Unit A Unit A Agricultural Literacy

Problem Area Problem Area Recognizing The Role Of Agriculture In Society

Lesson Lesson Understanding The Importance Of Agriculture To Society

Student Objectives u Define quality of life u Discuss agriculture’s role in basic human nutrition u List ag products used to provide food u List ag products used for clothing u List ag products used for human shelter

Terms u Aquaculture u Beef u Conifer u Deciduous tree u Exports u Food Pyramid u Forestry u International Trade u Imports u Lamb u Mutton

Terms (continued) u Natural Fiber u Nutritional groups u Pork u Poultry u Pulp u Quality of life u Seasoning u Swine u Synthetic fibers

Objective One Define Quality of Life

Quality of Life u Having adequate supplies of the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter u The ag industry provides the food and fiber required by people u Agriculture allows people to enjoy a higher quality of life

u Americans spend 11% of their total income on food u People spend 70% in some other countries u Agriculture allows Americans to spend more money on clothing shelter, and entertainment Quality of Life

International Trade u American agriculture helps provide food and fiber for many people in other countries u International trade is the buying and selling of commodities by two or more nations

Exports u Exports are goods sold to another country u Corn, soybeans, and wheat are examples of important American agriculture exports u The success of American agriculture is largely dependent on its exports

Imports u Commodities bought from other countries are called imports u Major American imports are bananas, coffee, shrimp, and vanilla

u Good jobs help people enjoy a better quality of life as well u The American agriculture industry provides jobs for about 16 out of every 100 people. u This is higher than any other industry in the country

Objective Two Discuss Modern Agriculture’s Role in Basic Human Nutrition

What Role Does Agriculture Play In Basic Human Nutrition? u Today, one American farmer feeds over 130 people u Consumers have a year-round, wide variety of inexpensive, quality foods to choose from u We don’t always make nutritious choices

Food Guide – My Plate u Helps people make healthy eating choices u Contains 5 nutritional groups u Recommends types of foods from each group for healthy consumption u Nutritional fact labels must also be present on all processed food products

Five Nutritional Groups u Grains u Fruits u Vegetables u Dairy u Proteins

Other Factors Effecting Healthy Eating Choices u Your Age u Your Activity Level u Your Gender

Objective Three List Ag Products Used To Provide Food

What Ag Products Provide Food? u Grains u Fruits u Vegetables u Milk u Meat u Nuts

Grain Crops u Grains are grown throughout the U.S. u The largest region of production is in the Midwest u Grains are used for bread, pasta, rice, cereal, and many other food products u Wheat, rye, and corn are examples of grains

Fruits u Citrus (grapefruit, oranges, tangelos, lemons, limes) are grown in Florida, California, or imported u Blueberries are grown in Michigan u Apples are grown in many states u Fruits are sold fresh or as processed juice

Vegetables u Cool weather vegetables (like lettuce and broccoli) are grown in northern states in summer and southern states in winter u Many vegetables are imported from South America and Mexico

Milk u Dairy foods are processed from milk u Most milk comes from cattle on dairy farms u Another source of milk is goats u California and Wisconsin are leading dairy producing states

Meat u Includes poultry u Beef u Pork u Fish, and u Lamb

Poultry u Poultry Includes domesticated birds grown for food u Chicken is most popular followed by turkey u Chickens also produce most of the eggs consumed in the country

Beef u Beef is meat from cattle u Steak and hamburger are popular beef dishes

Pork u Pork is meat from swine u Swine is a term to describe hogs and pigs u Pork chops, bacon, and sausage are popular pork dishes

Fish u Aquaculture is the term used to describe the production of fish and other aquatic plants and animals u Fish are farmed in the ocean, ponds, raceways, and tanks u Fish are harvested, processed and sold either fresh or frozen

Lamb u Lamb refers to meat from sheep less than a year old u Mutton is from sheep that are over a year old u Compared to beef, pork and poultry, Americans consume relatively little lamb and mutton

Nuts u Each year, about 430,000 tons of nuts are produced in the United States u The four major types of nuts produced are almonds, pecans, walnuts, and filberts

Objective Four List Ag Products Used For Clothing

Clothing is Made From Natural and Synthetic Fiber u Natural fiber comes from plants and animals u Synthetic fibers are manufactured from petroleum and other substances

Examples of Natural Fibers u Cotton u Flax u Kenaf u Jute u Hemp and Sisal u Wool and Fur

Cotton u Cotton is a perennial plant that is grown as an annual u Cotton requires a long, warm growing season u Top cotton producing states are California, Texas and Arizona

u Cotton is picked by large machines that remove the lint from the bolls u The cotton is taken to the gin to remove the seeds u Seeds are used for cooking oil or livestock feed u Lint is pressed, graded, and milled into cloth

Flax u Flax plants produce fibers used in making high quality cloth called linen u Flax requires a rainy and warm climate u Minnesota, North and South Dakota grow substantial amounts of flax

u Flax plants grow about three feet tall u Linen comes from the fibers that make up the phloem of the plant u Fibers are rolled and later combed to be spun into yarn u Flax seed is used to make linseed oil for paints and varnishes

Kenaf, Jute, Hemp and Sisal u Kenaf is a relatively new plant that is used to make cloth and paper u Jute plant fiber is used to make burlap u Hemp and Sisal are coarse fibers used to make rope

Wool and Fur u Sheep and goat fleece are sheared, cleaned, dyed, and woven into threads u Angora goat fleece is woven into mohair u Fur is used to produce hats, coats, and other clothing. Rabbit and mink are two examples of fur used in clothing

Synthetic Fibers u Rayon, nylon and polyester fibers are processed from petroleum products u Synthetic fibers are more durable and wrinkle less than natural fiber u Natural fiber is more comfortable u Cloth today is often a blend of both natural and synthetic fiber

Objective Five List Ag Products Used For Shelter

Forestry u Forestry involves planting, caring for, and harvesting trees u There are about 736 million acres of forest land in the United States u Products like plywood, particle board, veneer, and paper are used for shelter

Hardwood and Softwood Trees u Hardwood trees are deciduous-- they lose their leaves in the fall u Softwood trees are conifers. Conifers are evergreen trees that have cones and needles rather than leaves

u Trees are felled (cut down) and cut into log lengths of 12 to 20 feet u At the saw mill, logs are cut into boards and graded u Lumber is cut while still green u Lumber must be seasoned. Seasoning is the natural or artificial drying of the lumber

u Natural drying involves allowing air to circulate around and through stacks of lumber u Artificial drying uses heat and is faster u Lumber is smoothed and sized. Planing involves removing the roughness left from sawing

Paper u Smaller trees are used for paper u Wood is broken into small pieces and soaked in a chemical bath to make pulp u Pulp is screened, washed and drained u Fibers are then rolled and dried u Fibers bond together during drying