1. From Dirt to DNA Agriscience Applications

2. What is Agriculture?
Activities concerned with the production of plants and animals, and related supplies, services, mechanics, products, processing, and marketing.

3. What is Agriscience?
The application of scientific principles and new technologies to agriculture.

4. Agriscience is……
An applied science because it uses principles learned in biology, chemistry, and physics (the basic sciences) in a practical way.

5. Examples of Applied Sciences
Agronomy
Uses biology and chemistry to discover new ways to control weeds in crops.
Entomology
Uses biology and chemistry to study insect life.
Agricultural Engineering
Uses physics to develop new machinery.
Saw Stop

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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).

9. 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.

10. Trends for Agriculture/Agriscience
An expanded view of agriculture is necessary.

11. 7 Divisions of Agriculture
Agribusiness
Agriscience Mechanics
Agronomy
Animal Science
Biotechnology
Horticulture
Natural Resources
Where Did That
Come From?

12. What is Agribusiness?
Commercial firms that have developed with or stem out of agriculture.

13. Agribusiness includes….
Farming
Chemical company
Fertilizer dealer
Seed store
Tractor dealer
Horticulture
Landscape nursery
Greenhouse dealer
Horticulture supply company
Name that Agribusiness

14. What is Agriscience Mechanics?
The application of engineering principles in agricultural settings.

15. Agriscience Mechanics includes….
The design, operation, maintenance, service, selling, and use of power units, machinery, equipment, structures, and utilities in agriscience.

16. What is Agronomy?
The application of soil and plant sciences to land management and crop production.

17. Agronomy includes…. Crop Science Soil Science Turfgrass Management
Weed Science
Range Management

18. What is Animal Science?
The care, management, and production of domestic animals.

19. Animal Science includes….
Livestock
Companion Animals
Specialty Animals

20. 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.

21. Biotechnology includes….
Genetics
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Toxicology
Plant Pathology

22. What is Horticulture?
Involves the producing, marketing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. (Green Industry)
Continues to expand as the standard of living is raised.

23. Horticulture includes….
Greenhouse Management
Nursery Management
Landscape Architecture
Plant Physiology
Integrated Pest Management

24. 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.

25. Other Examples include:
Forests
Wildlife
Water
Fish
Soils
Air

26. Progress in Agriculture

27. 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.

28. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
George Washington
In 1785, he became the first American to own mules.
Also introduced agricultural concepts such as terracing, crop rotation, and the use of cover crops.

29. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Eli Whitney
Invented the cotton gin in 1793.
Turned cotton into an usable product by removing cottonseed from the cotton fiber.

30. Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin

31. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Thomas Jefferson
In 1814, Jefferson had his moldboard plow cast in iron, thus inventing the iron plow.
Was a marked improvement over the inefficient European plow.

32. Thomas Jefferson’s Plow

33. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Cyrus McCormick
Invented 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.

34. Cyrus McCormick’s Reaper

35. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
John Deere
In 1837, improved the iron plow by inventing the steel moldboard plow.
Need caused by tough prairie soils.

36. John Deere’s Plow

37. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Edmund W. Quincy
Invented the mechanical corn picker in 1850.
Anna Baldwin
Changed the dairy industry in 1878 by inventing a milking machine to replace hand milking.

38. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Joseph Glidden
Invented barbed wire in 1874.
Used for livestock fencing.
Tamed the west by allowing ranches with fixed boundaries to be established.

39. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Booker T. Washington
Founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
Advocate of vocational education/skills development.
The school was later given land-grant status.

40. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
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.

41. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Benjamin Holt
Invented the tractor in 1904
Company went one to become Caterpillar Inc.
Also invented the traction method used on many tanks

42. Benjamin Holt’s Tractor

43. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
Harry Ferguson
Invented the 3 point hitching system on tractors.
Met with Henry Ford in 1938 and had the famous “Handshake Agreement”.

44. “The Handshake Agreement”

45. Ferguson Insignia on a Ford Tractor

46. Progress in Agriculture: Historical Events
In 1954, the tractor finally surpasses the mule as the main source of agricultural power.

