Modern Agriculture

Jillian Beaty
Agriculture Education Instructor
 Credentials
 Agriculture Education- The Ohio State University
 HS Agriculture Education Instructor, 12 years
 National Finalist Excellence in Agriculture, 2012
 National Finalist Discussion Meet, 2008
 Secretary, Rock County Farm Bureau
 FFA Alumni Member
 Grew up on a 500 acre Dairy Farm
Why Technology? Why Change?
Why Change in Agriculture?
 Why Should You Care?

 We are all consumers

of food, fiber and
fuel.
 We all have a voice in
shaping policy for the
future.
 Outline
 Define Agriculture and Sustainability
 Determine the social sustainability of
modern agriculture
 Determine the economic sustainability of
modern agriculture
 Technology in Modern Agriculture
 Determine the environmental sustainability
of modern agriculture
Define Agriculture:
 Agriculture is the
science of growing
crops and raising
animals to meet the
food, fiber, fuel, and
other needs of
humans. It includes
many areas, such as
soil conservation, pest
management, and
mechanics.
-www.mycaert.com
Sustainable Agriculture Defined
 The term ''sustainable agriculture'' (
U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) means an integrated
system of plant and animal production practices having a
site-specific application that will over the long-term:
– Satisfy human food and fiber needs.
– Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base
upon which the agriculture economy depends.
– Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-
farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological
cycles and controls.
– Sustain the economic viability of farm operations.
– Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
 That definition is a central element of the
legislation of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Ed
ucation (SARE) program
of NIFA.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture
 In simpler terms:
– Meeting consumer
demands for food,
fiber and fuel
– Conserving and
enhance natural
resources
– Maintain farm
profitability for the
economy and farm life
 Social Impact
 Monsanto ~ Some Food for Thought
 Social Impact
 Some Food for Thought
– Jobs from Agriculture- 24 million
– Growing population- 9 billion by 2050
– Preserves a way of life
 Jobs
 24 million jobs
 1 in 10 jobs in WI in
agriculture
 Growing Population
 Food security
 “produce more food
in the next 50 years
than the last 10,000”
 24,000 people die
each day from hunger
 This is down 40%
from 20 years ago
– www.msu.edu
 Feeding the World
 Norman Borlaug-
improved seed
technologies to
increase grain
production by 70%
 This saved millions of
peoples lives!

AFBF Farm Facts

 Family Farms
 98% of all farms are
family farms
 Rebout Farms- 4
families work together
to maintain a way of
life and make the
farm viable in the
future

-Wisconsin Farm Bureau- Farm

Facts
 Economic Impact
 Monsanto ~ Webisode 16
 Economic Impact
 World wide market for American
Agriculture products
 Agriculture uses local businesses to run
their business
 Global Market
 US Ag Exports-
$115.8 billion
 US Ag Imports- $81.9
billion
 Positive trade balance
of $33.9 billion dollars
to America’s economy

- AFBF Farm Facts

 Local Economies

 Buy supplies locally

– Fertilizer, seed, fuel,
feed, animals,
employees
 Sell products locally
– Grain elevators, farm
produce stands
Technologies in Modern Agriculture
 US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance-
expanded conversation
Technologies in Modern Agriculture
 Animal Nutrition
 Today’s dairy cow is
40% more feed
efficient than a cow
30 years ago
 Less feed, more
product

-AFBF Farm Facts

Technologies in Modern Agriculture
 GPS Systems
 Pinpoint fertilizer
applications based on
yields
 Improved seed
technologies decrease
need for pesticides/
herbicides
 A combine with GPS
system- $435,000
base price
Technologies in Modern Agriculture
 Nutrient Management
Systems
 Larson’s Acres- Sand/
bedding recycling
 Reuses recycled water
 Safer application of
waste solids

- Larson Acres
Technologies in Modern Agriculture
 Animal Comfort
 Bedding
 Fans, water sprinklers
 Cooling pads in barns

Video- Larsons Acres

 Environmental Impact
 50% decline in soil erosion since 1982
 63% of soil is farmed with conservation
tillage
 More than 50% of farmers intentionally
leave food and shelter for wildlife

AFBF Farm Facts

 Modern Agriculture= Sustainable
 My farm- soil better
than 50 years ago
 Crop yield increased
more than 360% since
1950 while using 15%
less land
 Modern agriculture
continues to create high
quality, affordable food
for America and World
AFBF Farm Facts
 Resources to Check Out
 US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance
 American Farm Bureau Federation
 Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
 Larson’s Acres