another definition is food, fiber, and environmental systems.

Why is Agriculture/Agriscience Important?

Largest “employer” and the largest source of income in the United States and North Carolina.

Opportunities in AgricultureAgricultural production is supported by many more careers than actually exist in production.Many careers in agriscience products & distribution are needed to grade, transport, process, package, & market agriculture commodities.

Many careers for agriculture supplies & services are also important.

Projections show that the average size of farms in the U.S. will increase while the number of farms will decrease.

Opportunities in Agriculture

Twenty percent of all jobs in the U.S. are agriscience related.In addition to farming, agriscience jobs help support farmers to meet the world’s food & fiber needs.Areas include:

ProductionProcessing, products, and distributionSupplies and services.

World Outlook

The world population will grow as more people beget more people.

More children are surviving to adulthood.More adults are living longer.

Population growth will….Add stress to environmental systems of air, water, soil, and natural resources.Create challenges to meet the demands for food and fiber (clothing and shelter).

Trends for Agriculture/Agriscience

Agriculture will always be an essential industry.Increased commercialization of agriculture will continue.New types of farming such as aquaculture (fish farming and farming the sea) will be used as well as traditional farming methods.

Trends for Agriculture/Agriscience

An expanded view of agriculture is necessary.

Divisions of Agriculture

AgribusinessAgriscience MechanicsAgronomyAnimal ScienceBiotechnologyHorticultureNatural Resources

What is Agribusiness?

Commercial firms that have developed with or stem out of agriculture.

Agribusiness includes….

FarmingChemical companyFertilizer dealerSeed storeTractor dealer

HorticultureLandscape nurseryGreenhouse dealerHorticulture supply company

What is Agriscience Mechanics?

The application of engineering principles in agricultural settings.

Agriscience Mechanics includes….

The design, operation, maintenance, service, selling, and use of power units, machinery, equipment, structures, and utilities in agriscience.

What is Agronomy?

The application of soil and plant sciences to land management and crop production.

Agronomy includes….

Crop ScienceSoil ScienceTurfgrass ManagementWeed ScienceRange Management

What is Animal Science?

The care, management, and production of domestic animals.

Animal Science includes….

LivestockCompanion AnimalsSpecialty Animals

What is Biotechnology?The application of living processes to technology.The use of microorganisms, animal cells, plant cells, or components of cells to produce products or carry out processes.

Biotechnology includes….

GeneticsBiochemistryMicrobiologyToxicologyPlant Pathology

What is Horticulture?

Involves the producing, marketing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.(Green Industry)Continues to expand as the standard of living is raised.

Horticulture includes….

Greenhouse ManagementNursery ManagementLandscape ArchitecturePlant PhysiologyIntegrated Pest Management

What are Renewable Natural Resources?

Resources provided by nature that can replace or renew themselves.Important both economically and for posterity’s sake to maintain life.Agriculture & resources management will include pollution control.

Natural Resources - Forestry

Timber management for lumber, poles, post, plywood, and etc. is another part of the agricultural industry.

Other Examples include:

WildlifeWaterFishSoilsAir

What are Commodities?

Agricultural products which are sold.Examples:

MilkCornWheatBeefCotton

U.S. Agricultural Commodities#1 State Rankings

BeefDairyBroilersEggsTurkeys

TexasCaliforniaGeorgiaIowaMinnesota

U.S. Agricultural Commodities#1 State Rankings

SwineHorsesSheepFruitVegetables

IowaTexasTexasCaliforniaCalifornia

U.S. Agricultural Commodities#1 State Rankings

CottonWheatCornSoybeansPeanuts

TexasKansasIowaIllinoisGeorgia

Top 10 U.S. Ag Commodity Exports

#1 Soybeans#2 Corn*#3 Wheat#4 Cotton#5 Misc. Hort Products

#6 Poultry Meat**#7 Feed#8 Edible Tree Nuts #9 Pork#10 Feed Grain

*Consistently ranks in top 5 in U.S. grain exports year after year.

**Number 1 meat export as far as tonnage shipped from the U.S.

U.S. Dept of Agriculture

Oversees the following:

Food Safety InspectionCommodity Grading

• Meat• Fruit• Vegetables• Eggs

U.S. Dept of Agriculture

Oversees the following:School Lunch ProgramFood StampsAgricultural CooperativesU.S. Forest ServiceCooperative ExtensionAgricultural Marketing

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina is #1 in the following commodities.