47. Assignment
With 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.

48. Land Grant Institutions

49. 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

50. Examples: NC A&T (1890) University of Georgia (1785)
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

51. What Agricultural Topics Can You Study?
4 Year Bachelor’s Degree Programs
2 Year Associate’s Degree Programs
Aquaculture Technology
Equine Business and Training
Fish & Wildlife Management Technology
Forest Management Technology
Greenhouse & Grounds Maintenance
Horticulture Technology
Marine Sciences
Poultry Management
Sustainable Agriculture
Turfgrass Management
Environmental Science Biotechnology
Agribusiness Management
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Education
Animal Science
Biological Engineering
Landscape Architecture
Agricultural and Environmental Technology
Food Science
Plant and Soil Science
Poultry Science
Genetics
Horticultural Science

52. Agriculture Related Government Agencies

53. 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.

54. Examples:
USDA (1862)
NCCES (1914)
NCDA & CS (1919)

55. USDA – US Dept. of Agriculture
Provides:
leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues
based on:
sound public policy
the best available science
efficient management
Branches/Agencies:
NRCS (1935)
Natural Resource Conservation Service
APHIS (1972)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
NASS (1863)
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USFS (1905)
United States Forest Service

56. 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.

57. 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 Fest
NC State Fair
Farmer’s Markets
Ag Centers
Soil Testing

58. Agricultural Commodities

59. What are Commodities? Agricultural products which are sold. Examples:
Milk
Corn
Wheat
Beef
Cotton

60. U.S. Agricultural Commodities (Market Value of Products Sold)
Total Crops
California
Total Livestock
Texas
Total Ag Income

61. 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.

62. Agricultural Commodities
Corn
_______ 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.
Soybeans
Poultry

63. U.S. Dept of Agriculture
Secretary
Tom Vilsack
Pennsylvania

64. U.S. Dept of Agriculture Oversees the following:
Food Safety Inspection
Commodity Grading
Meat
Fruit
Vegetables
Eggs

65. U.S. Dept of Agriculture Oversees the following: School Lunch Program
Food Stamps
Agricultural Cooperatives
U.S. Forest Service
Cooperative Extension
Agricultural Marketing

66. North Carolina Agriculture

67. North Carolina Agriculture
3 basic regions
Mountains
Piedmont
Coastal plains

68. NC Ag Regions Eastern counties Mountain counties Piedmont counties
Hogs
Turkeys
Broilers
Tobacco
Sweet potatoes
Vegetables
Peanuts
Cotton
Corn
Soybeans (world’s most important source of vegetable oil).
Mountain counties
Christmas Trees
Apples
Trout
Piedmont counties
Greenhouse & Nursery crops
Broilers
Turkeys
Dairy

69. General NC Ag. Information
Farms 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 ++

70. North Carolina Agriculture
North Carolina is #1 in the following commodities.
Tobacco
Sweet potatoes

71. North Carolina Agriculture
North Carolina is #2 in the following commodities.
Hogs
Christmas Trees
Turkeys
Trout

72. North Carolina Agriculture
North Carolina is #3 in the following commodities.
Cucumbers

73. NC Dept of Agriculture Steve Troxler Current Commissioner
Guilford County

74. NC Dept of Agriculture Oversees the following: All agricultural issues
Weights & Standards
Food & Drugs in North Carolina
NC State Fair

75. NC Dept of Agriculture Oversees the following: Marketing
Farmer’s Markets
Goodness Grows Program
Research Stations
Structural Pests
Veterinarian Program

76. Cooperative Extension Service
Located 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.

77. Global Agriculture: Trends & Issues

78. Global Outlook The world population will continue to grow
expectations of 9 billion humans on the planet by 2050
More children survive 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 demands for food and fiber.

79. How does Agriscience help?
Genetically engineered crops
ie. a bio-engineered tomato that resists rotting
New fuel sources
ie. biodiesel from animal fat
Human nutrition
ie. 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.

80. 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

81. Current Ag Issues Sustainability Food insecurity
Rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present generations without compromising future generations
Food insecurity
An 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

82. Current Ag Issues Organic Food Production
raised without using most conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers
Organically raised animals must be fed organic feed and be given access to the outdoors.
Antibiotics and growth hormones may not be used
Organic 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” organism
Controversies 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.

83. Current Ag Issues Local Food Movement
Geographic proximity of producer to consumer
Very 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 front
Participants pick up their share regularly
USDA estimates as many as 2500 CSA’s are operating nationally.

84. Current Ag Issues Water quantity and quality
Shortages 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.