Agricultural Technologies SciTech 11

What is Agriculture? Agriculture/farming: technological system that produces plants and animals for food, fiber, fuel, and other products Agriculture/farming: technological system that produces plants and animals for food, fiber, fuel, and other products

What is Agriculture? Farmers are less than 2% of the population in the US, but they make food for more than 100% of the population (food shipped to other countries) Farmers are less than 2% of the population in the US, but they make food for more than 100% of the population (food shipped to other countries) technology must be involved! technology must be involved! In 1900’s, a farmer could feed 25 people. Today, 1 farmer can feed thousands. In 1900’s, a farmer could feed 25 people. Today, 1 farmer can feed thousands.

History of Agriculture Hand tools Hand tools The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones. The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones.hunting and gatheringfarminghandshunting and gatheringfarminghands Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden plows were developed and used for thousands of years. Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden plows were developed and used for thousands of years. Toolsknivesscytheswooden plows Toolsknivesscytheswooden plows During this time, almost everyone worked in agriculture because each family could barely raise enough food for themselves. During this time, almost everyone worked in agriculture because each family could barely raise enough food for themselves.family

History of Agriculture The Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution With the Industrial Revolution and the development of more complicated machines, farming methods advanced. With the Industrial Revolution and the development of more complicated machines, farming methods advanced.Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution Instead of harvesting grain by hand with a sharp blade, wheeled machines cut a continuous path. Instead of harvesting grain by hand with a sharp blade, wheeled machines cut a continuous path.harvestinggrain bladewheeledharvestinggrain bladewheeled Instead of threshing the grain by beating it with sticks, machines separated the seeds from the heads and stalks Instead of threshing the grain by beating it with sticks, machines separated the seeds from the heads and stalksthreshingmachinesseedsthreshingmachinesseeds

History of Agriculture Steam power Steam power Power was originally supplied by horses or other animals. Power was originally supplied by horses or other animals.horses animalshorses animals With the invention of steam power came the portable engine. With the invention of steam power came the portable engine.steam powerportable enginesteam powerportable engine Agricultural steam engines took over the heavy pulling work of horses. Agricultural steam engines took over the heavy pulling work of horses.steam engineshorsessteam engineshorses The steam-powered machines were low-powered by today's standards but made life much easier. The steam-powered machines were low-powered by today's standards but made life much easier. Their slow speed led farmers to comment that tractors had two speeds: "slow, and darn slow." Their slow speed led farmers to comment that tractors had two speeds: "slow, and darn slow."

History of Agriculture The internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine Gasoline, and later diesel engines became the main source of power for the next generation of tractors. Gasoline, and later diesel engines became the main source of power for the next generation of tractors. Gasolinedieselengines Gasolinedieselengines These engines also contributed to the development of the self-propelled, combined harvester and thresher, or combine for short. These engines also contributed to the development of the self-propelled, combined harvester and thresher, or combine for short. combine

Mechanization Mechanization: the use of machines to make work easier Mechanization: the use of machines to make work easier Crop farming- clearing soil, tilling soil, planting seeds, cultivating crops, harvesting crops Crop farming- clearing soil, tilling soil, planting seeds, cultivating crops, harvesting crops

Mechanization Harvesting- removing grown plants for processing Harvesting- removing grown plants for processing Combines cut plant, separate the grain, and package stalks all at once Combines cut plant, separate the grain, and package stalks all at once -increase amount of food farmers can produce -increase amount of food farmers can produce -huge decrease in harvesting time! -huge decrease in harvesting time!

Mechanization GPS = global positioning satellite GPS = global positioning satellite Receivers, computers and satellites determine location of object on earth Receivers, computers and satellites determine location of object on earth Placed in tractors and combines to steer automatically Placed in tractors and combines to steer automatically -get perfectly straight furrows (rows), less compacting soil, no overlap of pesticides -get perfectly straight furrows (rows), less compacting soil, no overlap of pesticides -also monitor sections of fields and treat differently (more water, pesticides etc) -also monitor sections of fields and treat differently (more water, pesticides etc)

How has productivity changed? Productivity: time to produce 1 bushel (~35 L or 60 lbs) of wheat Productivity: time to produce 1 bushel (~35 L or 60 lbs) of wheat 1830: hours, 5 acres of land, all work by hand 1830: hours, 5 acres of land, all work by hand 1890: hours 1890: hours 1930: hours 1930: hours 1955: 6-12 hours 1955: 6-12 hours 1965: 5 hours 1965: 5 hours 1975: 3.75 hours 1975: 3.75 hours 1987: 3 hours, 3 acres, all mechanized 1987: 3 hours, 3 acres, all mechanized A decrease in time and in space needed! A decrease in time and in space needed!

