moon farming to satellite farming

8/9/2019 Moon Farming to Satellite Farming

1/94

From Moon Farming to Satellite

Farming

The Evolution of Scientific

Agriculture


2/94

Moon Farming

q There was a time when farmers planted by

the phases of the moon and harvested about

a third or less of the yield they to today ifthey didnt lose the crops to weeds, insects,

and weather

(Prow, 1994, p. 23).


3/94

Light of the Moon

Waxing Moon

Dark of the Moon

Waning Moon


4/94

Farming by the Moon

q Light of the Moonq Prepare the soil

q Plants crops that grow

above ground

q 1st Quarter - Plants that

produce seed outside the

fruit

q 2nd Quarter - Plants thatproduce seed inside the

fruit

q Dark of the Moonq Cultivate

q

Plant crops the growbelow ground

q Dont plant in the 4th

quarter of the moon

q Harvest cropsq Dig Postholes


5/94


6/94

What Led to the Dramatic

Increase in Productivity?q Was it a more complete understanding

of moon farming or

q Was it the evolution of agricultural

sciences?


7/94

The Top Ten Developments in

Agricultural Sciences During thePast 100 Years

With apologies to Letterman


8/94

10. Federal Legislation

Establishing Educational

Programs

Especially the Hatch Act,

Smith-Hughes and Smith-Lever Acts


9/94

Educational Legislation

q The Hatch Act of 1887 called for two

things:q Development of Agricultural Experiment

Stations

q Dissemination of agricultural knowledge

q The experiment stations really didnt hit fullstride until the 1900s


10/94


q Smith-Lever Act of 1914q Provided federal funding to support the

Cooperative Extension Serviceq Non-Formal Instruction was provided for:

q Farmers

q Homemakers

q Youth

q 4-H followed shortly thereafter


11/94

Extension ActivitiesExtension Activities


12/94


q Smith-Hughes Act of 1917q Provided federal funding to support the

teaching of agriculture in the public schoolsq Instruction was provided to both:

q School Age Students

q Adult Farmers

q FFA followed shortly thereafter


13/94

Agricultural

Education

Activities

Agricultural

Education

Activities


14/94


q The instruction by the agriculture teacher

and the work of the extension agent did

much to improve agriculture all acrossNorth Carolina and the nation.

q The FFA and 4-H programs developed

leadership in rural youth and promoted theapplication of agricultural knowledge.


15/94

The Problem

guess work, random efforts [and] cut and

try methods that characterize the practice

of most farmers constituted waste of timeand strength and substance.

William R. Taylor,President, Wisconsin

Agricultural Convention, 1873


16/94

Another Problem

q Artificial manures (commercial fertilizers)

were being sold

q Many mixtures were fakes

q Farmers were being cheated

q Something needed to be done to

protect the farmer


17/94

Hatch Act -1887

States were to:

q

Disseminate agricultural informationq Establish agricultural experiment

stations

q Each state was initially given$15,000


18/94

The First Station

q Connecticut - 1875


19/94

The Southern Stations

q Often involved controversyq location

q should there be branch stations

q Several were coupled with a congressional

district agricultural school


20/94

The Southern Stations

q Early research efforts:q Fertilizers (most states)

q

Glanders in horses (Texas, Arkansas)q Strawberries (Arkansas)

q Tobacco (Kentucky)

q Feeding cottonseed meal (Mississippi, Arkansas)

q Roughages (Mississippi)

q Tick Fever (Texas)


21/94

Other Federal Legislation

Supporting Agricultural Researchq Adams Act - 1906

q Purnell Act - 1925

q Bankhead-Jones Act - 1935

q Farm Bills more recently


22/94

Agricultural Experiment Stations

q Even though the stations were established in

the late 1800s, they would have a major

impact on the evolution of agriculturalsciences during the 1900s.


