Abigail Copenhaver, RDN, CDNIvy Lakes Dairy & Farmstead Nutrition Stanley, NY

@dairyfarmerRD

Modern Farming Tools & Techniques

Photo credit: Jennie Schmidt

Photo source: http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/

research/robotics/agricultural.shtml

Abigail Copenhaver, RDN, CDN

@dairyfarmerRD

Disclosures

• Owner of Farmstead Nutrition & Consulting, LLC and Ivy Lakes Dairy, LLC

• Honorarium • Presentation sponsor by National Dairy Council grant• Consulting for the American Dairy Association

Northeast

Session Objectives

1. Describe at least one modern farming tool or technique and how it is used to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

2. Identify the main differences and similarities of current farming practices.

3. Communicate 2-3 facts and recommend 2-3 credible resources about innovative farming tools and techniques to colleagues and the public.

Photo credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

Future of Food Initiative

• Toolkits www.eatrightfoundation.org/toolkits-webinars• Hunger in Our Community. What We Can Do.• Smart Choices. For a Healthy Planet. (English/Spanish!)

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• Supervised Practice Concentrations:• Food Insecurity and Food Banking—available now!

www.healthyfoodbankhub.org• Food Systems—under development!

• Webinars and Infographics www.eatrightfoundation.org

• Affiliate Presentations:• “Changing the Way We Look at Agriculture” 32 affiliates/DPGs (2015)

• Food waste, food additives, and GMO presentations 10 affiliates(2016)

• Foods of future, farming tools, and food preservation presentations 10 affiliates (2017)

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Last year our donors’ generosity helped us award:

History of Farming in the U.S.1

Photo source: LivingHistoryFarm.org

Photo credit: Nebraska State Historical Society

A romanticized view of farming?

Photo source: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

Farming 100 Years Ago2

According to the 1920 USDA Census of Agriculture:• US population = 105.7 million• 48.6% of people lived in rural areas• 6.45 million farms

Photo source: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/agriculture/pics/14235_4_by_plow_1020.jpg

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1920 1935 1945 1970 1997 2012

Farms (millions)

Farms (millions)

The total number

of farms in the U.S.

peaked in 1935 at

6.8 million.

Source: USDA Census of Agriculture, www.agcensus.usda.gov

Farms in the U.S., 1920-20123,4

USDA Definition of a “Farm”4

Any place from which $1,000 or more of

agricultural products were produced and sold, or

normally would have been sold, during the census

year.

Artwork credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

Changes in Farms & Population5

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1920 1935 1945 1969 1997 2012

As the U.S. population has grown, the number of farms has decreased.

Farms (1,000s) Population (millions)

In 1935 one farm fed

approximately 19 people.

Today one farm feeds

approximately 149 people.

Source: USDA Census of Agriculture, http://agcensus.mannlib.cornell.edu/AgCensus/censusParts.do?year=1935

Farms, Land & Acres6

Source: USDA Fact Book 2001-2002 http://www.usda.gov/factbook/chapter3.pdf

The Homestead Act of 18627

Photo source: www.archives.gov

Farmland & Railroads8

Source: Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum http://cprr.org/Museum/RR_Development.html

Farmland & Railroads

Photo source: www.enjoyart.com

Wheat, An Important Food Crop

Photo credit: Archives of Gus Lohse and Rosemarie Lohse Myrdal, used with permission.

How Wheat is Harvested Today

Photo credit: Harold Myrdal

Wheat & Food Security9,10

Photo credits: Archives of Gus Lohse and Rosemarie Lohse Myrdal, used with permission.

1957

1982 1994Photo credit: Naomi MyrdalPhoto credit: Naomi Myrdal

Photo credit: Rosemarie Myrdal

1937

Photo credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/old-tractor-1538988

A 54-row corn planter

Photo credit: https://www.deere.com/en_US/products/equipment/planting_and_seeding_equipment/planters/db_planter_series/db120/db120.page

U.S. Corn Yield, 1935 to 201611

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1935 1945 1969 1997 2012 2016

Corn Yield (bushels/acre)

Yield (Bushels/Acre)

Source: USDA ERS, accessed online on October 10, 2016 at http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/521667/corndatatable.htm

1930s: Hybrid corn

becomes available

1996: Biotech corn seed

becomes available

Dairy Farming: Then & Now

Photo credit: permaculture.co.uk

Photo credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

Dairy Farming Today

Parallel Milking Parlors

Photo credit: http://www.siouxdairy.com/site/assets/galleries/11/roordaparlor2.jpg

Haying: Then & Now

Moving hay in North Dakota in1950

Moving hay in North Dakota in 2010

Photo credit: Naomi Myrdal

Photo credit: Rosemarie Myrdal

Current Farming Practices

Photo credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/farm-land-1395655

Let’s Talk Farming Systems4

Agriculture

CONVENTIONAL

Uses modern

technology

and mechanization.

Stems from

green revolution.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Uses plant breeding

techniques to develop

or improve living

organisms.

“RoundUp/Bt/Stacked.”

ORGANIC

Ecological production

System minimizing

off farm inputs;

Uses only OMRI

approved materials.

Comparison of Practices12

Practice Conventional Biotech Organic

No-Till √ √ √

Crop Rotation √ √ √

Cover Crops √ √ √

Green Manure √ √ √

IPM √ √ √

Fertilizers √ √ √

Pesticides √ √ √ OMRI

Challenges13,14

• Global population growth: 8.3-10.9 billion by 2050.

• Most growth in developing countries.• Increased demand for food, water, energy,

employment.• Wasted food.• Global income growth: With affluence comes

increasing demand for meat.• Cropland loss.• Soil erosion.• Fertilizer costs.• Market speculation.• Aquifer depletion.• Water pollution.• And other climate change challenges…

World Bank World Development Indicators database

Increased Subsidy for Organic Ag15

Source: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=organic-agriculture.html

Enhanced Agricultural Tools

Source:https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/04/22/glp-infographic-how-crops-are-modified-are-gmos-more-dangerous/

16,17

Photo credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

• Soil Health• Water• Data

Farming Tools and Techniques18

Photo credit Dee Sandquist

“No-Till” (L) does not work up the ground before planting.

Soil Conservation19

Photo credit: Dee Sandquist Photo credit: Jennie Schmidt

Planting on No Till Ground

Photo credit: Jennie Schmidt

Key Soil Health Practices12

• No-till: Growing crops without tilling (e.g., plowing) the soil.

• Reduced-till/mulch-till: Tilling the soil in ways that minimize disturbance to the soil or maintain more residue cover than conventional tillage.

• Mulching: Adding plant residue (or other materials) to the surface of the soil.

• Cover cropping: Growing a crop, often over the winter, that will be left in place as residue or incorporated into the soil to increase organic matter.

• Conservation crop rotation: Choosing crop rotations to maximize crop diversity, build organic matter, and improve soil biodiversity.

• Nutrient management: Adjusting the type, location, rate, and timing of fertilizer or other nutrients to meet plant needs and minimize environmental impacts.

• Prescribed/rotational grazing: Managing where and when livestock graze in two or more pastures in order to prevent overgrazing and to optimize pasture growth.

Concern – Pesticides20-23

Application

Tolerances

Glyphosate

EFSA

Photo source: http://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2000/nov/insect

T= Amount of Residue + Amount Consumed + Toxicity of Pesticide

EPA Formula for Toxicity24

Agbots25

Photo source: http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/research/robotics/agricultural.shtml

The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force was established in 1997 to coordinate

activities to reduce the size, severity and duration of hypoxia in the Gulf.

https://vimeo.com/58382888

Innovations26

A bioreactor is a medium of good carbon sources, wood chips, through which tile water is passed and nitrates are released as nitrogen gas into the atmosphere.

Photo Source: Farm Futures, September 2016. Impact of agricultural practices in the Upper 9Mississippit River Basin at Farmfutures.com.

Practice Paper: Promoting Ecological Sustainability within

the Food System27

Miles from harvest to delivery/mpg = gallons fuel used × 19.5 lb. CO2 = lb. CO2 generated from transportation of

food

Innovations in agriculture technology help to use fewer resources, including fertilizer, pesticides, water, etc.

Examples:• Technology to maximize

crop space• Satellite imagery to survey

soil• Technology to increase

drought tolerance• Precision agriculture tools

to reduce inputs and improve efficiency

Examples of Ag Innovations

Photo credit: Jennie Schmidt

Photo credit:

Jennie Schmidt

Photo credit: Dee Sandquist

The New Farmer has Choices

Photo credit: Dee Sandquist

Photo credit: Dee Sandquist

Communicating Farming Facts

Farm Facts28

FARMERS• Less than 2% of the population are farmers,

and only 1% farm as principal occupation.• As of 2012, there are 3.2 million farmers in the

U.S.• Principal operators were on average 58.3 years

old and were predominantly male.• 11% of farmers are new farmers who have

farmed 10 years or less.

FARMS & FARMLAND• 2.1 million farms (14,093 are certified organic

farms)• 914.5 million acres of farmland across the U.S. • 97% of all farms in the U.S. are family farms• 474,028 farms covering 173.1 million acres were

farmed with conservation tillage or no-till practices

(USDA 2012 Census)

Photo credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

Farm Production Facts

Farmers may choose from four types of production methods:1. Conventional2. Organic3. Biotech4. Indoor, vertical (requires no sun and no soil)

A farmer or rancher may choose to use multiple production methods based on factors including soil type(s), climate, availability of seed or machinery, access to irrigation, growing region, crop prices, and market access and demand.

Photo credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

Farm Production Methods

ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY PROTECTED CULTURE & INDOOR

VERTICAL

Crop Rotation X X X

Cover Crops X X X

No-Till X X X

Fertilizer Compost Natural or synthetic

Natural or synthetic

Natural or synthetic

Crop Protection

IPMHerbicidesPesticidesFungicides

IPMHerbicidesPesticidesFungicides

IPMHerbicidesPesticidesFungicides

Need depends on how protected the growing conditions

are.

Fallow Land X X X

Similarities & Differences

The Pace of Change29

https://www.cues.org/scripts/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/files/CU_Management/2013/July_2013/BDspc_chart2.jpg

Resources

“The good thing about science

is that it's true whether or not

you believe in it.”

Neil deGrasse Tyson

American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author,

and science communicator

Frederick P. Rose Director,Hayden Planetarium

Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City

Communication Resources

• Center for Science in the Public InterestAgricultural Biotechnology Project https://cspinet.org/protecting-our-health/biotechnology

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Pesticides and Healthhttp://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showPesticidesHealth.action

• Genetic Literacy Project https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/

• National Academy of SciencesGenetically Engineered Crops Reporthttps://nas-sites.org/ge-crops/

• Alliance for Food & Farminghttp://www.foodandfarming.info/

Communication Resources• International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s

Understanding Our Food Communications Tool Kitwww.foodinsight.org/articles/understanding-our-food-communications-tool-kit

• IFIC Foundation’s Food Biotechnology: A Communicator’s Guide to Improving Understanding, 3rd editionwww.foodinsight.org/education/food-biotechnology-communicators-guide-improving-understanding

• USDA National Organic Programhttps://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-programhttp://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5101542

• Hunger and Environmental Nutrition (HEN) Dietetic Practice Group Organic Talking Pointshttp://www.hendpg.org/docs/Resources%20-%20public/organictalkingpoints_final_withbleeds2.pdf

Please consider a gift to the Academy

Foundation’s Second Century Campaign

and make an investment in the future of

our profession!

Donate online at

www.eatrightfoundation.org

T H A N K Y O U!

QUESTIONS?

Speaker NameTitleAffiliation

EventLocationDate

Modern Farming Tools & Techniques

Photo credit: Amy Myrdal Miller

References 1. USDA Census of Agriculture Historical Archive.

http://agcensus.mannlib.cornell.edu/AgCensus/censusParts.do?year=1850. Accessed January 6, 2017.2. USDA 1920 Farms and Property.

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/AgCensusImages/1920//Farms_and_Property.pdf. Accessed January 6, 2017.

3. USDA Ag Census of Agriculture. www.agcensus.usda.gov. Accessed January 6, 2017.4. USDA Economic Research Service. Glossary. http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-

household-well-being/glossary.aspx. Accessed January 6, 2017. 5. USDA Census of Agriculture Historical Archive.

http://agcensus.mannlib.cornell.edu/AgCensus/censusParts.do?year=1935. Accessed January 6, 2017.6. USDA Fact Book 2001-2002. http://www.usda.gov/factbook/chapter3.pdf. Accessed October 10, 2016.7. OurDocuments.gov Website. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=31. Accessed January 6, 2017.8. Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum. http://cprr.org/Museum/RR_Development.htm.

Accessed October 13, 2016.9. Farm Journal Ag Web. http://www.agweb.com/article/low-prices-could-clip-us-wheat-acres-naa-debra-

beachy/. Accessed October 27, 2016.10. Montgomery G. Wheat Price Policy in the United States.

http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/17204/1/ar530025.pdf. Accessed January 13, 2017.11. History of the U.S. Hybrid Corn Seed Industry.

http://imbgl.cropsci.illinois.edu/school/2014/11_THOMAS_HOEGEMEYER.pdf. Accessed October 11, 2016.12. USDA National Agriculture Library Glossary. https://agclass.nal.usda.gov/glossary.shtml. Accessed January

12, 2017.13. The World Bank. World Development Indicators. http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-

development-indicators. Accessed January 6, 2017.

14. United Nations. http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/un-report-world-population-

projected-to-reach-9-6-billion-by-2050.html. Accessed January 6, 2017.

References 15. USDA Organic Agriculture.

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=organic-agriculture.html. Accessed January 6, 2017.

16. Genetic Literacy Project. Infographic. https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/04/22/glp-infographic-

how-crops-are-modified-are-gmos-more-dangerous/. Accessed January 6, 2017.

17. USDA Biotechnology FAQs.

https://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=BiotechnologyFAQs.xml&navid=AGRICULTU

RE. Accessed January 6, 2017.

18. Bowman M, Wallander S, Lynch L. Perspective on Soil Health. Drawn from Economics of Soil Health, Summary of ERS/Farm Foundation workshop and associated presentations on September 21 and 22, 2015, Farm Foundation, 2015.

19. Seufert V, Ramankutty N, Foley JA. Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture. Nature, 2012; DOI: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v485/n7397/full/nature11069.html. Accessed January 6, 2017.

20. Walton D. GMO Myth: Farmers “drown” crops in “dangerous” glyphosate. Fact: They use eye droppers. Genetic Literacy Project. https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/01/22/gmo-myth-farmers-drown-crops-in-dangerous-glyphosate-fact-they-use-eye-droppers/. Posted January 22, 2015. Accessed January 11, 2016.

21. Brookes G and Barfoot P. Environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996-2013: Impacts on pesticide use and carbon emissions. GM Crops & Food: Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain. 2015: 6 (2).

22. Weed Science Society of America. WSSA FACT SHEET: Dispelling Common Misconceptions about Superweeds. WSSA Website. http://wssa.net/wp-content/uploads/WSSA-Fact-Sheet-on-Superweeds_16-Sep-2014.pdf. Accessed February 5, 2016..

References 23. Environmental Protection Agency. Glyphosate Issue Paper: Evaluation of Carcinogenic Potential.

September 12, 2016. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-

09/documents/glyphosate_issue_paper_evaluation_of_carcincogenic_potential.pdf. Accessed January 13,

2017.

24. Environmental Protection Agency website. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-tolerances/setting-tolerances-pesticide-residues-foods. Accessed January 10, 2017.

25. Agbot website. www.agbot.ag. Accessed January 10, 2017.26. Farm Futures, September 2016 Read about impact of agricultural practices in the Upper 9 Mississippi River

Basin at www.Farmfutures.com. 27. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Paper. Promoting Ecological Sustainability within the Food

System. March 2013. http://www.eatrightpro.org/~/media/eatrightpro%20files/practice/position%20and%20practice%20papers/practice%20papers/practice%20papers/sustainability_march_13.ashx. Accessed January 6, 2017.

28. USDA Census of Agriculture 2012. https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/. Accessed January 6, 2017.

29. Cues.org Website. https://www.cues.org/scripts/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/files/CU_Management/2013/July_2013/BDspc_chart2.jpg. Accessed January 10, 2017.