Describing the Effect of Ag On Our Society A quick look at how ag effects all of us.

Agricultural Roles Most important to the well being of our nation Forerunner of the industrial revolution, the services era, and the current information age. Responsible for feeding nations and producing goods for trade.

Early times of our country Society depended on an agrarian economy Ag employed 90% of population Food costs took 60 cents from every dollar earned Majority of exports were solely ag products

Recent times Society depends on a well rounded economy Produce more and more food with fewer resources Americans spend less than 17% of their average earnings on food Ag commodities account for only 20% of exports

Can American Ag Stand Alone? Absolutely not!! A close relationship exists between American ag and foreign countries American ag increasingly depends on world trade for both imports and exports

Terminology Imports-any type of good that is transported into our country Export- any type of good that is transported to other countries

Trade We export more than 36 billion worth of ag products annually Jobs related to the exportation of ag products employ more than one million people in the U.S. These numbers enable the U.S. to enjoy a favorable balance of trade.

Export Examples Export 60% of our wheat and rice 50% of our cotton 40% of our soybeans 30% of our feed grains and tobacco

What would the world do without the United States?

Make no Mistake Food = Power

World Uses 80% of our corn is consumed 80% of our soybeans 40% of the world’s wheat comes from the U.S 24% of the world’s rice also Even U.S tobacco is widely used