From Dirt to DNA Agriscience Applications What is Agriculture? Activities concerned with the...

From Dirt to DNAAgriscience Applications

What is Agriculture?

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

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 Applied Sciences

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.Saw Stop

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

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

Why is Agriculture/Agriscience Important?Largest “employer” and the largest source of income in the United States and North Carolina.Twenty percent of all jobs in the U.S. are agriscience related.Projections show that the average size of farms in the U.S. will increase while the number of farms will decrease.

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.

7 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.Includes pollution control.

Other Examples include:

ForestsWildlifeWaterFishSoilsAir

Progress in Agriculture

Progress in Agriculture

Mechanization helps 2% of America’s work force to meet the food & fiber needs of our nation.

(2% of US population works “on the farm”.)

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.


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


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

Thomas Jefferson’s Plow


Cyrus McCormickInvented the grain reaper in 1834 to save labor in cutting wheat, oats, and similar crops.

• It only CUT the grain.

Later a threshing machine was added and it became known as a combine.

Cyrus McCormick’s Reaper


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

John Deere’s Plow


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.


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


Booker T. WashingtonFounded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.Advocate of vocational education/skills development.The school was later given land-grant status.


George Washington Carver

Director of agricultural research at Tuskegee Institute in early 1900’s.Found new uses for soybeans, peanuts, and sweetpotatoes.Diversified southern agriculture.


Benjamin HoltInvented the tractor in 1904Company went one to become Caterpillar Inc.Also invented the traction method used on many tanks

Benjamin Holt’s Tractor


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

“The Handshake Agreement”

Ferguson Insignia on a Ford Tractor


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

AssignmentWith a partner you must design a new agricultural invention.Requirements:

Must be something that has not already been invented.Must have a name and price.Must have a color picture.Must include a four sentence description of the invention and how it works.

Land Grant Institutions

What does “Land Grant” mean?

Designated by its state legislature to receive funding to teach agriculture, military tactics and the mechanical arts.

Morrill Acts of 1862 &1890

A key component is the agricultural experiment station

Hatch Act 1887

Examples:NC A&T (1890)

Greensboro, NC

NC State University (1887)

Raleigh, NC

Clemson University (1889)

Clemson, SC

University of Georgia (1785)

Athens, GA

University of Tennessee (1794)

Knoxville, TN

Virginia Tech. University (1872)

Blacksburg, VA

What Agricultural Topics Can You Study?

2 Year Associate’s Degree Programs

Aquaculture TechnologyEquine Business and TrainingFish & Wildlife Management TechnologyForest Management TechnologyGreenhouse & Grounds MaintenanceHorticulture TechnologyMarine SciencesPoultry ManagementSustainable AgricultureTurfgrass ManagementEnvironmental Science BiotechnologyAgribusiness Management

4 Year Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Agricultural EconomicsAgricultural EducationAnimal ScienceBiological EngineeringLandscape ArchitectureAgricultural and Environmental TechnologyFood SciencePlant and Soil Science Poultry ScienceGeneticsHorticultural Science

Agriculture Related Government Agencies

What is the purpose of these agencies?

Established to assist farmers, ranchers and the general public with information, professional assistance and, in some cases, funding.

Examples:

USDA (1862)

NCCES (1914)

NCDA & CS (1919)

USDA – US Dept. of AgricultureProvides:

leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issuesbased on:

• sound public policy• the best available

science• efficient management

Branches/Agencies:1. NRCS (1935)

• Natural Resource Conservation Service

2. APHIS (1972)• Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service

3. NASS (1863)• National Agricultural

Statistics Service

4. USFS (1905)1. United States Forest

Service

NCCES – NC Cooperative Extension Service

Purpose:help, individuals, families, and communities put research–based knowledge to work for economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and an improved quality of life.

NCDA & CS – NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

To provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians.Responsible for:

Got to be NC Ag FestNC State FairFarmer’s MarketsAg CentersSoil Testing

Agricultural Commodities

What are Commodities?

Agricultural products which are sold.Examples:

MilkCornWheatBeefCotton

U.S. Agricultural Commodities (Market Value of Products Sold)

Total CropsCalifornia

Total LivestockTexas

Total Ag IncomeCalifornia

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.

