Agriculture and Society

Agriculture and Agriculture and SocietySociety

Chapter 4Chapter 4Lesson 4.3Lesson 4.3

Theme OutlineTheme Outline Lesson 4.3Lesson 4.3

• Farming MethodsFarming Methods• Preparing the LandPreparing the Land• Planting the LandPlanting the Land• Soil EnrichmentSoil Enrichment• Farms and Human NutritionFarms and Human Nutrition• Food SafetyFood Safety

PA Academic Standards for PA Academic Standards for Environment & EcologyEnvironment & Ecology

Standard 4.4.10.BStandard 4.4.10.B Assess the influence of agricultural science on Assess the influence of agricultural science on

farming practices.farming practices.• Compare the practices of no-till farming to Compare the practices of no-till farming to

traditional soil preparation (e.g., plow, disc).traditional soil preparation (e.g., plow, disc).

• Analyze and explain the various practices of Analyze and explain the various practices of nutrient management on the farm.nutrient management on the farm.

• Analyze and explain how farm efficiencies have Analyze and explain how farm efficiencies have changed human nutrition.changed human nutrition.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Students will compare the practices of no-till Students will compare the practices of no-till farming with traditional preparation (e.g., farming with traditional preparation (e.g., plowing disking).plowing disking).

Students will analyze and explain the various Students will analyze and explain the various practices of nutrient management on farms.practices of nutrient management on farms.

Students will analyze and explain how farm Students will analyze and explain how farm efficiencies have changed human nutrition.efficiencies have changed human nutrition.

Students will identify and describe how food Students will identify and describe how food safety issues have affected production in safety issues have affected production in agriculture.agriculture.

Farming MethodsFarming Methods All farming methods depend on the quantity and All farming methods depend on the quantity and

quality of quality of soilsoil..SoilSoil

DefinitionDefinition: upper layer of land surface that all growing : upper layer of land surface that all growing things use for physical support, water, and nutrientsthings use for physical support, water, and nutrients

Soil FormationSoil Formation It takes 200-1,000 years to produce one inch of new soil, It takes 200-1,000 years to produce one inch of new soil,

depending on the climate and parent rockdepending on the climate and parent rock Soil contains microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, as well Soil contains microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, as well

as plants, insects, and vertebratesas plants, insects, and vertebrates Healthy soil is vital to healthy crop productionHealthy soil is vital to healthy crop production

Soil FormationSoil Formation Soil conservation is critical to successful agriculture.Soil conservation is critical to successful agriculture. Soil erosion involves the loss of the ability of land to Soil erosion involves the loss of the ability of land to

support cropssupport crops Methods of erosionMethods of erosion

• NaturalNatural

Example: windExample: wind• Human activityHuman activity

Example: loggingExample: logging

WeatheringWeathering DefinitionDefinition: slow wearing away of rocks by wind, water, : slow wearing away of rocks by wind, water,

and temperate fluctuationsand temperate fluctuations

Preparing the LandPreparing the Land What has to be done to the land in order to make it What has to be done to the land in order to make it

suitable for planting?suitable for planting?

• Machinery breaks up the surface soils which readies Machinery breaks up the surface soils which readies the upper layers of soil for plantingthe upper layers of soil for planting

• Concern: surface soils are most vulnerable to erosion, Concern: surface soils are most vulnerable to erosion, thus need to be protectedthus need to be protected

Preparing the LandPreparing the Land

Conservation Tillage MethodsConservation Tillage Methods• Conservation TillageConservation Tillage• No-till cultivationNo-till cultivation• Covered surface soilsCovered surface soils

Conservation TillageConservation Tillage

DefinitionDefinition: : planting method in which farmers disturb planting method in which farmers disturb surface topsoil and vegetation as little as possiblesurface 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.

No-till CultivationNo-till Cultivation

DefinitionDefinition: process in which a machine drills holes in the : process in which a machine drills holes in the topsoil for planting seeds without turning the soil over at topsoil for planting seeds without turning the soil over at allall

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.

Covered Surface SoilsCovered Surface Soils Farmers can use leftover stubble from the previous crop to Farmers can use leftover stubble from the previous crop to

cover the soil surface between seeded areascover the soil surface between seeded areas Prevents soil erosionPrevents soil erosion Decaying material is incorporated into the existing soilDecaying material is incorporated into the existing soil

(green manure)(green manure)

HumusHumus DefinitionDefinition: mixture of decomposed organic matter in : mixture of decomposed organic matter in

topsoil that supplies nutrients to plants and helps retain topsoil that supplies nutrients to plants and helps retain soil moisturesoil moisture

Planting the LandPlanting the Land The slope of the land varies by locationThe slope of the land varies by location

Example: slope effects runoff from hillsideExample: slope effects runoff from hillside

Farmers employ various strategies to conserve the Farmers employ various strategies to conserve the soil on their landsoil on their land

Soil conservation methodsSoil conservation methods• Contour farming• Strip cropping• Terracing

Contour Farming Definition:Definition: farming method in which farmers plow their farming method in which farmers plow their

fields and plant crops across the slope of the land instead fields and plant crops across the slope of the land instead of up and down the slope in order to help prevent water of up and down the slope in order to help prevent water from running downhill and taking valuable soil with itfrom running downhill and taking valuable soil with it

Strip Cropping DefinitionDefinition: planting method in which wide rows or strips : planting method in which wide rows or strips

of crops such as corn are planted alternately with rows of a of crops such as corn are planted alternately with rows of a grass or legume cropgrass or legume crop

Terracing Definition:Definition: farming method in which farmers build a farming method in which farmers build a

series of broad, flat ridges that run down a hillside like series of broad, flat ridges that run down a hillside like stairsstairs

