Recognizing the Importance of Agriculture

Revisiting the Definition of Agriculture On page 1 of your Know Book On page 1 of your Know Book Agriculture: The production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food, fiber and natural resources Agriculture: The production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food, fiber and natural resources

Definition Continued Food: Any product that can be ingested Food: Any product that can be ingested Fiber: Any class of materials that consists of lengths of filament that can be used to make clothes or other such products Fiber: Any class of materials that consists of lengths of filament that can be used to make clothes or other such products Natural Resources: Naturally occuring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified form Natural Resources: Naturally occuring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified form

Definitions Continued Production: the act of producing (i.e. growing or raising) Production: the act of producing (i.e. growing or raising) Processing: to prepare, treat, or convert (i.e. package, sort, slaughter, wash) Processing: to prepare, treat, or convert (i.e. package, sort, slaughter, wash) Marketing/Distribution: the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer to the consumer/buyer Marketing/Distribution: the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer to the consumer/buyer

What does that mean to me? On page 2 of your Know book write a paragraph that details why agriculture is important to you and how it affects you! On page 2 of your Know book write a paragraph that details why agriculture is important to you and how it affects you!

Virginia Agriculture On page 3 of Know Book draw a picture representing Virginia Agriculture after reading the article On page 3 of Know Book draw a picture representing Virginia Agriculture after reading the article

Virginia Agriculture Virginia Agriculture is a diverse industry that encompasses traditional crops and products Virginia Agriculture is a diverse industry that encompasses traditional crops and products Milk, poultry, beef, and soybeans Milk, poultry, beef, and soybeans VA also produces uniquely southern crops like: VA also produces uniquely southern crops like: Cotton, peanuts, tobacco Cotton, peanuts, tobacco And newer commodities like: And newer commodities like: Farm-raised fish and nursery/landscaping products Farm-raised fish and nursery/landscaping products

Virginia Agriculture Ag is very important to the economy because agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s number one industries! Ag is very important to the economy because agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s number one industries! Contributes more than $47 billion to the state economy annually Contributes more than $47 billion to the state economy annually Represents more than 15% of total employment in VA (3 out of 20) Represents more than 15% of total employment in VA (3 out of 20)

Top 10 Commodities 1. Chickens (broilers)-$506M 2. Beef Cattle- $426M 3. Milk- $266M 4. Turkeys- $260M 5. Greenhouse- $237M

Top 10 Commodities 6. Equine- $99M 7. Tomatoes- $98M 8. Soybeans- $86M 9. Corn (for grain)- $86M 10. Eggs- $71M

Where are they produced? Forest and Coal Poultry Tobacco, Livestock, lumber Dairy and Veggies Fruits and Veggies

VA Farm Profile Average Farmer is 57 years old Average Farmer is 57 years old The average size of a farm is 181 acres The average size of a farm is 181 acres Approximately 14% of VA’s primary farm operators are female Approximately 14% of VA’s primary farm operators are female There are 47,600 farms in VA There are 47,600 farms in VA There were twice as many farms in VA in 1960 than there are today There were twice as many farms in VA in 1960 than there are today Farms cover 8.6M acres or 34% of VA total land area Farms cover 8.6M acres or 34% of VA total land area

VA Farm Profile VA farms employ more than 48,000 full-time and part-time workers VA farms employ more than 48,000 full-time and part-time workers About 90% of VA farms are owned and operated by individuals or families About 90% of VA farms are owned and operated by individuals or families Approximately 34% of VA’s Farmer’s use computers in their business and 46% have internet access Approximately 34% of VA’s Farmer’s use computers in their business and 46% have internet access

VA Production Rank Nationally 1. Broilers – 9 th 2. Beef – 20 th 3. Milk – 19 th 4. Turkeys – 4 th 5. Greenhouse – 21 st 6. Equine – 5 th 7. Tomatoes – 3 rd 8. Soybeans – 19 th 9. Grain Corn – 23 rd 10. Eggs – 27 th

Why is Ag important to the US?

Agriculture is our supplier of food! Agriculture is our supplier of food! We eat 3 billion pizzas annually We eat 3 billion pizzas annually A person consumes 31 pounds of cheese annually A person consumes 31 pounds of cheese annually A person drinks 8 gallons of milk annually A person drinks 8 gallons of milk annually This has dramatically decreased from 41 gallons per person in 1945 This has dramatically decreased from 41 gallons per person in 1945

Why is Ag important to the US? Largest industry in U.S. Largest industry in U.S. The average farmer feeds 100 people The average farmer feeds 100 people Employs over 24 million people Employs over 24 million people That’s 17% of the workforce That’s 17% of the workforce Only 2% of those are “farmers” Only 2% of those are “farmers” Produces low-cost food because U.S. farmers are efficient Produces low-cost food because U.S. farmers are efficient We spend less than 7.1% of income on food We spend less than 7.1% of income on food

How is Ag Important to the World? Food Supply!!!!! Food Supply!!!!! Not all the food we produce in the U.S. is eaten here, nor do we only eat American grown food! Not all the food we produce in the U.S. is eaten here, nor do we only eat American grown food! Import: products coming into U.S. from an outside source Import: products coming into U.S. from an outside source Export: products sent out of U.S. to an outside source Export: products sent out of U.S. to an outside source Some foods are just not economically able to be grown/made locally, thus why we import food from other countries! Some foods are just not economically able to be grown/made locally, thus why we import food from other countries!

How is Ag Important to the World? Environment – “Care Takers of the Land!” Environment – “Care Takers of the Land!” The erosion rate by water on U.S. crop lands has been reduced by 32% since 1982 The erosion rate by water on U.S. crop lands has been reduced by 32% since 1982 Increase of farm land turned into wild life habitats Increase of farm land turned into wild life habitats

How is Ag Important to the World? Environment Cont. Environment Cont. By M miles of conservation buffers were installed under USDA guidelines and 33.8 M acres have been enrolled in Conservation Reserve Programs By M miles of conservation buffers were installed under USDA guidelines and 33.8 M acres have been enrolled in Conservation Reserve Programs 100’s of 1,000’s of trees are planted each year on farmland 100’s of 1,000’s of trees are planted each year on farmland Improved tilling process allow less disturbance of soil Improved tilling process allow less disturbance of soil

How is Ag Important to the World? Economy Economy Farmers only receive $.19 of every dollar spent on food!!! Where does the $.81 go??? In 1980 this amount was $.31 Farmers only receive $.19 of every dollar spent on food!!! Where does the $.81 go??? In 1980 this amount was $.31 More than 24 million people produce, process and sell agricultural products! More than 24 million people produce, process and sell agricultural products! More than food!!! (i.e. shampoo, cosmetics, lotions, toothpaste, paper, ink film, etc.) More than food!!! (i.e. shampoo, cosmetics, lotions, toothpaste, paper, ink film, etc.)

How is Ag Important to the World? World Trade World Trade Largest commercial industry that is worth over 1 trillion dollars Largest commercial industry that is worth over 1 trillion dollars We can export more than we import (GOOD!) We can export more than we import (GOOD!)

How is Ag Important to the World? World Trade Cont. World Trade Cont. We export about $53M worth of products but only import $39M We export about $53M worth of products but only import $39M About 18% of all U.S. agricultural products are exported every year. About 18% of all U.S. agricultural products are exported every year. 99M tons of grains and feed 99M tons of grains and feed 3.1 M tons of poultry meats 3.1 M tons of poultry meats 2 M tons of fresh veggies 2 M tons of fresh veggies