Understanding the Importance of Agriculture to Society

Common Core/ Next Generation Science Standards that are addressed! RST.6 ‐ Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions. (MS ‐ LS1 ‐ 6) WHST.6 ‐ Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. (MS ‐ LS1 ‐ 6) WHST Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. (MS ‐ LS1 ‐ 6),(MS ‐ LS2 ‐ 4) SL Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one ‐ on ‐ one, in groups, and teacher ‐ led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. (MS ‐ LS2 ‐ 2)

Career Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources CS Performance Indicator: Continuous Improvement: Pursue learning and growth opportunities related to professional and personal aspirations. CS a. Identify the different types of problem solving models and their applicability to specific situations.

Bell Activities! 1. Explain why most Americans are “Agriculturally Illiterate. 2. How can agriculture literacy be improved? 3. What agriculture crops/products were used in your breakfast? What types of jobs would be involved to produce your breakfast?

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Student Objectives Define quality of life Discuss agriculture’s role in basic human nutrition List ag products used to provide food List ag products used for clothing List ag products used for human shelter

Did you Eat today? Do you have a home? Do you wear Clothing? Where would we be without Agriculture? Answer: Naked, Hungry, Cold! Recognizing the Role of Agriculture in Society!

Most people have a basic knowledge of Agriculture but are agriculturally illiterate! Barrow ? Plow? Fallow? Gilt? Molt? Hydraulics?

Define Quality of Life Objective One

Quality of life? Which standard would you prefer?

Quality of Life Having adequate supplies of the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. The Agriculture industry provides the food and fiber required by people. Agriculture allows people to enjoy a higher quality of life.

Americans spend 11% of their total income on food. In other countries people spend well over 80% of income on food. Agriculture allows Americans to spend more money on clothing shelter, and entertainment. Quality of Life

Compare our Food Dollar to other Countries!

International Trade American agriculture helps provide food and fiber for many people in other countries. International trade is the buying and selling of commodities by two or more nations.

Exports Exports are goods sold to another country. Corn, soybeans, rice and wheat are examples of important American agriculture exports. The success of American agriculture is largely dependent on its exports.

Imports Commodities bought from other countries are called imports. Major American agricultural imports are bananas, coffee, shrimp, and vanilla.

Good jobs help people enjoy a better quality of life as well. The American agriculture industry provides jobs for about 16 out of every 100 people in our country. This is higher than any other industry in the country.

Discuss Modern Agriculture’s Role in Basic Human Nutrition Objective Two

What Role Does Agriculture Play In Basic Human Nutrition? Today, one American farmer feeds over 130 people. Consumers have a year-round, wide variety of inexpensive, quality foods to choose from. We don’t always make nutritious choices.

Food Guide Pyramid Helps people make healthy eating choices Contains 5 nutritional groups Recommends types of foods from each group for healthy consumption Nutritional fact labels must also be present on all processed food products

Five Nutritional Groups Breads Fruits Vegetables Milk Meat

Other Factors Effecting Healthy Eating Choices! Your Age Your Activity Level Your Gender, and Your Body Size

List Ag Products Used To Provide Food Objective Three

What Ag Products Provide Food? Grains Fruits Vegetables Milk Meat Nuts

Grain Crops Grains are grown throughout the U.S. The largest region of production is in the Midwest Grains are used for bread, pasta, rice, cereal, and many other food products Wheat, rye, and corn are examples of grains

Fruits Citrus (grapefruit, oranges, tangelos, lemons, limes) are grown in Florida, California, or imported Blueberries are grown in Michigan Apples are grown in many states Fruits are sold fresh or as processed juice

Vegetables Cool weather vegetables (like lettuce and broccoli) are grown in northern states in summer and southern states in winter Many vegetables are imported from South America and Mexico

Milk Dairy foods are processed from milk. Most milk comes from cattle on dairy farms. Another source of milk is goats. California and Wisconsin are leading dairy producing states. New Mexico quite often leads the nation in the amount of milk produced per cow!

Meat Includes poultry Beef Pork Fish, and Lamb

Poultry Poultry Includes domesticated birds grown for food. Chicken is most popular followed by turkey. Chickens also produce most of the eggs consumed in the country. Poultry consumption increases in the U.S.

Beef Beef is meat from cattle Steak and hamburger are popular beef dishes

Pork Pork is meat from swine. Swine is a term to describe hogs and pigs. Pork chops, bacon, and sausage are popular pork dishes.

Fish Aquaculture is the term used to describe the production of fish and other aquatic plants and animals Fish are farmed in the ocean, ponds, and tanks. Fish are harvested, processed and sold either fresh or frozen.

Lamb Lamb refers to meat from sheep less than a year old. Mutton is from sheep that are over a year old. Compared to beef, pork and poultry, Americans consume relatively little lamb and mutton.

Nuts Each year, about 430,000 tons of nuts are produced in the United States. The four major types of nuts produced are almonds, pecans, walnuts, and filberts New Mexico is one of the top two states in pecan production.

List Ag Products Used For Clothing Objective Four

Clothing is Made From Natural and Synthetic Fiber Natural fiber comes from plants and animals. ( mostly wool and cotton ) Synthetic fibers are manufactured from petroleum and other substances

Examples of Natural Fibers Cotton Flax Kenaf Jute Hemp and Sisal Wool and Fur

Cotton Cotton is a perennial plant that is grown as an annual. Cotton requires a long, warm growing season. Top cotton producing states are California, Texas and Arizona.

Cotton is picked by large machines that remove the lint from the bolls The cotton is taken to the gin to remove the seeds Seeds are used for cooking oil or livestock feed Lint is pressed, graded, and milled into cloth

Flax Flax plants produce fibers used in making high quality cloth called linen Flax requires a rainy and warm climate Minnesota, North and South Dakota grow substantial amounts of flax

Flax plants grow about three feet tall Linen comes from the fibers that make up the phloem of the plant Fibers are rolled and later combed to be spun into yarn Flax seed is used to make linseed oil for paints and varnishes

Kenaf, Jute, Hemp and Sisal Kenaf is a relatively new plant that is used to make cloth and paper Jute plant fiber is used to make burlap Hemp and Sisal are coarse fibers used to make rope

Wool and Fur Sheep and goat fleece are sheared, cleaned, dyed, and woven into threads Angora goat fleece is woven into mohair Fur is used to produce hats, coats, and other clothing. Rabbit and mink are two examples of fur used in clothing

Synthetic Fibers Rayon, nylon and polyester fibers are processed from petroleum products. Synthetic fibers are more durable and wrinkle less than natural fiber. Natural fiber is more comfortable. Cloth today is often a blend of both natural and synthetic fiber.

List Ag Products Used For Shelter Objective Five

Forestry Forestry involves planting, caring for, and harvesting trees. There are about 736 million acres of forest land in the United States. Products like plywood, particle board, veneer, and paper are used for shelter.

Hardwood and Softwood Trees Hardwood trees are deciduous--they lose their leaves in the fall Softwood trees are conifers. Conifers are evergreen trees that have cones and needles rather than leaves

Trees are felled (cut down) and cut into log lengths of 12 to 20 feet At the saw mill, logs are cut into boards and graded Lumber is cut while still green Lumber must be seasoned. Seasoning is the natural or artificial drying of the lumber

Natural drying involves allowing air to circulate around and through stacks of lumber Artificial drying uses heat and is faster Lumber is smoothed and sized. Planing involves removing the roughness left from sawing

Paper Smaller trees are used for paper. Wood is broken into small pieces and soaked in a chemical bath to make pulp. Pulp is screened, washed and drained. Fibers are then rolled and dried. Fibers bond together during drying.

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