Agriscience

Agriscience and technologies have helped humans change their living conditions from dependence on hand labor to a highly mechanized society. In the process, food and fiber production have become much more efficient. Many members of American society have become free to pursue new careers in business, industry, or the arts, because they are no longer required to spend all of their time finding or producing food for themselves and their families. Fewer than 2 percent of the people in America are farmers. On average, each farmer produces enough food for approximately 135 people. In fact, the large surplus of food that is produced in the United States is shipped to many other countries in the world.

Whether you live in the city, town, or country, you are surrounded by the world of agriscience. Plants use water and nutrients from the soil and release water and oxygen into the air. Animals provide companionship as pets and assistance with work. Both plants and animals are sources of food. Many microscopic plants and animals are silent garbage disposals. They decay the unused plant and animal remains around us. This process returns nutrients to the soil and has many other benefits to our environment and well-being.

Agriscience encompasses the wildlife of our cities and country, and the fish and other life in streams, ponds, lakes, and oceans. Plants are used extensively to decorate homes, businesses, shopping malls, buildings, and grounds. When one crop is used less another takes its place. This occurs even where land changes from farm use to suburban and urban uses. Corn has long been referred to as king among crops in the United States. Yet, in one state, turf grass recently replaced corn as the number one crop. Turf is grass that is used for decorative as well as soil-holding purposes. This change has occurred as more land is being used for roads, housing, businesses, institutions, recreation, and other nonfarm uses.