1. Introduction - Changes in US Agriculture

Question 1

Define: “Characterizing” Value Judgements

Answer 1

Choosing what problems to investigate
What facts to report

Question 2

Define: “Appraising” Value Judgements

Answer 2

Explicit statements of values and opinions
Statements of “good” vs “bad”

Question 3

What changes have been made in agriculture and society? (5)

Answer 3

Intensification of agriculture
Industrialization of processes
Urbanization of society
Reduced public/personal involvement in agriculture
Reduced understanding of agriculture

Question 4

What were major influences on US livestock agriculture?

Answer 4

Morrill Act 1862
Homestead Act 1862
Taylor Grazing Act 1934 and BLM
USDA
Transportation breakthroughs
Numerous public policy instruments (CRP, EPA, PIK, etc.)
Importations of seedstock
Industrial revolution
Green revolution (Norman Borlaug)
Geography and climate

Question 5

Define: Land Grant Universities

Answer 5

Public universities that were established to focus on educating working class people

Question 6

Farm Bill

Answer 6

Ominous bill - covers many areas
Typically renewed every 5-7 years
Titles: commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research extension, forestry, energy, horticulture, crop insurance
NOT ag promotion (that is left to private sector)

Question 7

Primary Economic Sectors

Answer 7

Raw materials and food
Ex: ag, forestry, fishing, mining

Question 8

Secondary Economic Sectors

Answer 8

Industry and construction
Turn raw products into specialized goods
Industrial revolution - requires “specialization”

Question 9

Tertiary Economic Sectors

Answer 9

Service provision
Ex: commercial service, shops, repair, banking, IT

Question 10

Quaternary Economic Sectors

Answer 10

Non-commercial service
Ex: non-profits, education, public transport, healthcare, fire and police, science sector

Question 11

How has technology impacted US agriculture?

Answer 11

Consequence of science and engineering
Tools, machines, instruments, housing, clothing, communicating & transporting devices, skills, techniques
Use resources to produce desired products, solve problems, fulfill needs, satisfy wants
The means of harnessing resources for human use
New technologies change human culture

Question 12

What drove improvements in science and technology in ag?

Answer 12

Perceived or anticipated benefits
Supported by success
Unintended consequences

Question 13

What are important technologies in agriculture?

Answer 13

Machinery
Internal combusion engine
Transportation (railways, highways, farming, hauling)
Feeding equipment, feed processing
On farm movement of materials
Building, housing, storage
Manure management
Water movement (for animals, irrigation)
Land management
Refrigeration
Electricity generation
Chemical, fertilizers, pesticides, disinfectants, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, feed processing
Breeding, reproduction, identification/monitoring, crop breeding
Information, data analysis, process management, field management (GIS), communication (labor, marketing)

Question 13

What are important technologies in agriculture?

Answer 13

Machinery
Internal combusion engine
Transportation (railways, highways, farming, hauling)
Feeding equipment, feed processing
On farm movement of materials
Building, housing, storage
Manure management
Water movement (for animals, irrigation)
Land management
Refrigeration
Electricity generation
Chemical, fertilizers, pesticides, disinfectants, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, feed processing
Breeding, reproduction, identification/monitoring, crop breeding
Information, data analysis, process management, field management (GIS), communication (labor, marketing)

Question 14

What is the trend of US beef cattle carcass weight per year per breeding female?

Answer 14

Increased

Question 15

What is the trend of US milk weight in pounds per year per breeding female?

Answer 15

Increased

Question 16

What is the trend of US daily cows and milk production?

Answer 16

Number peaked in 1940’s, decreased to present
Less cows produce more milk now

Question 17

What is the trend of US swine liveweight in pounds per year per breeding female?

Answer 17

Increased (3x)

Question 18

What is the trend of US broiler production in age to market and weight at market?

Answer 18

Younger age to market
Greater weight at market

Question 19

What is the trend of US laying hen production in eggs per hen per year?

Answer 19

Increased

Question 20

What is the trend of US laying hen feed required per dozen eggs?

Answer 20

Decreased

Question 21

What is the trend of people in the US supplied per farm worker?

Answer 21

Increased

Question 22

What is the trend of US agricultural labor force as percent of population?

Answer 22

Decreased

Question 23

What is the focus of changes in US agriculture?

Answer 23

Focus to increase agricultural productivity and efficient use of resources
Interactive with changes in US society, economy, and culture

Question 24

What are the major changes in agriculture in the US?

Answer 24

Mechanization Specialization of farms (intensive management) Shift from country markets to complex food systems Value-added processing technologies

Question 25

What are the focuses on productivity and efficiency in US agriculture?

Answer 25

Increased food demand with stable to declining resource availability Dramatic migration of human resources away from farming Focus on cost and size efficiencies Consumers want relatively inexpensive, convenient, and highly available sources of food

Question 26

What impact does societal change have on US agriculture?

Answer 26

Societal success and affluence Decreased food costs = decreased resource investment in food Increased human time = increased personal productivity Urban, affluent populations = intensive agriculture Poor, subsistence, rural = produce own food

Question 27

What issues arise from agricultural system effects?

Answer 27

Environmental impacts Natural resource use Food safety Animal welfare Chemical and pharmaceutical use Disease transmission Biotechnology uses Sustainability