Terrisha Wilson Bio Dr. Lang University of Houston- Downtown

Agriculture- the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products. What is AGRICULTURE?

The revolution in agriculture -- involved a shift from hand labor to machine farming, and from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Between 1860 and 1890, the production of such basic commodities as wheat, corn and cotton outstripped all previous figures in the United States. In the same period, the nation's population more than doubled, with largest growth in the cities. But the American farmer grew enough grain and cotton, raised enough beef and pork, and clipped enough wool not only to supply American workers and their families but also to create ever-increasing surpluses.

Did You Know? Between 1860 and 1910, the number of farms in the United States tripled, increasing from 2 -6 million, while the area farmed more than doubled from 160 million to 352 million hectares.

Biotic- (living) 6 Biotic Factors Affecting Agricultural Production Soil organisms Pests Parasites Diseases Weeds Predators Being non-beneficial for agricultural production they can reduce the quantity or yield of produce. Being beneficial for agriculture production can include the aids aeration of soils, percolation and fertility while others root nodule bacteria which fixes nutrients directly to plants and soil.

Abiotic- (Non-living) Abiotic stresses of low nitrogen, drought, salinity and aluminum toxicity. These important abiotic stress factors that cause large and widespread yield reductions. Which causes environmental impact of low organic foods being produced.

Sustainable agriculture has been defined in several ways, for example: Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals— environmental health, economic profitability, social and economic equity.... “Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Sustainable agriculture is a model of social and economic organization based on an equitable and participatory vision of development which recognizes the environment and natural resources as the foundation of economic activity. Agriculture is sustainable when it is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just, culturally appropriate, and based on a holistic scientific approach.

Sustainable agriculture does not refer to a prescribed set of practices. Instead, it challenges producers to think about long-term implications of practices the broad interactions and dynamics of agricultural systems. It also invites consumers to get more involved in agriculture by learning more about and becoming active participants in their food systems. A key goal is to understand agriculture from an ecological perspective--in terms of nutrient and energy dynamics, Interactions among plants, animals, insects and other organisms in agroecosystems--then balance it with profit, community and consumer needs.

Why We Care? In alignment of a healthy farming system, AGRICULTURE works in harmony with the natural Environment. Animal Manure Pollutants Air and Water Pollution All plays a big part in producing organic foods. In the United States, approximately 40 percent of all chemical fertilizers used eventually break down into ammonia and are released into the atmosphere. Here’s A Fact :