LessonUnderstanding The Importance Of Agriculture To Society

Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards Addressed!

• WHST.9-12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS-PS1-6)

• HSS-IC.B.6 Evaluate reports based on data. (HS-LS2-6)

Bell Work!

• Define quality of life• Discuss agriculture’s role in basic human

nutrition• List agriculture products used to provide food• List Agriculture products used for clothing• List Agriculture products used for human shelter

Terms

• Aquaculture• Beef• Conifer• Deciduous tree• Exports• Food Pyramid

• Forestry• International

Trade• Imports• Lamb• Mutton

Terms (continued)

• Natural Fiber• Nutritional

groups• Pork• Poultry• Pulp

• Quality of life• Seasoning• Swine• Synthetic fibers

Objective OneDefine Quality of Life

Quality of Life

• Having adequate supplies of the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter

• The ag industry provides the food and fiber required by people

• Agriculture allows people to enjoy a higher quality of life

•Americans spend 11% of their total income on food.

•People spend 70% in some other countries.

•Agriculture allows Americans to spend more money on clothing shelter, and entertainment.

Quality of Life

International Trade• American agriculture

helps provide food and fiber for many people in other countries.

• International trade is the buying and selling of commodities by two or more nations.

Exports• Exports are goods sold to another

country• Corn, soybeans, and wheat are

examples of important American agriculture exports

• The success of American agriculture is largely dependent on its exports

Imports

•Commodities bought from other countries are called imports

•Major American imports are bananas, coffee, shrimp, and vanilla

• Good jobs help people enjoy a better quality of life as well

• The American agriculture industry provides jobs for about 16 out of every 100 people.

• 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?

• Today, one American farmer feeds over 130 people

• Consumers have a year-round, wide variety of inexpensive, quality foods to choose from

• We don’t always make nutritious choices

Food Guide Pyramid

• Helps people make healthy eating choices• Contains 5 nutritional groups• Recommends types of foods from each

group for healthy consumption• Nutritional fact labels must also be

present on all processed food products

Five Nutritional Groups

• Breads• Fruits• Vegetables• Milk• Meat

Other Factors Effecting Healthy Eating Choices• Your Age• Your Activity Level• Your Gender, and• Your Body Size

Objective ThreeList Ag Products Used To Provide Food

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

Grain Crops

• Grains are grown throughout the U.S.• The largest region of production is in the

Midwest• Grains are used for bread, pasta, rice,

cereal, and many other food products• Wheat, rye, and corn are examples of

grains

Fruits• Citrus (grapefruit, oranges,

tangelos, lemons, limes) are grown in Florida, California, or imported

• Blueberries are grown in Michigan

• Apples are grown in many states

• Fruits are sold fresh or as processed juice

Vegetables

•Cool weather vegetables (like lettuce and broccoli) are grown in northern states in summer and southern states in winter

•NM produces onions, lettuce, cabbage, chili.

•Many vegetables are imported from South America and Mexico

Milk

• Dairy foods are processed from milk• Most milk comes from cattle on dairy

farms• Another source of milk is goats• California and Wisconsin are leading

dairy producing states• NM leads the nation in average

production per cow.• NM produces 20% of the cheese

consumed in the US

Meat

• Includes poultry• Beef• Pork• Fish, and• Lamb

Poultry

•Poultry Includes domesticated birds grown for food

•Chicken is most popular followed by turkey

•Chickens also produce most of the eggs consumed in our country

Beef

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

Pork•Pork is meat from swine•Swine is a term to describe hogs and pigs

•Pork chops, bacon, and sausage are popular pork dishes

Fish

• Aquaculture is the term used to describe the production of fish and other aquatic plants and animals

• Fish are farmed in the ocean, ponds, raceways, and tanks

• Fish are harvested, processed and sold either fresh or frozen

Lamb• Lamb refers to meat from

sheep less than a year old• Mutton is from sheep

that are over a year old• Compared to beef, pork

and poultry, Americans consume relatively little lamb and mutton

Nuts

• Each year, about 430,000 tons of nuts are produced in the United States

• The four major types of nuts produced are almonds, pecans, walnuts, and filberts

• NM ranks second in pecan production in the US and is one of the top pistachio producing states.

Objective FourList Ag Products Used For Clothing

Clothing is Made From Natural and Synthetic Fiber

•Natural fiber comes from plants and animals

•Synthetic fibers are manufactured from petroleum and other substances

Examples of Natural Fibers

• Cotton• Flax• Kenaf• Jute• Hemp and Sisal• Wool and Fur

Cotton

• Cotton is a perennial plant that is grown as an annual

• Cotton requires a long, warm growing season

• Top cotton producing states are California, Texas and Arizona

• Cotton is picked by large machines that remove the lint from the bolls

• The cotton is taken to the gin to remove the seeds

• Seeds are used for cooking oil or livestock feed

• Lint is pressed, graded, and milled into cloth

Flax

• Flax plants produce fibers used in making high quality cloth called linen

• Flax requires a rainy and warm climate

• Minnesota, North and South Dakota grow substantial amounts of flax

• Flax plants grow about three feet tall• Linen comes from the fibers that make up

the phloem of the plant• Fibers are rolled and later combed to be

spun into yarn• Flax seed is used to make linseed oil for

paints and varnishes

Kenaf, Jute, Hemp and Sisal

• Kenaf is a relatively new plant that is used to make cloth and paper

• Jute plant fiber is used to make burlap• Hemp and Sisal are coarse fibers used

to make rope

Wool and Fur• Sheep and goat fleece are sheared,

cleaned, dyed, and woven into threads• Angora goat fleece is woven into mohair• Fur is used to produce hats, coats, and

other clothing. Rabbit and mink are two examples of fur used in clothing

Synthetic Fibers

• Rayon, nylon and polyester fibers are processed from petroleum products

• Synthetic fibers are more durable and wrinkle less than natural fiber

• Natural fiber is more comfortable• Cloth today is often a blend of both

natural and synthetic fiber

Objective FiveList Ag Products Used For Shelter

Forestry

• Forestry involves planting, caring for, and harvesting trees

• There are about 736 million acres of forest land in the United States

• Products like plywood, particle board, veneer, and paper are used for shelter

Hardwood and Softwood Trees• Hardwood trees are deciduous--they

lose their leaves in the fall• Softwood trees are conifers. Conifers

are evergreen trees that have cones and needles rather than leaves

• Trees are felled (cut down) and cut into log lengths of 12 to 20 feet

• At the saw mill, logs are cut into boards and graded

• Lumber is cut while still green• Lumber must be seasoned. Seasoning is

the natural or artificial drying of the lumber

Paper• Smaller trees are used for paper• Wood is broken into small pieces and soaked in a chemical

bath to make pulp• Pulp is screened, washed and drained• Fibers are then rolled and dried• Fibers bond together during drying

The End!