Defining Agriculture

Why is Agriculture Important to Everyday Life? Agriculture is the growing and harvesting of plants and animals for use by people. Made up of lots of different business - agricultural industry.

American Food – Cheaper & Safer Americans spend only 7.1 percent of their yearly income for food. In other countries, people can spend up to 50 percent of their annual income on food alone.

American Agriculture Industry Thrives because of our ideal climate, rich soils, and continuing advancement in technology and innovation One American farmer produces enough food to feed 150 people. If farmers were not able to produce large amounts of food, everyone would be responsible for growing or gathering their own food. The success and wealth of the United States can be tied to the strength of our agriculture industry. Since American farmers can efficiently feed so many people, other citizens are able to work in many different jobs.

Agriculture Industry D. Not only the farmers in the field A number of other businesses and services support the farmer and process his or her products into market-ready products. Employs more people than any other industry, over 20 percent of the workforce Plants and animals are used mostly for food and clothes, can also be used in thousands of by-products. Corn and soybeans are being used to make fuel for automobiles Acid from the bodies of cattle is used in tire production.

Agriculture is a Science Science is defined as the study of natural occurrences. Agriculture is the management of those natural occurrences that produce food, fiber, and natural resources. Biology is the study of living organisms or their life cycles, growth, and reproduction. Scientific research the agriculture industry continues to improve efficiency and production. Farmers manage natural occurrences such as plant and animal life cycles to increase the production of food and by-products.

Uses of Plants Food Fruits, vegetables, seeds, Processed ingredients such as flours, oils, sugars, and starches that are our main sources of food Provide for animals that we use for meat. Foundation of ag and have multiple uses

Clothing Plants provide us with fibers used to make clothing. Cotton is made into t-shirts, pants, and other items

Shelter and other wood products Used to build houses and other structures Make paper products The large use of paper results in a strong forestry industry.

Medicine A number of plants are grown and harvested for use in the manufacturing of medicines. Foxglove is one of the many plants that can be used in the manufacturing of medicines. It is used to make the heart medication Digitalis. Slows and strengthens the heart

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

Use of Animals Food Beef cattle Dairy cattle Pork Poultry Sheep and goats Fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals are

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

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

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

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

Agricultural Products Traded Around the Globe Agricultural products are commonly called commodities. Commodities are imported and exported around the world daily. Commodity is any useful thing that can be grown, produced, sold, or bought. Export is a commodity that is grown in the United States and shipped to a foreign country. Import is a commodity that is purchased from another country and shipped to the United States

Trade commodities with other countries because we cannot produce all the products we need in this country because of our climate. Cocoa beans, which are used to make chocolate, are grown in tropical areas such as rainforests.

Shipped by trucks, trains, boats, and planes. Mississippi River - grains are moved on barges from the Midwest to the South to then be shipped all over the world from the shipping ports in the Gulf of Mexico.