Current Agricultural TrendsIncluding a Brief History Lesson

Lisa Tronchetti

&

Ryan Steffensen

Outline

A Brief History Current Agricultural Trends (Including US Comparisons)

– Population and Expansion– Machinery – Row Crop Production– Livestock Production– Forestry– Renewable Energy

Future Outlooks

A Brief History: 11th-14th Century

Cultivation=Expansion– 4 million to 12 million people – New Settlements

Three Field System– More fruit and vegetable production– More wine production!

A Brief History: Land Ownership Issues

Land Ownership– Manor Lords

Western Germany More Freedoms

– Estate Owners Eastern Germany Closer ties to owners

– Inheritance Effects on farm size and growth

A Brief History: The Liberation

1790-1850 Paved the way for market oriented

agriculture 3 Things Occurred

1. Discharge

2. Division and Coupling

3. Eliminated barriers to land possession

A Brief History: The Third Reich

1933-1945 Third Reich Policy – Greatly influences agriculture

Joining the NS– After being in a economic decline for many years

NSDAP– Agricultural pare of NS– Designed to better represent farmer– Used by the NS to reach own gains

Current Trends: Population and Expansion

Germany: 1 farmer = 75 people fed– U.S.: 1 farmer = 100 people fed

Germany: 350,000 farms Decreasing the # of farms, Increasing Size

– Like trend in U.S.– Avg. Farm Size (Germany) App. 300 acres

Land Statistics

Current Trends: Machinery

Came into use after WW1– Tractor– Combine (harvesting equipment)

Lead to trend in larger farm size and fewer farms.

Current Trends: Row Crop Production

5 Top Products1. Sugar Beets

2. Wheat

3. Potatoes

4. Barley

5. Rapeseed

Other Crops– Maize (corn)– Soybeans– Rye– Fruits– Vegetables

Trend is moving away from traditional goods to corn and value added products/organic (fruits and veggies).

Current Trends: Livestock Production

Top 4 Livestock1. Hogs

2. Cattle

3. Rabbits

4. Sheep

Average Herd Size– 70 cattle– 40 dairy– 300 hogs

Current Trends: Forestry

30% of Land

Mostly private ownership

High pollution hurts forests

Quota System

Current Trends: Renewable Energy

6% Wind Energy Biodiesel Ethanol Wave Power

(something new)

Future Outlook

Globalization Integration

– Increasing farm size

Off Farm Income Shift to Corn Production Wave Energy!

Conclusion

History has greatly affected today’s Agricultural practices

Agriculture is still growing and changing in Germany

Trends are much like in the United States The Future is Exciting!