AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN NEEDS

BASIC HUMAN NEEDS & SOURCES Agriculture is the source for the three basic things humans need to survive:  Food: meat, milk, eggs, fruit, vegetables, butter, oil, etc.  Clothing: leather, cotton, wool, silk, even synthetics  Shelter: lumber, plastics, insulation, carpeting We also get medicines, household items, and some forms of fuel/energy from agriculture.

AGRICULTURE IS… Agriculture is the science and management of the natural organisms that produce food, fiber, and other resources for human use. Includes the study of growing, managing, and harvesting of plants and animals for use by people. An industry that includes not only production, but also processing, marketing, distribution, sales, and services. The largest industry in the U.S. employing over 20 million people.

MAJOR AREAS OF THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY Agronomy: the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, fiber, and land reclamation (aka crop production and research) Horticulture: the art and science of plant cultivation and management Animal Production: the study of the biology and management of domesticated animals for human use Aquaculture: raising aquatic species for food and other purposes

WHAT IS A COMMODITY? A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.

TEXAS TOP 10 AG COMMODITIES 1.Cattle, $10.5 billion 2.Cotton, $2.2 billion 3.Milk, $1.8 billion 4.Broilers, $1.7 billion 5.Greenhouse & nursery, $1.3 billion 1. Corn, $1.2 billion 2. Grain Sorghum, $594 million 3. Wheat, $538 million 4. Vegetables, $439 million 5. Eggs, $439 million

IMPORTS VS. EXPORTS Import: a commodity that is purchased from another county and shipped to the us. All U.S. agricultural imports have continued to grow since 1990 By far the largest U.S. agricultural import are horticulture products, which have accounted for about half of all U.S. agricultural imports since Import examples: fruits, nuts, vegetables, nursery products, sugar, coffee, cocoa Primary countries for imports: Canada, Mexico, Brazil

IMPORTS VS. EXPORTS Export: a commodity that is grown in the U.S. but shipped to another country. U.S. agricultural exports have been larger than U.S. agricultural imports since 1960, generating a surplus in the U.S. agricultural trade. Export examples: bulk commodities such as wheat, corn, cotton, soybeans, and tobacco; as well as high value products (HVP) such as meats, poultry, live animals, vegetable oils, fruits, and vegetables.

PRODUCTS VS. BYPRODUCTS Product: something that is produced as the primary substance that will be sold or processed and then sold.  Examples: meat, milk, eggs, wool, hay, corn, soybeans, cotton, honey, peanuts, timber, flowers Byproduct: something that is made during the production or manufacture of something else and therefore is the secondary product.  Examples: leather, down, vegetable oil, beeswax, glue, mulch