Post on 29-Dec-2015
The History of Agriculture
By: Mrs. Sheffield
Who is this man?
Identify the scope of agriculture and its effect upon society.
Discuss significant historical agricultural developments.
Identify the interdependency of agriculture and the environment.
Analyze the four main regions of American agriculture
Objectives:
Definition: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products.
Modern definition is changing!◦ Biotechnology◦ Renewable energy sources◦ Biofuels◦ Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
What is Agriculture?
1. Prehistoric
2. Ag through the Roman Period
3. Feudal
4. Scientific
Four Periods of Agriculture
Neolithic culture Change from gathering to production Ag Began by noting which plants were wild
then saved seeds to replant Goats and sheep herds were started
from wild animals Lived in caves or small houses of mud
and wood Early tools made of wood and stone
Prehistoric6th per. 9/3
2500 BC to AD 500 Introduction of metals Grapes, wine, and olive oil traded Rye and oats cultivated Storage improved Irrigation developed Mixed farming increased
Ag Through the Roman Period
Began soon after the fall of the Roman Empire (about AD 1100)
Irrigation allowed Egypt to sell wheat in international market◦Flooding of the Nile River
Oranges, lemons, peaches, and apricots were cultivated
Wool, leather, and linen were used for clothing
Feudal
Started after decline of feudalism in approximately AD 1500
Cultivation of sugar, cotton, tobacco, and tea for cash crops
Selective breeding of livestock – late 1700s
John Deere introduced the steel plow in 1837
Scientific1st per. 9/3
6th per. 9/4
Steam engine – late 1800’s Better transportation Increased food production due to a population explosion◦Immigrants & “Baby boom”◦Post-Civil War / Reconstruction
Scientific (cont.)
Originally dependant on European sources for seed, stocks, livestock, and machinery
20th century-steam, gas, diesel, and electrical power used
Chemical fertilizers, conservation techniques, selective breeding developed further
Standards set
Ag in the United States
Northeast and Lake States◦Milk producing area
Appalachian region◦Tobacco
Southeast States◦Beef cattle & Broilers
Delta States◦Soybeans & Cotton
Farming Regions
Corn Belt (Ohio to Iowa)◦Corn, beef, hogs, dairy products
Northern & Southern Plains◦Winter & Spring wheat
Mountain States◦Cattle & Sheep (wheat in the North)
Pacific Region◦Wheat, fruit, potatoes
Farming Regions (cont.)1st per. 9/4
Pacific Coast
Mountain Region
Northern & Southern Plains
Delta States
Southeast Region
Appalachian Region
Corn Belt
Northeast & Lake Regions
The Maritimes
Eastern Canada
Prairie Provinces & Western Canada
1935: 6.8 million farms◦Average farm size was 155 acres
2007: just under 2.1 million farms◦Average farm size was 449 acres
So, what does that mean?◦Number of farms is going down, while
the average farm size is increasing◦Commercialization
Recent Changes
History of Agriculture (continued)
By: Mrs. Sheffield
Before any civilization could exist and flourish, a strong agricultural base had to be established
“Without food to feed all of the people little progress can be made by any people”
Determines (in part) the wealth of a nation
Importance of Agriculture
90% of colonists made their living through agriculture at the time of the American Revolution
South becomes major center for cotton production◦Shipped to Europe in exchange for
manufactured goods 1790: Eli Whitney invents cotton engine
◦South settled due to cotton farming
American Agriculture
John Deere’s steel plow in 1837 helped Midwest farmers plow thick, clay soils
1831, Cyrus McCormick invents machine used for reaping wheat
Internal combustion engine has revolutionary effect on agriculture◦Work time drastically cut down
American Agriculture (cont.)
1862 - Land Grant (Morrill Act): provides each state with public land to build a college for “the common people”◦Proposed by Justin Morrill
“A&M” universities – teach agriculture and mechanics
1862 – President Lincoln established Unites States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Education
Hatch Act (1872):◦Established experiment stations in states
with land grant colleges◦Purpose was to create new knowledge in
Agriculture through experimentation Land Grant Act (1890):
◦Provided additional colleges which African Americans and other minorities could afford
◦Example: Prairie View A&M
Development of Ag Education 6TH per. 9/8
Smith Hughes Act (1917):◦Established Vocational Agriculture in
public high schools
Development of Ag Education (cont.)
Alabama Polytechnic InstituteVocational Ag 1926
What percent of American colonists made their living through agriculture during the Revolution?
John Deere’s plow was made out of??Where did most cotton produced in America go?
In what century did selective breeding of livestock begin?
Review:
Which time period developed irrigation?
Which time period did transportation improve?
Which region in the U.S. produces the most milk?
Invention of the ___________ engine had a revolutionary effect on ag.
Review:
Who invented the cotton engine?Who invented a machine for reaping wheat?
Who proposed the land grant universities act?
What were colleges called that taught Agriculture & Mechanics?
Which government agency did President Lincoln establish in 1862?
Review: