Lesson
Understanding 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 One
Define 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
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.
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 Three
List 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 Four
List 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 Five
List 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!