Agricultural Commodities

_______ ranks in the top five in US agricultural commodities every year.__________ are the world’s most important source of vegetable oil and provide basic materials for hundreds of products.During the 1990s ________ was the number one meat export from the US.

U.S. Dept of Agriculture

SecretaryTom VilsackPennsylvania


Oversees the following:

Food Safety InspectionCommodity Grading

• Meat• Fruit• Vegetables• Eggs


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

North Carolina Agriculture


3 basic regions1. Mountains2. Piedmont3. Coastal plains

NC Ag RegionsMountain counties

Christmas TreesApplesTrout

Piedmont countiesGreenhouse & Nursery cropsBroilersTurkeysDairy

Eastern countiesHogsTurkeysBroilersTobaccoSweet potatoesVegetablesPeanutsCottonCornSoybeans (world’s most important source of vegetable oil).

General NC Ag. InformationFarms in North Carolina = 52,218 +Land in Farms = 8,414,756 acres +Average size of Farm = 168 acres +Farm Real Estate Value/Acre = $4,338 +Net Income per Farm = $57,042 +Value of Ag Exports = $3,937,500,000 ++


North Carolina is #1 in the following commodities.

TobaccoSweet potatoes

North Carolina AgricultureNorth Carolina is #2 in the following commodities.

HogsChristmas TreesTurkeysTrout


North Carolina is #3 in the following commodities.

Cucumbers

NC Dept of Agriculture

Steve TroxlerCurrent CommissionerGuilford County



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



Marketing• Farmer’s Markets• Goodness Grows

Program

Research StationsStructural PestsVeterinarian Program

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.

Global Agriculture:Trends & Issues

Global OutlookThe world population will continue to grow

expectations of 9 billion humans on the planet by 2050

More children survive to adulthoodMore adults are living longerPopulation growth will:

Add stress to environmental systems of air, water, soil and natural resources. Create challenges to meet demands for food and fiber.

How does Agriscience help?Genetically engineered crops

ie. a bio-engineered tomato that resists rotting

New fuel sourcesie. biodiesel from animal fat

Human nutritionie. decreasing the amount of animal fat in the diet and raising the proportion of fat from vegetable sources

Satellite technology (gps)ie. to determine various nutrient levels/deficiencies in plants.

Agriculture will always be an essential industry.Food is essential to life

an iPad is not

Clothing and shelter are basic needs of humans

SmartPhones are not

Current Ag Issues

Food insecurityAn issue of global importance.Defined as not knowing where a human will find their next meal.Due to: climate issues, urban development, corrupt governments, population growth and oil price shifts

Sustainability Rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present generations without compromising future generations

Current Ag IssuesOrganic Food Production

raised without using most conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizersOrganically raised animals must be fed organic feed and be given access to the outdoors.Antibiotics and growth hormones may not be usedOrganic sales account for more than 3% of all U.S. food sales.

GMO’s (genetically modified organisms)

Combing genes from different organisms results in a “transgenic” organismControversies surrounding this practice include safety, ethics, labeling and others. European countries will not purchase GMO foods from the US resulting in fewer exports to these countries.

Current Ag IssuesLocal Food Movement

Geographic proximity of producer to consumerVery popular concept in the U.S.Food safety, food freshness, and reduction of environmental impact due to shorter shipping distances.

CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture)

are direct-to-consumer programs in which consumers buy shares of a local farms projected harvest.Consumers often pay for their share of the harvest up frontParticipants pick up their share regularlyUSDA estimates as many as 2500 CSA’s are operating nationally.

Current Ag IssuesWater

quantity and qualityShortages are a major issue in the western portion of the nation\Expanding cities, such as Denver, are competing with farmers needs for the same diminishing water resources.

In NY, the aquifer that underlies Long Island represents the only drinking water for the 3 million plus residents that use it.In the SE US, including NC, Water Wars have become common place.In Third World countries a safe water supply is a luxury.In most areas of the world, supplies of safe water have become generally insufficient because of misuse, poor management, waste, pollution and climate change.

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