23/94

9. Crop Hybridization

Especially corn


24/94

Average Corn Yields

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

Bushels


25/94

Corn Hybridization

q Donald Jones - Connecticut Agricultural

Experiment Station - 1919q Developed a double-cross hybrid corn

q Hi-Bred Corn Company founded - 1926q Sold the Cooper Cross Hybrid

Hybrid Corn has resulted in a 1.2

bushel increase in yield every year

since its development.

Hybrid Corn has resulted in a 1.2

bushel increase in yield every year

since its development.


26/94

Wheat Breeding

q Similar gains were made with wheat

breeding in the early 1900s


27/94

8. Internal Combustion Gasoline

Powered Tractor


28/94

q At the turn of the century farm labor

was supplied primarily by humansand horses.


29/94

The Steam Tractor

q In the early 1900s

steam tractors

provided power on thefarm but required a

crew to operate. Steam

tractors were not in

widespread use.


30/94

First Gasoline Tractors

q In the early 1900s gasoline powered tractors

were available but were not in widespread

use. They were not farmer friendly. Theywill still modeled after the steam tractors.


31/94

The Breakthrough Tractor

q In 1925 the first

high wheeled, row

straddling Farmall

was introduced.

q When the pneumatic

tire was introduced

in 1930, tractorsbecame even more

attractive.


32/94

Tractor Accessories

q Bigger Plows

q Corn Pickers

q Combines

q Hay Balers

q

Cotton Pickers


33/94

Growth in Tractor Numbers

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1910

1915

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

Tractors (in

thousands


34/94

Reduction in Farm Labor


35/94

7. Farm Credit


36/94

Farm Credit

q A variety of federal policies and laws led to

the development of a system of farm credit.

q Federal Credit Administration 1916 & 1932q Federal Land Bank provide low interest loans to

farmers to buy land

q Production Credit Associations 1933q Provided low interest loans to farmers for farming

operations


37/94

6. Soil Conservation Service


38/94

Soil Conservation

q During the early part of the 1900s,especially during the 1930s, soil was

eroding at an alarming rate in the south.q It was blowing away in the Midwest and

West.q The establishment of the Soil Conservation

Service in 1933 was a major milestone insaving our soil.


39/94

5. Artificial Insemination (AI)

I dont like

that idea


40/94

No major development in

modern agriculture, with the

exception of hybrid corn, has

been accepted and has advancedmore rapidly than AI

Harry Herman, 1981

No major development in

modern agriculture, with theexception of hybrid corn, has

been accepted and has advancedmore rapidly than AI

Harry Herman, 1981


41/94

AI is not new

q Arabians used it with horses in the middle

ages

q In the 1780s Spallanazani was using it withdogs in Italy

q Much of the initial work with dairy cows

was done in the 1930s in NewJersey and Minnesota


42/94

AI in Dairy Cows

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

1939 1949 1959

Cows Bred


43/94

Today

q Majority of dairy cows are bred using AI

q Used extensively in swine and poultry

q Major gains in feed efficiency, milk

production, average daily gain, etc. can be

attributed to selective breeding through AI.


44/94

4. Rural Electrification

q By 1930, 70% of the urban population had

electricity.q By 1930, ____ of the rural

population had electricity.10%


45/94

4. Rural Electrification

q The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) wascreated in 1935

q Magazines like the "Electric Farmer" and Electricity on

the Farm published articles with hints about using thenew power for farmwork and housework.q Dairy farmers learned how electric milking machines would

increase the speed of their work.q Farm wives learned how electric stoves, washers, and water

heaters could improve their home.q Electric pumps also made indoor plumbing a reality for farm

families.


46/94

A Poem

q Electricity is a servant, make it work for you.

Then baking days won't be so hot, or washdays be so blue.

Your cows will be contented, with a milker fine and bright.

The kids will like the music, from the radio at night.

Your feed will be ground easily, your babychicks kept warm.The whole family will be happy, with electricity on the farm.

--Author Unknown


47/94

"The greatest thing onearth is to have the love

of God in your heart,

and the next greatest

thing is to have

electricity in your

house.

A Tennessee Farmer in

the 1940s


48/94

q By 1950, 93% of

farms had

electricity.


49/94

3. Agricultural Chemicals


50/94

A revolution was taking place[1933-1970] in the biological

and chemical technologies

employed on American Farms

William Cochrane, 1979

A revolution was taking place[1933-1970] in the biological

and chemical technologies

employed on American Farms



51/94

Pesticidesq DDT was developed in Switzerland in 1939

q Came to the US in 1942

q Controlled a wider range of insects than any known

insecticideq DDT could be dusted, sprayed or dipped

q Other hydrocarbon insecticides followed:q Chlordane (1945

q Aldrin (1948)

q Dieldrin (1948)

q Heptachlor (1948)


52/94

Herbicides

q Chemical warfare research

led to the development of:

q 2,4-D (1942)q 2,4,5-T (1945)

q After 1945 back-breaking

hoeing and the need forextensive cultivation diminished


53/94

Pesticide Use

510

185

80 70

660

268

132

70

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

A g r ic u ltu r e T o ta l

Herbicides

Insecticide

Fungicides

Other

Source: Bohmont, B. 1996. A Standard Pesticide Users Guide. Prentice Hall. NJ. p. 8..


54/94

Fertilizers

q Anhydrous Ammonia emerged after WWII

q It was cheap and took little labor to apply

q The amount of nitrogen (and potash)

applied to crops between 1940 and 1970

increased20X


55/94

The greatest source of increasingyields per acre during this period

[1933-1970] was the increased use

of commercial fertilizers


The greatest source of increasingyields per acre during this period

[1933-1970] was the increased use

of commercial fertilizers



56/94

2. Biotechnology


57/94

Biotechnology

q Manipulation of organisms for human

purposes

q 1890s - lady bird beetles were introduced inCalifornia to control cottony-cushion scale

q 1940s - Milky white disease to control Japanese

beetles


58/94

Modern Successes

q Screwwormq Fly lays eggs on animal wounds

q emerging larva feed on the host animalq Females only breed once

q Sterilize males through radiation

q Release sterilized males in infested areasq By 1966 screwworn flies in the US were bred

out of existence


59/94

Other Examples

q Artificial Pheromonesq attracts insects to baits

q disrupts sex lifeq draws insects away from crops

q Parasitic wasps

q Biopesticides


60/94

DNA

q DNA was first discovered in 1869

q 1953 - Watson and Crick

discovered the structure of DNAq 1970s on - splicing genes, removing genes,

gene manipulation


61/94


62/94

1.

Developmentof Computers


63/94

Computers

q In 1983 Time Magazine named the

Computer Man of the Year

q Computers have had a major impact on howagricultural scientist do their work.


64/94

The tip of the iceberg

q Remote sensing

q Automation of agricultural processes

q Development of economic models

q Simulations

q Dairy herd improvement

q Produce grading

q Marketing

q Statistical analysisand the list goes on


65/94

The Next 100 Years

The Top Ten Innovations and Issues


66/94

Image from Dr. Steven Searcy (Texas A&M)

1. GPS (Satellite Farming)


67/94

GPS and GIS

q The Global Positioning System

(GPS) is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed

from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground

stations.q Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a system for

capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating,

analyzing and displaying data which are spatially

referenced to the Earth.


68/94

Precision Farming

q On-the-go sensors, yield monitors, and

geographically referenced databases are used to

control:q seeding

q fertilizer application

q herbicide application

q In theory each square yard of afield can be managed according

to its unique characteristics


69/94

q Precision farming technologies

could revolutionize agriculture

National Research Council

q Precision farming technologies

could revolutionize agriculture

National Research Council


70/94

2. Nutrigenomics

q Your personal genetic code will be

computer generated in a matter of hours.

q Specialized diets will be formulated tocombat the diseases your are genetically

programmed to experience.


71/94

3. Communications

q Iridiumq World Wide Low Level Satellite System

q Motorola - Primary Owner (but this division ofMotorola went belly up and the Iridium system

was sold)

q Operational - Sept. 1998

q Cellular Capable


72/94

Iridium Implications

q Instant communications

anyplace in the world

q Developing nations will not have to invest incommunications infrastructure

q No inaccessible areas, Rural folks not left

behind


73/94

Iridium Implications

q True World Wide

World Wide Web Access

q Disaster reliefq More Productive

Business Travel


74/94

4. Organic Farming

q Organic cropland has grown 20% over the

past 10 years

q It will continue to grow


75/94

5. Miniaturization

q Miniature TV cameras will be everywhereq Crime is down substantially in Monaco today

because miniature cameras have been installedin public areas

q Everything on a farm can be monitered with

miniature cameras


76/94

6. Farmaceuticals

q Farmers will grow crops that cure cancerq 74 of the known forms of cancers will be cured

q Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG)controls cancer.


77/94

6. Farmaceuticals

q With gene stacking technology it may be

possible to insert the human chorionic

gonadotrophin gene into corn or anotherplant


78/94

6. Farmaceuticals

q With this technology the phytic acid gene

has been removed from soybeans so it may

be possible to insert HCG into a crop.


79/94

7. Information Explosion

Amount of knowledge today

Amount of knowledge in 13 years(64X)


80/94

7. Information Explosion

q 14,000 new journal articles every week

q Web content doubles every 90 days


81/94

8. Societal Divergence

q Haves vs. Have-Notsq We (my generation) will inherit 11 trillion

dollars from our parentsq Brand Names important

q Nike returns 46 cents for each dollar invested

q Walmart vs. Belks

i l i


82/94


q Family Income - Computersq $10,000 - 10%

q $20,000 - 20%q $30,000 - 30%

q etc.

q

$70,000 - 70%


83/94


1969 to 1989 (constant dollars)

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20

High Skill

Low Skill

Earnings Gap (males)


84/94

8. Societial Divergence

q Hispanic birthrate 75% higher than that of

whites


85/94


0

5

10

15

20

2530

35

40

45

50

P

e

rc

e

n

t

New York California Texas Florida

Students of Color, K-12


86/94

9. Agritourism

q To survive farmers will need to turn to

agritourism and farm entertainmentq

Corn Mazeq Hay rides

q Hunting

q

Fishing


87/94

10. RFID

q RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification)q Miniscule microchips, which already have

shrunk to half the size of a grain of sand.q They listen for a radio query and respond

by transmitting their unique ID code. MostRFID tags have no batteries: They use the

power from the initial radio signal totransmit their response.


88/94

RFID

q Cattle will be traced from birth to market

with RFID.

q Consumers can pick up a package of groundbeef, scan it, and see a picture of the animal

it came from, the farmer who raised, and the

entire life story of the animal.


89/94

11. Women Will Rule the World

q Women are starting businesses 9 times

faster than men

q The majority of new businesses are small -this is where the growth is


90/94


Increase in Workforce, 1970-200

0

10

20

30

40

50

1970 1980 1990 2005


91/94


0

20

40

60

80

100

Women Men

Increase in College Attendance, 1970-


92/94


0

10

20

30

40

5060

70

80

Asian Hispanic Black White

Increase in Female Work Plac

Participation, 1990-2005


93/94


0

20

40

60

80

100

Asian Hispanic Black White

Percent of Work-Age Females Workin

2005


94/94

12. Some other predictions

q Water Wars - Water will be the major issue of the

21st Century

q

There will be crops that detect land minesq Biotech markers for solders to prevent friendly

fire deaths

q Glow in the Dark Pumpkinsq Identify the luminescence gene in fish that live deep in

the ocean, transfer that gene to pumpkins, and voila

glow in the dark pumpkins.

moon farming to satellite farming

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