Dairy Farming Produces milk and milk products Produces milk and milk products Milk flows from milking machine through glass tubes to milk house for processing Milk flows from milking machine through glass tubes to milk house for processing Feed conveyers, refrigeration, and sterilizers have made task easier Feed conveyers, refrigeration, and sterilizers have made task easier In past, one cow produce milk for 4 people In past, one cow produce milk for 4 people -now, one cow makes milk for 6 people -now, one cow makes milk for 6 people

What about all the poop? Manure is separated and solids applied to fields, liquid used as irrigation Manure is separated and solids applied to fields, liquid used as irrigation -often stored in lagoons and treated with bacteria to make fertilizers -often stored in lagoons and treated with bacteria to make fertilizers Methane gas from manure is collected and used to generate electricity Methane gas from manure is collected and used to generate electricity

Aquaculture Raising of fish and other marine organisms in a controlled water environment Raising of fish and other marine organisms in a controlled water environment Water temp and chemistry and egg fertilization are controlled Water temp and chemistry and egg fertilization are controlled Results in more larger organisms that grow faster Results in more larger organisms that grow faster

Aquaculture Facts Facts: Facts: 90% of shrimp is farmed and imported 90% of shrimp is farmed and imported 32% of marine organisms are farmed 32% of marine organisms are farmed China is world leader in aquaculture China is world leader in aquaculture What is farmed? Carp, Salmon, Oysters, Clams What is farmed? Carp, Salmon, Oysters, Clams

Aquaculture Benefits Increased production/ size of organism/ efficiency Increased production/ size of organism/ efficiency Reduces overfishing and maintains natural populations Reduces overfishing and maintains natural populations Meets dietary needs in developing countries Meets dietary needs in developing countries Economic success Economic success Decreased dependence on foreign products Decreased dependence on foreign products

Aquaculture Local Examples: Local Examples: BC has ~135 salmon farms, started in 1971 BC has ~135 salmon farms, started in 1971 BC is 4th largest producer of farmed salmon BC is 4th largest producer of farmed salmon $294 million dollar market $294 million dollar market

Environmental Concerns 1. Seals can eat tightly packed salmon through nets without making holes 1. Seals can eat tightly packed salmon through nets without making holes -farmers began shooting seals (now banned) -farmers began shooting seals (now banned) -now use “acoustic harassment devices” that can deafen seals -now use “acoustic harassment devices” that can deafen seals -sounds have driven away many whale and porpoises from natural territory -sounds have driven away many whale and porpoises from natural territory

Environmental Concerns 2. Wastes flow untreated into natural habitat 2. Wastes flow untreated into natural habitat -many bacteria, parasites and viruses produced in salmon farms passed to wild fish -many bacteria, parasites and viruses produced in salmon farms passed to wild fish -farmed fish treated with antibiotics but still contagious to wild salmon -farmed fish treated with antibiotics but still contagious to wild salmon

Environmental Concerns 3. Epidemics of salmon lice 3. Epidemics of salmon lice -billions of lice spread to young salmon as they enter the ocean from streams -billions of lice spread to young salmon as they enter the ocean from streams -one study found that 77% of wild fish near fish farms had lethal level of sea lice -one study found that 77% of wild fish near fish farms had lethal level of sea lice

Environmental Concerns 4. Pens are coated with toxic paint, which is ingested by farm fish 4. Pens are coated with toxic paint, which is ingested by farm fish 5. Ivermectin antibiotic for sea lice is lethal in high quantities 5. Ivermectin antibiotic for sea lice is lethal in high quantities -accumulates on bottom of ocean, where prawns and other organisms ingest it -accumulates on bottom of ocean, where prawns and other organisms ingest it

Environmental Concerns 6. Escapees 6. Escapees -transfer disease to wild fish -transfer disease to wild fish -since they are larger, they outcompete wild fish -since they are larger, they outcompete wild fish -decrease genetic diversity by mating with wild fish -decrease genetic diversity by mating with wild fish Here, fishy fishy fishy!

