Agriculture (a term which encompasses farming) is the art, science or practice of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. Agri is from Latin ager ("a field"), and culture is from Latin cultura, meaning "cultivation" in the strict sense of tillage of the soil. Thus a literal reading of the English word yields tillage of the soil of a field. In actual usage, Agriculture denotes a broad array of activities essential to food and material production, including all techniques for raising and processing livestock (see Animal husbandry) no less than those essential to crop planting and harvesting.

Continual improvement in agricultural methods from pre-history to the present has been the key factor in the extreme specialization of human activity during the historical epoch. Many of these specializations have nothing to do with food production, but when specialists such as scientists, inventors and mechanical and chemical engineers devote their efforts to the improvement of farming methods, resources and implements they too, along with those who work the fields and pens, are said to be "in agriculture".

42% (2002 estimate) of the world's population is employed in agriculture, making it by far the most common occupation, yet it accounts for only 4.4% (2005 estimate) of the Gross World Product (an aggregate of all Gross Domestic Products).^*

More on [ Agriculture ]

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Sweet Potato Out-Yields Corn in Ethanol Production Study
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:30:00 -0500
Sweet potatoes can yield two to three times as much fuel ethanol as field corn, approaching the amount that sugarcane can produce. Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission. Enzymes boost ethanol production efficiency   Breeding soybeans for ethanol and fiberboard   Citrus peel waste a potential source of ethanol Sweet Potato Out-Yields Corn in Ethanol Production Study By Don Comis August 20 , 2008 In experiments, sweet potatoes grown in Maryland and Alabama yielded two to three times as much carbohydrate for fuel ethanol production as field corn grown in those states, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists report. The same was true of tropical cassava in Alabama. The sweet potato carbohydrate yields approached the lower limits of those produced by sugarcane, the highest-yielding ethanol crop. Another advantage for sweet potatoes and cassava is that they require much less fertilizer and pesticide than corn. Lew Ziska, a plant physiologist at the ARS Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., and colleagues at Beltsville and at the ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory in Auburn, Ala., performed the study. The research is unique in comparing the root crops to corn, and in growing all three crops simultaneously in two different regions of the country. The tests of corn, cassava and sweet potato were in the field at Beltsville, and in large soil bins at Auburn. For the sweet potatoes, carbohydrate production was 4.2 tons an acre in Alabama and 5.7 tons an acre in Maryland. Carbohydrate production for cassava in Alabama was 4.4 tons an acre, compared to 1.2 tons an acre in Maryland. For corn, carbohydrate production was 1.5 tons an acre in Alabama and 2.5 tons an acre in Maryland. The disadvantages to cassava and sweet potato are higher start-up costs, particularly because of increased labor at planting and harvesting times. If economical harvesting and processing techniques could be developed, the data suggests that sweet potato in Maryland and sweet potato and cassava in Alabama have greater potential than corn as ethanol sources. Further studies are needed to get data on inputs of fertilizer, water, pesticides and estimates of energy efficiency. Overall, the data indicate it would be worthwhile to start pilot programs to study growing cassava and sweet potato for ethanol, especially on marginal lands. The additional research could help develop new biofuel sources without diverting field corn supplies from food and feed use to fuel. ARS is a scientific research agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Germplasm Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:47:00 -0500
One of the world's largest preservers of plant and animal germplasm, the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Click the image for more information about it. ARS contributes seeds to global storage vault in Norway   International partnership to develop a global plant genebank information system   National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation to be dedicated today USDA Germplasm Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary By Laura McGinnis August 19, 2008 FORT COLLINS, Colo.--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's premier genebank is celebrating its 50th anniversary here today. The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP), part of USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), maintains the genetic diversity of the world's crops and livestock as living germplasm that is distributed nationally and internationally to improve agricultural productivity, fight hunger, improve nutrition, reduce pesticide use and restore ecosystems. "In 50 years, the NCGRP has made invaluable contributions to the preservation of precious genetic resources," said ARS Administrator Edward B. Knipling. "These efforts continue to benefit the United States and the world by ensuring that diverse animal and crop germplasm is available to breeders and researchers." More than 1 million samples of plants, animals, insects and microbes are housed at NCGRP. The germplasm that is preserved at NCGRP is an irreplaceable natural resource that underpins U.S. food security and the