1. American Agriculture in the 20th and 21st Century

2. Third Ag. Revolution: Green Revolution
Biotechnology
Genetic engineering: High Yield Seeds
Winners: Developed Countries and Asia
Losers: famine ridden countries. i.e Sub-Saharan Africa because of government corruption, lack of infrastructure, poor soil etc.
Enough food to feed the world but intervening governments make it difficult.

3. Manifest Destiny
In the early 20th century people moved westward in search of land and ultimately wealth.
Farms began to move from the east coast, Carolinas, to the great-coasts, Illinois and westward.
Overproduction of the Great Plains region contributed to the dust bowl which would ruin previously soil rich counties and states.
Rain followed the plow– 1920, true
1930, great depression, opposite, depression and dust bowl

4. M.D Cont.
Manifest Destiny and a lack of agricultural resources continued to push settlers westward eventually reaching California.
Here farmers would find soil and climates that would be ripe for fruit and vegetable production. (ha! punny)
Rain follows the plow has of course been discredited, now, the opposite is known to be true. You need a rich vegetative area for abundant rainfall
An area of specialty truck farming and market gardening

6. Introduction to a new Era
Environmental Modification- the introduction of manmade chemicals and practices to an area.
Pesticides- intended to kill insects and decrease crop loss.
Creating a more prevalent presence of chemicals in our food and environment
This would help to usher in the organic movement that would be a cornerstone for the new (or rather old) agricultural revolution.
Market gardening in both florida and california required environmental modification such as irrigration from the auqifer

7. Negative Impact
Desertification- overgrazing leading to encroaching deserts with arid regions.
When herds graze land that does not receive enough rainfall the land is stripped of vegetation, perpetuating the arid climate eventually leading to barren, desert-like land.
Overproduction-high supply, low demand
Mass Production
5min-8:20 Atmosphere.

8. The Future of American (Sustainable) Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture- a practice that preserves and enhances environmental quality.
Done through three means:
Sensitive Land Management
Limited Use of Chemicals
Integrated Crop and Livestock
10min-

9. Sensitive Land Management
Ridge Tillage- after harvest, planting occurs on the top of the ridges formed during cultivation
Saves soil and lowers production cost

10. Limited Use of Chemicals
Conventionally “roundup-ready” seeds are used. This is a coated seed that is intended to repel insects and weeds.
More time and money can be applied with same results- high yield but without harmful chemicals.

11. Integrated Crop and Livestock
A return to the historical form of agriculture.
Growing crops and raising animals together creating an agriculturally sustainable cycle.
Then finish Youtube.

12. Future of American Agriculture
Aquaculture- commercial fish farming
Forestry replenishment- timber companies replanting of trees to ensure a sustainable yield for years to come.
Creative destruction- removal of what nature originally produced in a particular location to grow what is desired.
Genetic engineering has lead to climate not being the sole dictator of agricultural production.

13. Reality of American Agriculture
No longer small farms but mass production.
Argue that small farm producers create an unstable, variety in quantity and quality that had lead to the desire for mass production farms.
Huge feedlots have been popping up, particularly in the south, where tens of thousands of chicken, turkey, hog, etc are fattened before slaughter.
Feed lot videos

14. “just in time” farming
Feedlots are located close to processing plants so slaughter to store is a quick process allowing for the freshest product possible.
Small farmers must decide whether to continue to ‘go it alone’ or join the growing of feed, rather than livestock, to sell to large corporate farms.
Livestock production is almost non-existent in the Corn Belt, which almost exclusively grows corn for feed.

15. Global Agriculture: World Crop Regions
Globally, climate is still the most important factor in agricultural production.
Shifting cultivation dominates the tropical rainforests
Pastoral nomadism, prevalent in semi-arid regions.
The second most important factor is the economic system of the country.
In LDC’s if you live in a more arid climate you are dependent on animals while in more moist areas you are dependent upon crops.

16. U.S production Corn and soybean:
Ethanol is a corn biproduct which is required by many states to be used in gasoline.

17. South American Production: Brazil
In South America, some ethanol is made from corn, but the majority is made from sugarcane.
Brazil is one of
the largest
producer of
ethanol and
is sold to MDC’s

18. Eastern Europe: Ag. Production
Wheat is a major product used to produce food for the large population.
Bread is a staple.
Food production is
highly regulated by
the E.U leading to
nearly half of the
products sold in
supermarkets as
organic.

19. Africa: Ag. Production Sorghum or millet High calorie As part of the
developing world
parts of Africa have
employed Western Universities to assist in increasing yield of millet to help feed their growing population.

20. Asia: Ag. Production Rice Staple in diet Green Revolution
had greatest impact in
Asia.
Produced in
wet climate
regions and is
traded and
sold on a global
market.
Planned
economy of China
dictates what is
grown…remember
noodle line?