2. * Discuss the relationship between agriculture and the environment; * Describe issues with water associated with crop production; and * Explain how conservation practices protect the environment

3. * Environment: external conditions that affect an organism or community and influence its development or existence * Ag crop production happens in the environment * Is there a demand for food? * Fiber? * Shelter? * Yes

4. * What drives that demand? * Population growth * Ag. production has had to expand a lot since agriculture began 10,000 years ago * Forests cut down; wetlands drained; prairies plowed * What happens to wildlife in those areas? * Some become extinct, endangered, or threatened * Is that just animals? * No * Native plants as well

5. * The major cause for an animal or plant to become extinct, endangered, or threatened is habitat loss * That is the alteration of the environment causing an organism to adapt or die * Another cause is competition * New species are introduced with few natural enemies to control them. * Native species are also viewed as pests and controlled as such

6. * What are some issues associated with crop production’s impact on our water supply? * Pollution is the #1 issue related to crop production * In some areas over-use is an issue

7. * Pollution can occur in both surface and groundwater * Groundwater is found under the surface usually in porous rock, sand, and gravel and must be accessed by drilling a well * Two types of water pollution * Point Source * Pollutant added directly to body of water * Non-Point Source * Pollutants come from a wide area and travel through something else first

8. * What can pollute our water supply? * Chemical pesticides and fertilizers * Usually dissolve in water and soak into soil and drain naturally with the water * Concentrations of nutrients and other chemicals interupt natural balance * Some areas are more susceptible than others * Erosion * Sediment in water can be detrimental to aquatic life

9. * The Ag industry is the largest user of the world’s fresh water supply * Ultimately we are using more water from aquifers than is being replaced * So what do we need to do?

10. * Production methods have been discovered that reduce and in some cases eliminate pollution * Which is easier to correct: point source or non-point source pollution? * Point source * These issues can be taken care of * Some land can actually be taken out of production and – here is the key * Put back into a natural state * Is this always economical? * No

11. * Erosion can be reduced by creating terraces, grass waterways and conservation tillage * Technological advances in irrigation practices have cut down on water use and waste * Pumps, application, sensors * Conservation tillage and genetically engineered crops reduce the number of times equipment has to be used * Less emissions pollution and lower fuel use

12. * Genetic engineering and biotechnology * Plants that can resist pests on their own * less pesticide use * Could genetic engineering have a negative impact on the environment? * How? * Cross pollination * New genes * Pest resistance

13. * Agronomy Presentation * Choose a partner * Choose a topic from the list * Research that topic * History * Development * Technology * How it is done * Why it is done * Present the ins and outs * Cite your sources * Must use visual aides (pictures, videos, or models) * Do not plagiarize! (I don’t want to see huge chunks of ‘copy/paste’)