global supply of food, fiber and biofuels. These samples carry genes vital for combating emerging pest and disease problems and environmental threats. Variation within the collection is used to develop new products and specialty crops. Rapidly advancing research in genomics and gene discovery make daily use of the huge collections at NCGRP. During the 50 years of the center's existence, NCGRP research has made major strides in the technology that keeps germplasm alive for decades or centuries. NCGRP scientists introduced freezer and cryogenic storage of plant germplasm to the world, and found new ways to capture and preserve genetic diversity of crops and livestock. Managing large collections requires advanced data systems and tools to identify and efficiently collect essential genetic variation. NCGRP scientists are world leaders in developing and implementing these state-of-art tools. Like its germplasm, the technology developed at NCGRP is freely shared with genebanks everywhere. NCGRP facilities, operations and research are the model used to develop genebanks globally. NCGRP partners with other ARS facilities, governmental agencies, industry and international collaborators to support global efforts to improve human health and guide sustainable use and management of the Earth's biodiversity. Formerly known as the National Seed Storage Laboratory (NSSL), the Center changed its name in 2001 to reflect the diverse array of plant materials it stores, and to acknowledge the addition of the National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) and initiatives to preserve genetic diversity of agronomically important insects and microbes. In recognition of the NCGRP's 50th anniversary, the Colorado Senate passed a joint resolution earlier this year, recognizing the center for "globally renowned scientific research, preservation efforts and service."
Sorghum's Biofuel Potential Spotlighted
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:12:00 -0500
International experts from government, academia and agriculture will gather for the International Workshop on Sorghum for Biofuels in Houston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org New sorghum is ideal for both fuel and feed   Exploring sorghum's knack for keeping weeds away   A head start on mapping two cereal crop genomes USDA Conference Spotlights Sorghum's Biofuel Potential By Ann Perry August 18, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C., August 18, 2008—Sorghum's potential as a biofuel crop will be explored at the International Workshop on Sorghum for Biofuels which begins in Houston, Texas, tomorrow. More than 100 international experts from government, academia, the private sector and the agricultural community are expected to participate in the conference. U.S. co-sponsors of the event include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area, Texas A&M University (TAMU), and the National Sorghum Producers (NSP). Other co-sponsors include Brazil’s Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and Tsinghua University, which is located in the Peoples’ Republic of China. “U.S. consumers know that we need to develop new sources of energy to meet our transportation needs,” said REE Under Secretary Gale A. Buchanan. “Growing sorghum for bioenergy production can give us a source of renewable—and profitable—energy right here at home.” Sorghum is attracting greater interest as a bioenergy crop because it is tolerant of drought and grows well on marginal lands not suitable for most other crops. It produces high yields even after an abbreviated production cycle, and requires minimal amounts of fertilizer and irrigation. Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a USDA scientific research agency, are part of the international research community studying sorghum genetics and genomics, production systems and conversion processes to optimize biofuel production. At the workshop, attendees will share information about key scientific advances supporting the economically viable and environmentally sustainable production and utilization of sorghum as a bioenergy crop. Participants also will be able to visit TAMU and learn more about ongoing research on bioenergy feedstock and development. Site visits also will be available to Jennings, La., where Verenium Corporation has broken ground for a 1.4-million-gallon-per-year demonstration cellulosic ethanol facility, the first of its kind in the United States. Opening remarks will be given by Mark Hussey, interim vice chancellor and dean of the TAMU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and also director of Texas AgriLife Research; USDA Under Secretary Buchanan, and Liu Yanhau, vice minister of the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Science and Technology. Other speakers on the agenda include representatives from the NSP, USDA, ARS, the U.S. Department of Energy and the TAMU Agricultural and Food Policy Center.

USDA - National Agricultural Statistics Service Reports

Broiler Hatchery
Broiler-Type Eggs Set In 19 Selected States Down 4 Percent. Broiler Chicks Placed Down 3 Percent....
Broiler Hatchery
Broiler-Type Eggs Set In 19 Selected States Down 5 Percent. Broiler Chicks Placed Down 2 Percent....
Turkey Hatchery
Eggs in Incubators on August 1 Down 5 Percent from Last Year. Poults Hatched During July Up 1 Percent from Last Year. Net Poults Placed During July Down 2...
Dairy Products Prices
Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.96 per pound for the week ending August 9....
Crop Progress
NASS releases Crop Progress and Condition Estimates...
United States and Canadian Cattle
This report has been released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Subscribe to Agriculture_and_Forestry RSS feed

Oregon Forestry: Sustainability