Agriculture and Society

1. Agriculture and Society Chapter 4 Lesson 4.3

2. Theme Outline • Lesson 4.3 • Farming Methods • Preparing the Land • Planting the Land • Soil Enrichment • Farms and Human Nutrition • Food Safety

3. PA Academic Standards for Environment & Ecology • Standard 4.4.10.B • Assess the influence of agricultural science on farming practices. • Compare the practices of no-till farming to traditional soil preparation (e.g., plow, disc). • Analyze and explain the various practices of nutrient management on the farm. • Analyze and explain how farm efficiencies have changed human nutrition.

4. Learning Objectives • Students will compare the practices of no-till farming with traditional preparation (e.g., plowing disking). • Students will analyze and explain the various practices of nutrient management on farms. • Students will analyze and explain how farm efficiencies have changed human nutrition. • Students will identify and describe how food safety issues have affected production in agriculture.

5. Farming Methods • All farming methods depend on the quantity and quality of soil. Soil • Definition: upper layer of land surface that all growing things use for physical support, water, and nutrients

6. Soil Formation • It takes 200-1,000 years to produce one inch of new soil, depending on the climate and parent rock • Soil contains microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, as well as plants, insects, and vertebrates • Healthy soil is vital to healthy crop production

7. Soil Formation • Soil conservation is critical to successful agriculture. • Soil erosion involves the loss of the ability of land to support crops • Methods of erosion • Natural Example: wind • Human activity Example: logging Weathering • Definition: slow wearing away of rocks by wind, water, and temperate fluctuations

9. Preparing the Land • What has to be done to the land in order to make it suitable for planting? • Machinery breaks up the surface soils which readies the upper layers of soil for planting • Concern: surface soils are most vulnerable to erosion, thus need to be protected

10. Preparing the Land • Conservation Tillage Methods • Conservation Tillage • No-till cultivation • Covered surface soils

11. Conservation Tillage • Definition: planting method in which farmers disturb surface topsoil and vegetation as little as possible In ridge tillage (one kind of conservation tillage), farmers plant seeds in the valleys between carefully molded ridges of soil. The method prevents some erosion but usually requires the addition of more fertilizer.

12. No-till Cultivation • Definition: process in which a machine drills holes in the topsoil for planting seeds without turning the soil over at all On this no-till cornfield, crop residue is left on the fields after a harvest to prevent erosion and water loss. Conventional plows are nowhere to be found.

13. Covered Surface Soils • Farmers can use leftover stubble from the previous crop to cover the soil surface between seeded areas • Prevents soil erosion • Decaying material is incorporated into the existing soil (green manure)

14. Humus • Definition: mixture of decomposed organic matter in topsoil that supplies nutrients to plants and helps retain soil moisture

15. Planting the Land • The slope of the land varies by location Example: slope effects runoff from hillside • Farmers employ various strategies to conserve the soil on their land • Soil conservation methods • Contour farming • Strip cropping • Terracing

16. Contour Farming • Definition:farming method in which farmers plow their fields and plant crops across the slope of the land instead of up and down the slope in order to help prevent water from running downhill and taking valuable soil with it

17. Strip Cropping • Definition: planting method in which wide rows or strips of crops such as corn are planted alternately with rows of a grass or legume crop

18. Terracing • Definition:farming method in which farmers build a series of broad, flat ridges that run down a hillside like stairs

19. Soil Enrichment Main types of fertilizers • Natural fertilizers • Examples: Manure, green manure, and compost • Artificial chemical fertilizers • Increase crop yields • Do not add humus to the soil • Pollution of groundwater and surface water from runoff • Examples: conventional chemical fertilizers (N-P-K)

20. Crop Rotation Soil Enrichment • Goal: Prevent losing critical soil nutrients by monitoring and maintain current soil conditions • Goal: Use a variety of soil conservation methods to conserve topsoil . • Definition: changing the crops planted in a field from year to year

21. Farms and Human Nutrition • Modern farming practices have increased the amount and variety of foods produced Example: U.S. farmers produce twice as much crops as they did in 1940

22. Meeting the Needs of a Growing Population • Farmers have had to shift their production • Plant fewer crops in larger quantities Example: rice and grains • Plant high-yield forms of crops • Use large quantities of fertilizers • Adoption of modern farming methods in developing nations

23. World Agricultural Systems • Produce enough food to supply minimal nutritional requirements for the world’s current population • Soil has a limited capacity Eventually, scientists fear that in order to keep pace with the amount of food needed the world’s population, environmental degradation is inevitable.

24. Modern Agriculture • Increased the variety and quantity of foods available • Potential destruction natural ecosystems Example: draining wetland areas • Pose potential harm to wildlife populations Example: habitat conservation • Concerns with chemical pesticide and fertilizer application Example: synthetic chemical fertilizers pollute waterways • Concerns with soil erosion Example: nutrient depletion from soil • Energy intensive Example: requires large amounts of fossil fuels

25. Modern Agriculture So what have farmers done to address these concerns? • Introduction of alternative farming methods • Soil conservation practices Example: limit exposed soils to erosion • Nutrient conservation practices Example: use of natural organic fertilizers • Habitat restoration practices Example: planting trees to prevent erosion

26. Food Safety • Food supplies needs to be safe for human consumption. • Food-borne illnesses occur when foods are contaminated with bacteria during processing, improperly stored, or improperly handled. • Example: poultry products prepared improperly by using utensils that came in contact with raw or undercooked poultry

27. Food Safety • Government regulations on food safety are shared by several government agencies • Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

28. Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Responsibilities • Inspect meat in slaughterhouses and processing plants • Grades meat and dairy products to indicate their quality • Enforces regulations to protect animals and plants from disease and pests • Conduct research • Provides educational materials to the public

29. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Responsibilities • Ensures overall quality of food products • Regulates drugs and cosmetics • Oversees food packaging • Regulates maintenance of sanitary conditions • Administrates programs to ensure safety of dairy and shellfish • Regulates nutritional labeling • Conduct research • Provides educational materials to the public

30. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Responsibilities • Regulates chemical residues on foods • Regulates the use of pesticides • Conduct research • Provides educational materials to the public

31. The role of the consumer Simple things a consumer can do… … pay attention to container dates … ensure refrigerated and frozen items are stored appropriately … examine packages for damaged products … wash all fresh fruit and vegetables