Pesticides A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest.pest Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals

Pesticide Variety Algicides or Algaecides for the control of algae Algicides or Algaecides for the control of algae AlgicidesAlgaecidesalgae AlgicidesAlgaecidesalgae Avicides for the control of birds Avicides for the control of birds Avicidesbirds Avicidesbirds Bactericides for the control of bacteria Bactericides for the control of bacteria Bactericidesbacteria Bactericidesbacteria Fungicides for the control of fungi and oomycetes Fungicides for the control of fungi and oomycetes Fungicidesfungioomycetes Fungicidesfungioomycetes Herbicides for the control of weeds Herbicides for the control of weeds Herbicides Insecticides for the control of insects - these can be Ovicides (substances that kill eggs), Larvicides (substances that kill larvae) or Adulticides (substances that kill adult insects) Insecticides for the control of insects - these can be Ovicides (substances that kill eggs), Larvicides (substances that kill larvae) or Adulticides (substances that kill adult insects) InsecticidesinsectseggsLarvicideslarvae InsecticidesinsectseggsLarvicideslarvae Miticides or Acaricides for the control of mites Miticides or Acaricides for the control of mites MiticidesAcaricidesmites MiticidesAcaricidesmites Molluscicides for the control of slugs and snails Molluscicides for the control of slugs and snails Molluscicidesslugssnails Molluscicidesslugssnails Nematicides for the control of nematodes Nematicides for the control of nematodes Nematicidesnematodes Nematicidesnematodes Rodenticides for the control of rodents Rodenticides for the control of rodents Rodenticidesrodents Rodenticidesrodents Virucides for the control of viruses Virucides for the control of viruses Virucidesviruses Virucidesviruses Holy variety, Batman!

Agricultural Pesticides Pesticides can save farmers money by preventing crop losses to insects and other pests; in the US, farmers get a four-fold return on money they spend on pesticides Pesticides can save farmers money by preventing crop losses to insects and other pests; in the US, farmers get a four-fold return on money they spend on pesticides One study found that not using pesticides reduced crop yields by about 10%. One study found that not using pesticides reduced crop yields by about 10%. Another study found that a ban on pesticides may result in a rise of food prices, loss of jobs, and an increase in world hunger. Another study found that a ban on pesticides may result in a rise of food prices, loss of jobs, and an increase in world hunger.

Pesticide Enviro Concerns Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water, bottom sediments, and food. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water, bottom sediments, and food. Pesticide drift occurs when pesticides suspended in the air as particles are carried by wind to other areas, potentially contaminating them. Pesticide drift occurs when pesticides suspended in the air as particles are carried by wind to other areas, potentially contaminating them. Pesticide drift Pesticide drift Pesticides cause water pollution, and some pesticides are persistent organic pollutants and contribute to soil contamination. Pesticides cause water pollution, and some pesticides are persistent organic pollutants and contribute to soil contamination.water pollutionpersistent organic pollutantssoil contaminationwater pollutionpersistent organic pollutantssoil contamination

Pesticide Health Concerns Each year, 3 million workers in agriculture in the developing world experience severe poisoning from pesticides and 18,000 die Each year, 3 million workers in agriculture in the developing world experience severe poisoning from pesticides and 18,000 die poisoning from pesticides poisoning from pesticides According to one study, as many as 25 million workers in developing countries may suffer mild pesticide poisoning yearly According to one study, as many as 25 million workers in developing countries may suffer mild pesticide poisoning yearly

An Example - DDT Used in WWII to control mosquitoes Used in WWII to control mosquitoes Used for years as an insecticide Used for years as an insecticide Accumulates in animals at top of food chain, causing many deaths in eagles and falcons Accumulates in animals at top of food chain, causing many deaths in eagles and falcons Linked to many types of cancer Linked to many types of cancer Banned in US in 1972, but still around… Banned in US in 1972, but still around…