Determining Trends In Agriculture

Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards Addressed! RST Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words. (HS-PS1-1) WHST Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS-PS1-3)

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Standards Addressed! BS Investigate and explain the relationship between past, current and emerging applications of biotechnology in agriculture (e.g., major innovators, historical developments, potential applications of biotechnology, etc.). Sample Measurement: The following sample measurement strands are provided to guide the development of measurable activities (at different levels of proficiency) to assess students’ attainment of knowledge and skills related to the above performance indicator. The topics represented by each strand are not all-encompassing. –BS a. Examine and categorize current applications and gains achieved in applying biotechnology to agriculture.

Bell Work! Identify trends in animal agriculture Identify trends in plant agriculture Explain historical events leading to the development of today’s ag industry

Terms Aquaculture Artificial Insemination Bovine Somatotropin Cloning Embryo Splitting Embryo Transfer Estrous Estrous Cycle GATT GMO

Terms Genetic Engineering GPS Hatch Act Homestead Act Implants Internet Morrill Act Natural Selection No-tillage NAFTA

Terms Porcine Somatotropin Site Specific Farming Smith-Hughes Act Superovulation Tissue Culture Transgenetic Animals USDA VRT

Objective One Identify Trends In Animal Agriculture

Animal Improvement and Breeding Prior to the 1960’s improvement was limited to natural selection. Natural Selection is a process where animals with superior genetic quality are used for breeding. Animals with less desirable traits are eliminated from the population.

Animal Improvement and Breeding Widespread use of Artificial Insemination began in the 1960’s. Artificial Insemination involves uniting the male sperm cells and the female ova using methods other than natural mating AI greatly increases the use of genetically superior males.

CattleSwine

Animal Improvement and Breeding The development of superovulation and embryo transfer has greatly increased the number of offspring a genetically superior female can produce in her lifetime.

Cattle ovary that has received super ovulation ingections!

Superovulation Superovulation involves using certain hormones to stimulate the female ovary to increase the number eggs released during a normal estrous cycle Estrous is another term for “heat” and is the time that a female will mate Estrous cycle is the number of days from one heat period to the next

Embryo Transfer Following superovulation, the eggs are fertilized, and then flushed (removed) from the uterus of the superior female Each fertile ova is then placed into the uterus of a recipient female who serves as a surrogate mother. This process is called embryo transfer.

One Cow and her off spring! The result of embryo transfer to donor cows.

Animal Improvement and Breeding A similar development is embryo splitting. Embryo splitting involves removing a fertile ova from a genetically superior female, “cutting” it in half, and placing each half into the uterus of recipient females.

Embryo splitting!

Improving Animal Production Biotechnological discoveries in recent years have helped to improve animal production and efficiency. Using results from biological scientific investigation and research and putting it to practical use in agriculture is called biotechnology.

Improving Animal Production Bovine somatotropin, or BST, is a hormone which will increase milk production when given to cows. The hormone was found to occur naturally in cows and is found in all milk.

Improving Animal Production Porcine somatotropin, or PST, is a hormone that regulates growth rates in pigs and will increase the production of muscle cells and feed efficiency if given to hogs.

Improving Animal Production Implants are small pellets that can be placed under the skin of animals. The pellets contain hormones or other growth regulators which will release slowly to improve the animals production and efficiency.

Cattle Implants!

Genetic Improvement During the 1980’s, scientists discovered the process of changing the genetic information of DNA and were able to move genes from one cell to another. This process is often referred to as genetic engineering.

Genetic Improvement A transgenetic animal is one that has had its genes altered or manipulated. Genetic improvements can also improve the productive ability and efficiency of livestock.

Other Animal Industry Trends Aquaculture is a rapidly growing enterprise in the ag industry and has provided a niche market for some producers. Aquaculture is the production of fish and other aquatic plants and animals.

Tilapia and catfish are the most common varieties of tank raised fish.

Objective Two Identify Trends In Plant Agriculture

Improving Plant Production Since the 1920’s, ag scientists have discovered that many fertilizers, pesticides, machines, and other technologies have improved plant production and efficiency when put to use.

Improving Plant Production Tractors replaced the use of horses and led to what has been termed the second agricultural revolution. Tractors outnumbered horses and mules on farms for the first time in 1954.

Improving Conservation Conventional tillage operations, which used moldboard plowing, gave way to conservation tillage practices like minimum tillage (no moldboard plow and fewer seedbed tillage practices) and no-tillage, where only planting, spraying, and harvesting is done.

No tillage farming examples!

Improving Conservation More and more producers began using Low Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) techniques. LISA involves using less chemicals and commercial fertilizers while maintaining production efficiency and profit

Genetic Improvement Genetic engineering has created plants which are resistant to specific herbicides, insects, and diseases. Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) like BT corn and Roundup Ready Soybeans are widely used.

Genetic Improvement Some plants have been developed which are more resistant to frost damage Other plants have been improved genetically to give them a longer storage or shelf life In NM much plant research centers around drought tolerant plant species development. New varieties of alfalfa for example use less water than plants grown a decade ago.

Genetic Improvement Cloning techniques have been improved. Cloning is an asexual reproduction method where no union of male and female sex cells occurs. Methods of tissue culture, which is propagating plants from a single cell or group of cells, have been perfected.

Information Super Highway The 1990’s brought the information age to agriculture. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) use satellites to find exact field locations for grid mapping, soil sampling, and monitoring harvest yield results.

Information Super Highway Site specific farming involves applying different cultural practices to meet the needs of different field locations VRT (variable rate technology), for example, involves applying different fertilizer or pesticide rates to different field locations based upon site needs.

Information Super Highway The widespread use of computers and computer technology has created many improvements in production. The internet links communications for agri-businessmen and producers across the nation and around the world.

Objective Three Explain Historical Events Leading to the Development of Today’s Ag Industry

Historical Developments Historical events help us understand our present and predict or future. At the time of the Declaration of Independence, nearly 90% of the people were farming. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were very progressive farmers.

Historical Developments In the 1800’s, our nation’s ag policy began to take shape as Congress established ag programs and passed new ag laws Congress established a special committee for agriculture.

Historical Developments The U.S. Patent Office began agricultural research The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) was established. It was elevated to a cabinet level position in 1889.

Historical Developments The Homestead Act made 160 acres of public land available to every American over age 21 The Morrell Act established land grant colleges for agricultural study and research in every state. The University of Illinois is our land grant college.

Historical Developments The Hatch Act provided funding for agricultural research and experiment stations The Smith-Lever Act established what is now known as the Cooperative Extension Service.

Historical Developments The Smith-Hughes Act provided federal funding for high school agriculture education programs. The American Farm Bureau formed to educate its farmer members and to encourage commercial and political activities on behalf of agriculture.

Early Agriculture Education Program !

Historical Developments General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was passed to liberalize, yet protect and insure, free international trade and payments. In 1994, Congress readopted the GATT agreement.

Historical Developments The North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada was enacted. NAFTA eliminated tariffs and other restrictive trade barriers between the three countries and improved market access for agricultural products.

Historical Developments Can you think of other historical events which have had a significant impact on American agriculture as we know it today?

The End! Dolly the sheep was the first “cloned” Animal!