Agriscience in our Growing World Agriscience Course

Agriscience in our Growing World  Agriscience is the science of food production, processing, and distribution.  It is the system that supplies fiber for building materials, rope, silk, wool, cotton, and medicines.  It provides the grasses and ornamental trees and shrubs that beautify our landscapes, protect the soil, filter out dust and sound, and supply oxygen to the air.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, agriscience accounts for 14% of jobs in the U.S.

Agriscience in our Growing World  It is the mechanism that permits the U.S. and other developed countries to enjoy high standards of living.  It is the system that developing countries are using in their efforts to feed and clothe their bulging populations.  People look to agriscience for the necessary technology to compete on a par with other nations in the 21 st century.  The U.S. is a major world supplier of food, fiber for clothing and of trees for lumber, posts, pilings, paper, and wood products.  The use of ornamental plants and acreage devoted to recreation has never been greater in the history of our country.

Changing Population Patterns  The United Nations Organization has reported that more children than ever before are surviving to adulthood.  It also indicated that adults are living longer.  Together, these trends mean more population growth and more pressure on the environment.  Advancements in medical science and services have made good health and longer lives a reality, but only for those who can afford good nutrition and modern health services.  Similarly, through agriscience, we have made substantial gains in providing food, fiber, and shelter for the world.

Changing Population Patterns  At the same time, the environment has stayed reasonably clean, considering the impact of bulging populations.  In the past, individuals younger than 25 years constituted the world’s largest population group.  This occurred because children were valued for the help they provided in making the family living.  Children and young adults were engaged in a nation’s labor force and provided the manpower for armies.  In most countries, the young respected their elders and provided for the needs of the elderly within the family.

Changing Population Patterns  The age profiles of people in developed countries are quite different than those of developing countries.  China has about one-fifth of the world’s population, yet it has been reasonably successful at feeding its population by keeping about 70% of its work force on farms.  In contrast, less than 2% of the work force in the U.S. is necessary to operate the nation’s farms.  In the mid-1970s, China implemented a policy whereby each couple was limited to one child, called the policy.  What would be the implications of feeding a nation with a population of mostly elderly people?

Impact of Agriscience  History records little progress in agriculture for thousands of years.  Starting in the early 1800s, the use of iron spurred inventions that revolutionized agriculture in the U.S., British Isles, and northern Europe.  However, for most of the world, progress has been much slower.  In some nations, government leaders are slow to implement agriscience because the nation initially would experience massive unemployment as machines displaced human labor.

Progress through Agricultural Engineering  Mechanization through inventive engineering was an important factor in the U.S.’ agricultural development.  The change from 90% to less than 2% of the workers being farmers evolved over a 200 year period.  Machines helped make this possible.  One of the most significant technologies to increase the efficiency of farm production was the generation and distribution of electricity to rural farming areas.  Many of the labor-intensive jobs that were performed by hand 75 years ago are now performed by machines that are powered by electricity.  Some examples include grain augers, milking machines, water pumps, fans, conveyor belts, power tools, and many other machines.

American Inventors  The U.S. is home to the inventors of many of the world’s most important agricultural machines.  Your Turn to Research!  What contribution did each person make to agriculture? What year did they invent their product? What were the advantages to their invention or what did they accomplish with it? Did it lead to further inventions?  Cyrus McCormick, Thomas Jefferson, John Deere, Eli Whitney, Edmund W. Quincy, Joseph Glidden, Anna Baldwin, and Benjamin Holt

Formation of Machinery Companies  Many of the early inventors worked alone or with one or two partners.  The development of mechanical cotton pickers and corn harvesters greatly expanded the output per farm.  Significant expansion of U.S. agriculture also resulted from the development of irrigation technology.  Since the end of World War II, the mechanization of U.S. agriculture has moved at a breathtaking pace.

Mechanizing Undeveloped Countries  In the developing countries of the world, many engineers, teachers, and technicians has sought simple, tough, reliable machines to improve agriculture.  In such countries, the U.S.’ highly developed, complex, computerized, and expensive machinery does not work for long.  Most countries do not have people trained for the variety of agriculture mechanics jobs that are needed to support U.S. agriculture.

Improving Plant & Animal Performance  Without the farming revolution of the last 60 years, our citizens would not be free to pursue other occupations.  What accomplishments has our nation made in terms of improving plant and animal performance?  Brainstorm and create a list of at least 8 accomplishments.

Research  Define biotechnology  Define the following:  Legume  Tofu  Katahdin  BelRus  Russet  Green Revolution  Feedstuff  Monoclonal antibodies  Hybrid  Nitrogen Gas Lasers