The History of Agriculture

By: Mrs. Sheffield

Who is this man?

Identify the scope of agriculture and its effect upon society.

Discuss significant historical agricultural developments.

Identify the interdependency of agriculture and the environment.

Analyze the four main regions of American agriculture

Objectives:

Definition: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products.

Modern definition is changing!◦ Biotechnology◦ Renewable energy sources◦ Biofuels◦ Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

What is Agriculture?

1. Prehistoric

2. Ag through the Roman Period

3. Feudal

4. Scientific

Four Periods of Agriculture

Neolithic culture Change from gathering to production Ag Began by noting which plants were wild

then saved seeds to replant Goats and sheep herds were started

from wild animals Lived in caves or small houses of mud

and wood Early tools made of wood and stone

Prehistoric6th per. 9/3

2500 BC to AD 500 Introduction of metals Grapes, wine, and olive oil traded Rye and oats cultivated Storage improved Irrigation developed Mixed farming increased

Ag Through the Roman Period

Began soon after the fall of the Roman Empire (about AD 1100)

Irrigation allowed Egypt to sell wheat in international market◦Flooding of the Nile River

Oranges, lemons, peaches, and apricots were cultivated

Wool, leather, and linen were used for clothing

Feudal

Started after decline of feudalism in approximately AD 1500

Cultivation of sugar, cotton, tobacco, and tea for cash crops

Selective breeding of livestock – late 1700s

John Deere introduced the steel plow in 1837

Scientific1st per. 9/3

6th per. 9/4

Steam engine – late 1800’s Better transportation Increased food production due to a population explosion◦Immigrants & “Baby boom”◦Post-Civil War / Reconstruction

Scientific (cont.)

Originally dependant on European sources for seed, stocks, livestock, and machinery

20th century-steam, gas, diesel, and electrical power used

Chemical fertilizers, conservation techniques, selective breeding developed further

Standards set

Ag in the United States

Northeast and Lake States◦Milk producing area

Appalachian region◦Tobacco

Southeast States◦Beef cattle & Broilers

Delta States◦Soybeans & Cotton

Farming Regions

Corn Belt (Ohio to Iowa)◦Corn, beef, hogs, dairy products

Northern & Southern Plains◦Winter & Spring wheat

Mountain States◦Cattle & Sheep (wheat in the North)

Pacific Region◦Wheat, fruit, potatoes

Farming Regions (cont.)1st per. 9/4

Pacific Coast

Mountain Region

Northern & Southern Plains

Delta States

Southeast Region

Appalachian Region

Corn Belt

Northeast & Lake Regions

The Maritimes

Eastern Canada

Prairie Provinces & Western Canada

1935: 6.8 million farms◦Average farm size was 155 acres

2007: just under 2.1 million farms◦Average farm size was 449 acres

So, what does that mean?◦Number of farms is going down, while

the average farm size is increasing◦Commercialization

Recent Changes

History of Agriculture (continued)

By: Mrs. Sheffield

Before any civilization could exist and flourish, a strong agricultural base had to be established

“Without food to feed all of the people little progress can be made by any people”

Determines (in part) the wealth of a nation

Importance of Agriculture

90% of colonists made their living through agriculture at the time of the American Revolution

South becomes major center for cotton production◦Shipped to Europe in exchange for

manufactured goods 1790: Eli Whitney invents cotton engine

◦South settled due to cotton farming

American Agriculture

John Deere’s steel plow in 1837 helped Midwest farmers plow thick, clay soils

1831, Cyrus McCormick invents machine used for reaping wheat

Internal combustion engine has revolutionary effect on agriculture◦Work time drastically cut down

American Agriculture (cont.)

1862 - Land Grant (Morrill Act): provides each state with public land to build a college for “the common people”◦Proposed by Justin Morrill

“A&M” universities – teach agriculture and mechanics

1862 – President Lincoln established Unites States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Education

Hatch Act (1872):◦Established experiment stations in states

with land grant colleges◦Purpose was to create new knowledge in

Agriculture through experimentation Land Grant Act (1890):

◦Provided additional colleges which African Americans and other minorities could afford

◦Example: Prairie View A&M

Development of Ag Education 6TH per. 9/8

Smith Hughes Act (1917):◦Established Vocational Agriculture in

public high schools

Development of Ag Education (cont.)

Alabama Polytechnic InstituteVocational Ag 1926

What percent of American colonists made their living through agriculture during the Revolution?

John Deere’s plow was made out of??Where did most cotton produced in America go?

In what century did selective breeding of livestock begin?

Review:

Which time period developed irrigation?

Which time period did transportation improve?

Which region in the U.S. produces the most milk?

Invention of the ___________ engine had a revolutionary effect on ag.

Review:

Who invented the cotton engine?Who invented a machine for reaping wheat?

Who proposed the land grant universities act?

What were colleges called that taught Agriculture & Mechanics?

Which government agency did President Lincoln establish in 1862?

Review: