7 th Grade Agriculture Science

Agriculture - the growing and harvesting of plants and animals for use by people. 1. Agriculture is considered a science Science: the study of natural occurrences. Agriculture is the management of those natural occurrences that produce food, fiber, and natural resources.

The Science of Agriculture A. Biology is the study of living organisms or their life cycles, growth, and reproduction. B. Farmers manage natural occurrences such as plant and animal life cycles to increase the production of food and by-products.

Scientific research in the Agriculture Science continues to improve efficiency and production.

What is the Agricultural Industry? The Agriculture system is made up of lots of different businesses. All of these businesses together make up the agricultural industry. The American agriculture system is very strong and makes up an important part of our economy.

Agriculture is important to everyday life A. American people have cheaper and safer food than any other people around the globe. 1. Americans spend only 7.1 percent of their yearly income for food. 2. In other countries, people can spend up to 50 percent of their annual income on food alone.

B. The success and wealth of the United States can be tied to the strength of our agriculture industry. The American agriculture industry thrives because of our ideal climate, rich soils, and continuing advancement in technology and innovation.

C. Since American farmers can efficiently feed so many people, other citizens are able to work in many different jobs. 1. One American farmer produces enough food to feed 129 people. 2. If farmers were not able to produce large amounts of food, everyone would be responsible for growing or gathering their own food.

D. A number of other businesses and services support farmers and process their products into market-ready products. 1. The U.S. agriculture industry employs more people than any other industry (>20% of civilian workforce) 2. Plants and Animals grown on farms can be used for food and clothing or in thousands of other by- products. Examples Corn and soybeans are being used to make fuel for automobiles The acid from the bodies of cattle is used in tire production.

Plants are the foundation of agriculture & have many uses A. Food 1. Plants provide us with fruits, vegetables, and seeds. They also provide us with processed ingredients like flours, oils, sugars, and starches 2. Plants provide the food for animals that we raise for meat

The uses of plants continued B. Clothing 1. Plants provide us with fibers used to make clothing. 2. Cotton has been grown in this country for hundreds of years and is made into t-shirts, pants, and other clothing items.

Uses of Plants cont. C. Shelter and other wood products 1. Trees are used to build houses, buildings, and furniture. Most of the trees harvested for wood have been planted and maintained by tree farmers. 2. Trees are also used to make paper products. The large use of paper in our country results in a strong forestry industry.

Uses of Plants Continued D. Medicine A number of plants are grown and harvested for use in the manufacturing of medicines. Example: Foxglove is used to make the heart medication Digitalis.

Uses of Plants Cont. E. Decoration 1. One of the fastest growing aspects of the agriculture industry is the use of plants in ornamental horticulture. 2. More people are purchasing plants, such as bushes, trees, turf grass, potted plants, and flowers, for the decoration of their homes and businesses.

Animals produced by agriculture are used in many ways A. Food - Most of the animals produced in the United States are raised for food. Beef cattle provide us with steaks, hamburger, roasts, and other meat products. Dairy cattle produce milk that is used for drinking and to make products such as cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products.

Meat products continued The pork industry supplies us with meat such as ham, sausage, bacon, ribs, and pork chops. The poultry industry provides us with meat and eggs from chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other poultry animals. Sheep and goats provide us with meat and milk. The meat from sheep is called lamb or mutton. Fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals are also grown on farms to meet the demand of consumers. This is called aquaculture.

Animal products continued B. Clothing 1. The hides of cattle and hogs are used to make leather products like coats, belts, and shoes. 2. Wool from sheep is spun into yarn to make sweaters, coats, socks, and other warm clothing.

Animal products continued C. Household items 1. Many household items are made from by-products of livestock. Some of these include pet foods, detergents, candles, plastics, footballs, and baseballs.

Animal products continued D. Medicine 1. Animal by-products have been instrumental in the development of new treatments for diabetes. 2. Research is also being performed on organ transplants from pigs to humans.

Animal products continued E. Service 1. Animals are still used to complete work in many parts of the agriculture industry. Examples Horses: used to herd cattle grazing on large areas of land. Dogs: used on farms to herd cattle and sheep.

Agricultural products are traded around the globe. Agricultural products are commonly called commodities. Commodities are imported and exported around the world daily. A commodity is any useful thing that can be grown, produced, sold, or bought. An export is a commodity that is grown in the United States and shipped to a foreign country. An import is a commodity that is purchased from another country and shipped to the United States.

Why do we trade commodities with other countries? We cannot produce all the products we need in this country because of our climate. Example: cocoa beans (used to make chocolate) are grown in tropical areas such as rainforests.

Transportation of agricultural goods Agricultural commodities are shipped around the world by trucks, trains, boats, and planes. Example: The Mississippi River is an excellent example of how grains are moved on barges from the Midwest to the South. They are then shipped all over the world from the shipping ports in the Gulf of Mexico.

REVIEW 1. Why is agriculture important to everyday life? 2. Why is agriculture considered a science? 3. Discuss the uses of plants. 4. How are the animals produced by the agriculture industry used? 5. How and why are agricultural products traded with other countries?