TobaccoSweetpotatoes

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina is #2 in the following commodities.

HogsChristmas TreesTurkeys

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina is #3 in the following commodities.

PicklesTroutTotal Poultry & Eggs

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina is #4 in the following commodities.

BlueberriesBroilersGreenhouse/NurseryStrawberries

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina is #5 in the following commodities.

CatfishPeanutsSnap Beans

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina is ranked in the top 10 nationally in the following commodities.

ApplesCottonGrapesTomatoesWatermelonsTotal Cash Receipts

North Carolina Agriculture

Ranking in Agricultural Income#1 – Hogs#2 – Broilers#3 – Greenhouse & Nursery***#4 – Tobacco#5 – Turkeys

***Recently passed tobacco to crack the top 3.

SOURCE OF FARM CASH RECEIPTS, NORTH CAROLINA, 2003$6,916,349,000

North Carolina AgricultureTop Ten Counties in Farm Cash Receipts, North Carolina, 2003

North Carolina Agriculture

North Carolina AgricultureAgricultural Research

North Carolina has two land grant universities.

North Carolina State University (1887)North Carolina A&T State University (1891)

NC Dept of Agriculture

Oversees the following:

All agricultural issuesWeights & StandardsFood & Drugs in North CarolinaNC State Fair

NC Dept of Agriculture

Oversees the following:

Marketing• Farmer’s Markets• Goodness Grows

Program

Research StationsStructural PestsVeterinarian Program

Professional Agricultural Organizations

Allow professionals the opportunity to network, learn, and communicate.Provide trade shows and journals to update members on new methods, products, and technology.Use membership dues to finance commodity advertisement, trade journals, and educational programs for members.

Cooperative Extension ServiceLocated in all 100 counties and the Cherokee Indian Reservation.Provides information for those working in agriculture.Best free source of information for small agricultural businesses.Administers the 4H program.

Professional Agricultural Associations

Progress in Agriculture

Mechanization helps 2% of America’s work force to meet the food & fiber needs of our nation.There has been a reduction from 90% of the nation’s populace involved in farming 200 years ago.

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

George WashingtonIn 1785, he became the first American to own mules.Also introduced agricultural concepts such as terracing, crop rotation, and the use of cover crops.

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Eli WhitneyInvented the cotton gin in 1793.Turned cotton into an usable product by removing cottonseed from the cotton fiber.

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Thomas JeffersonIn 1814, Jefferson had his moldboard plow cast in iron.Was a marked improvement over the inefficient European plow.

Thomas Jefferson’s Plow

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Cyrus McCormickInvented the grain reaper in 1834 to save labor in cutting wheat, oats, and similar crops.Later a threshing machine was added and it became known as a combine.

Cyrus McCormick’s Reaper

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

John DeereIn 1837, improved the iron plow by inventing the steel moldboard plow.Need caused by tough prairie soils.

John Deere’s Plow

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Edmund W. QuincyInvented the mechanical corn picker in 1850.

Anna BaldwinChanged the dairy industry in 1878 by inventing a milking machine to replace hand milking.

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Joseph GliddenInvented barbed wire in 1874.Used for livestock fencing.Tamed the west by allowing ranches with fixed boundaries to be established.

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

John FroelichInvented the 1st gasoline powered tractor that could go forwards and backwards in 1892.His Waterloo Tractor Company was later bought out by the John Deere Co. in 1918.

John Froelich’s Tractor

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Benjamin HoltInvented the traction system found on modern day tanks and bulldozers.Company went one to become Caterpillar Inc.This is where tractors get their name.

Benjamin Holt’s Tractor

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

Harry FergusonInvented the 3 point hitching system on tractors.Met with Henry Ford in 1938 and had the famous “Handshake Agreement”.

Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events

In 1954, the tractor finally surpasses the mule as the main source of agricultural power.

Improving Life through Agriscience

The Green Revolution

Process whereby many countries became self sufficient in food production in the 1960s by using improved crop varieties and practices.

Improving Life through Agriscience

The Green IndustryThe modern horticulture industry with emphasis on turf and landscape plants.

Agriscience and the Future

The average American farmer produces enough food and fiber for 128 people.As the world’s population increases, it will require a more sophisticated agriscience industry to keep pace with demand.

Agriscience and the Future

The science of food production, processing, and distribution will require:

College graduates to fill roles as scientists, engineers, and other professionals.USDA reported an increased demand for graduates from agricultural colleges in the 90s.