Soil EnrichmentSoil Enrichment

Main types of fertilizersMain types of fertilizers• Natural fertilizersNatural fertilizers

• Examples: Manure, green Examples: Manure, green manure, and compostmanure, and compost

• Artificial chemical fertilizersArtificial chemical fertilizers• Increase crop yieldsIncrease crop yields• Do not add humus to the soilDo not add humus to the soil• Pollution of groundwater and Pollution of groundwater and

surface water from runoffsurface water from runoff• Examples: conventional Examples: conventional

chemical fertilizers (N-P-K)chemical fertilizers (N-P-K)

Goal: Prevent losing critical soil nutrients by monitoring Goal: Prevent losing critical soil nutrients by monitoring and maintain current soil conditionsand maintain current soil conditions

Goal: Use a variety of soil conservation methods to Goal: Use a variety of soil conservation methods to conserve topsoil .conserve topsoil .

Soil EnrichmentSoil Enrichment

Crop Rotation DefinitionDefinition: changing the crops planted in a field from : changing the crops planted in a field from

year to yearyear to year

Farms and Human NutritionFarms and Human Nutrition Modern farming practices have increased the Modern farming practices have increased the

amount and variety of foods producedamount and variety of foods produced

Example: U.S. farmers produce twice as much crops Example: U.S. farmers produce twice as much crops as they did in 1940as they did in 1940

Meeting the Needs of a Meeting the Needs of a Growing PopulationGrowing Population

Farmers have had to shift their productionFarmers have had to shift their production• Plant fewer crops in larger quantitiesPlant fewer crops in larger quantities

Example: rice and grainsExample: rice and grains• Plant high-yield forms of cropsPlant high-yield forms of crops• Use large quantities of fertilizersUse large quantities of fertilizers• Adoption of modern farming methods in developing Adoption of modern farming methods in developing

nationsnations

World Agricultural SystemsWorld Agricultural Systems Produce enough food to supply minimal Produce enough food to supply minimal

nutritional requirements for the world’s current nutritional requirements for the world’s current populationpopulation

Soil has a limited capacitySoil has a limited capacityEventually, scientists fear that in order to keep pace with Eventually, scientists fear that in order to keep pace with

the amount of food needed the world’s population, the amount of food needed the world’s population, environmental degradation is inevitable. environmental degradation is inevitable.

Modern AgricultureModern Agriculture

• Increased the variety and quantity of foods availableIncreased the variety and quantity of foods available• Potential destruction natural ecosystemsPotential destruction natural ecosystems

Example: draining wetland areasExample: draining wetland areas• Pose potential harm to wildlife populationsPose potential harm to wildlife populations

Example: habitat conservationExample: habitat conservation• Concerns with chemical pesticide and fertilizer applicationConcerns with chemical pesticide and fertilizer application

Example: synthetic chemical fertilizers pollute waterwaysExample: synthetic chemical fertilizers pollute waterways• Concerns with soil erosionConcerns with soil erosion

Example: nutrient depletion from soilExample: nutrient depletion from soil• Energy intensiveEnergy intensive

Example: requires large amounts of fossil fuelsExample: requires large amounts of fossil fuels

Modern AgricultureModern AgricultureSo what have farmers done to address these concerns?So what have farmers done to address these concerns?

• Introduction of alternative farming methodsIntroduction of alternative farming methods Soil conservation practicesSoil conservation practices

Example: limit exposed soils to erosionExample: limit exposed soils to erosion Nutrient conservation practicesNutrient conservation practices

Example: use of natural organic fertilizersExample: use of natural organic fertilizers Habitat restoration practicesHabitat restoration practices

Example: planting trees to prevent erosionExample: planting trees to prevent erosion

Food SafetyFood Safety

Food supplies needs to be safe for human Food supplies needs to be safe for human consumption.consumption.

Food-borne illnesses occur when foods are Food-borne illnesses occur when foods are contaminated with bacteria during processing, contaminated with bacteria during processing, improperly stored, or improperly handled.improperly stored, or improperly handled. Example: poultry products prepared improperly by Example: poultry products prepared improperly by

using utensils that came in contact with raw or using utensils that came in contact with raw or undercooked poultryundercooked poultry

Food SafetyFood Safety

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

Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture (USDA)(USDA)

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Inspect meatInspect meat in slaughterhouses and processing plants in slaughterhouses and processing plants Grades Grades meat and dairy products to indicate their qualitymeat and dairy products to indicate their quality Enforces regulations to protect animals and plants from Enforces regulations to protect animals and plants from

disease and pestsdisease and pests Conduct researchConduct research Provides educational materials to the publicProvides educational materials to the public

Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration (FDA)(FDA)

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Ensures overall quality of food productsEnsures overall quality of food products Regulates drugs and cosmeticsRegulates drugs and cosmetics Oversees food packagingOversees food packaging Regulates maintenance of sanitary Regulates maintenance of sanitary

conditionsconditions Administrates programs to ensure safety of Administrates programs to ensure safety of

dairy and shellfishdairy and shellfish Regulates nutritional labelingRegulates nutritional labeling Conduct researchConduct research Provides educational materials to the Provides educational materials to the

publicpublic

Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(EPA)

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Regulates chemical residues on foodsRegulates chemical residues on foods Regulates the use of pesticidesRegulates the use of pesticides Conduct researchConduct research Provides educational materials to the publicProvides educational materials to the public

The role of the consumerThe role of the consumer

Simple things a consumer can do…Simple things a consumer can do… … … pay attention to container datespay attention to container dates … … ensure refrigerated and frozen items are stored ensure refrigerated and frozen items are stored

appropriatelyappropriately … … examine packages for damaged productsexamine packages for damaged products … … wash all fresh fruit and vegetableswash all fresh fruit and vegetables