Agriscience, Unit One: The development of today’s agriculture industry as related to the development of technology

Table of Contents for Notebook This how your notebook should be organized:  Section One: Unit Study Guides  Section Two: Weekly Credit Slip Work  Section Three: Lab Activities  Section Four: FFA Activities  Section Five: Supervised Agricultural Experiences Program Activities

Agriscience  Is defined as the application of scientific principles and new technologies to agriculture.  Is also called an applied science because it uses principles learned in chemistry, and physics (the basic sciences) in practical ways.  Is a science that explores such things as ways to control new crop pests. 

Examples of Agriscience  Biotechnology Corn: Genes from soil bacteria are implanted in corn plants to make them resistant to certain insect pests  Agronomy: uses biology and chemistry to discover new ways to control weeds in crops  Entomology: uses biology and chemistry to study insect life  Agricultural engineering: uses physics to develop new farm machinery and structures

Agriscience and the Scientific method  Agriscience employs the scientific method to solve problems related to agriculture

The Scientific method: Is a method used to solve problems in agriscience as well as in other sciences and it involves:  Identify the problem  Review literature  Form a hypothesis  Prepare a project proposal  Design the experiment  Collect the data  Draw conclusions  Prepare a written report

Identifying the problem  Is the first step of the scientific method in solving a problem through experimentation

Agriculture  Is defined as the activities concerned with the production of plants and animals, related supplies, services, mechanics, products, processing, and marketing, or  another definition for agriculture is food, fiber, and environmental systems

The USDA  Stands for the United States Department of Agriculture  Refers to agriculture as “agriculture/agribusiness and renewable natural resources

Agribusiness  Is defined as commercial firms (business) that stem from or meet the needs of agriculture

Examples of agribusiness  Related to the area of farming includes: agricultural chemical companies, fertilizer dealers, seed and feed stores, tractor dealerships, and farm supply centers  Related to the area of horticulture include: landscape nurseries, greenhouse dealers, horticultural supply companies, greenhouse plant growers, etc.

Basic Science  Is a branch of science that studies a specific or given area of science

Basic Sciences  Biology  Chemistry  Physics  Biochemistry

Applied Science  Is a science that uses basic sciences in practical ways

Applied Sciences May include:  Entomology  Animal Science  Agronomy  Soil Science  Horticulture  Agriscience  Plant science

Agricultural Science  Is a science that uses basic and applied sciences in practical ways for agricultural applications

Agriculture sciences May include:  Agronomy  Animal Science  Soil Science  Horticulture  Agricultural biotechnology  Plant science  Animal science

USDA Study A recent USDA study done in the 1990’s forecasts that the need for college graduates in agriculture and life sciences will far exceed the number graduates available to fill positions in the agriculture field

World Outlook  The world population will grow as more people beget more people  More children are surviving to adulthood  More adults are living longer

Population growth  Will add stress to environmental systems, which are air, water, soil, and natural resources  Will create challenges to meet the demands for food and fiber (clothing and shelter) for the world’s growing population

Trends for agriculture/agriscience  Agriculture will always be an essential industry  Increased commercialization of agriculture will continue  New types of farming such as aquaculture (fish farming and farming the sea) will be used as well as traditional farming methods  Agriculture and resource management will include pollution control

Forestry  Is the industry that grows, manages, and harvests trees for lumber, poles, posts, pulpwood, and many other commodities

Agriscience Mechanics  Involves designing, operating, maintenance, service, and selling power units, farm machinery, equipment, structures, and utilities

Scientists, Engineers and related Agricultural Professionals  Are career areas that offers the highest percentage of career opportunities for college graduates in agriscience and the agriculture field

Renewable Natural Resources  Are resources provided by nature that can replace or renew themselves (Trees, water, fish and wildlife)  Are important both economically and for the posterity’ sake to maintain life, and  Involves the management of wetlands, trees, rangelands, water, fish, and wildlife  Is an ideal career area for someone who appreciates nature and has a scientific knowledge of plants and animals

Agriscience Processing, Products, and Distribution  Is a industry that requires many careers to haul, grade, process, package, and market commodities from farm production sources

Horticulture  Is an agriscience industry (also, called the green industry) that includes producing, processing, and marketing fruits, vegetables, nuts and ornamental plants  Horticulture will continue to expand as the standard of living is raised

Ornamental Plants  Are not eddied and includes turfgrasses, flowers, shrubs and trees grown and used for their beauty or recreation

Agriscience Sales and Services  Are businesses that sell supplies to agencies that or provide services for people in agrisience  Includes people who provide legal assistance, write agricultural publications and advise agriculturalists on money matters or provide advice on crops, livestock or pest control

Production Agriculture In production agriculture about 20 percent of agriscience workers are work on farms and ranches

Agriculture Nationwide  Is 20% of all jobs in the U. S. (22 million Jobs)  Many of the jobs involve using, computers, science labs, high tech-electronic and ultramodern equipment

Student assignment: Complete unit one worksheet