Agriculture

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US Dept. of Ag and Markets, or the public library- read a book about how to grow your favorite food.

2. What is subsistence agriculture and its relationship to sustainability?

Subsistence agriculture is farming that is done to provide food for the farmer. This as opposed to growing cash crops like cotton and tobacco where the farmer grows crops to sell for money.

3. What do you think about the agriculture industry in American society?

Hmmmm....you've posted this question three different times, in three different sections....once in the Homework section. Perhaps you should do your own homework, and develop your own thoughts about American agriculture. After all it feeds you three times a day.......... ~Garnet Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

4. What are the opportunities of taking agriculture courses?

Well, one opportunity is starting your own business. With a horticulture degree, you'd have the knowledge to open a nursery, grow organic vegetables, plant an orchard, etc. Some successful farm businesses offer internships and apprentice positions, so there are opportunities to learn from the ground up too. Backyard Market Gardening by Lee Foreman covers the basics of how to start your own organic veggie operation.

5. What is the exact meaning of commercial agriculture and what are its different parts?

In a nut shell-commerical=for sale.

6. What cultures today still dont have agriculture and what reasons to they have for not adopting it?

Hi Graham, that is a pretty interesting question you’ve asked. As John H pointed out in recent American history there were some native American tribes that did not have agricultural practices as we know them today. However, there are cultures today that do not use agriculture practices in the sense that they plant crops and hang around long enough to harvest them. Generally any culture that subsists on a hunter-gatherer means of food production could be a candidate for what you are asking about. And there are places in the world like South America, Papua New Guinea, and Borneo that have aboriginal-like tribes (like the Wopkaimin and Penan) that do not practice “agriculture” in the conventional sense. However, a more specific example would be the Bedouin tribes of the Middle East. They are a nomadic people that rely on their animal husbandry techniques (camels, goats) to sustain their needs. Indeed, the deserts and arid climates where they are usually found have little in the way of water or other resources to sustain what we would consider traditional agricultural practices. For this particular culture you will find that they have a strong sense pride for their tribes and their way of life. The reasons why they haven’t adopted another way of life could be simply that they like the way they live. For example, the Saudi government built entire towns to be given to various tribes to give them a more “civilized” existence and infrastructure. But those towns remain abandoned in the deserts – a ghostly reminder that a person’s culture and their heritage is not so easily changed if they are allowed free choice in their own destiny. That is one possible outlook, but another one might be that regardless of the culture there is the simple reality that it takes a long time to transition over to an agricultural society or culture. It can take generations to find what works best for any given area or set of resources because plants only grow so fast … if you are trying new things and they don’t work out then you generally have to wait until the next growing season to make adjustments. A mistake can mean that there is the very real potential that a lot of people might not get enough, or anything for that matter, to eat that year. So if a culture doesn’t have that sort of experience, or they don’t have a local or regional example to work with … then it might be easier to continue to do what they do and not try make that transition. Many nomadic and hunter-gather cultures are closer to nature than most agricultural societies. Farming means changing the land in a very radical way to get what you want out of it. This is usually at a pretty high cost to local species and local ecological diversity. Some cultures don’t change because they do not want to destroy the thing that they love most – the forests, nature, or the landscapes that have provided for them for so long. They would perceive it in the same way that you might react to someone telling you to go chop up your friends and family and use them for fertilizer in a garden. That may seem a little extreme but some cultures are that close to the environment in which they live … and extremism is in the eye of the beholder. Good luck with your endeavor. I hope this was able to provide a few things to consider as you continue your research. Take a look at the Penan tribe. An interesting article about how they perceive how agricultural based societies are dealing with them. The link can be found at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958121,00.html . From their point of view why would they want to emulate the type of society (in this case industrial but still with an agricultural history) that is trying to destroy them? The article might provide for some additional lines of thought worth noting in your research. Hope this helps, Y

7. How is nuclear science applied to agriculture?

radiation has been used to induce mutations in plants in hopes of finding useful mutations. However I think chemical mutation has been more successful. Generally mutations are deleterious and there are very very few examples of induced mutations that have been successfull in crop breeding. I know the mutations for low phytic acid in soybean and other grain have been made using induced mutation, but I can't reacall if they were chemical or radiation induced. p.s. Ilike the way chic doc thinks.

8. What can we do to make agriculture more efficient in water use?

Why? Water used in agriculture stays as part of the water cycle. It gets applied to plants or given to animals then gradually returned to the water table after it's filtered through the water cycle. It's not like it's locked away somewhere.

9. How can we develop our nation through agriculture?

Agriculture is a source of raw materials for food and clothing. But the main focus of agriculture is food production. By developing the country's agriculture, we can reduce our dependence on importation which uses up dollar reserves. If agriculture is thriving doing well, we can assure people the availability of food, If there is enough supply of food, prices of food can go down. Low food prices assures every household of food on their table and also the health of the populace. A healthy population in turn, does not put a burden on the country's health system again saving the country its dollar reserves. Agriculture is also one source of basic employment. Even with new machinery, there will still be a need of manpower

10. what are the most important aspects of agriculture literacy?

Ability to identify gm (Genetically Modified) Food and food that are grwon with the help of organic manures only.

11. How come when oil prices rise, the agriculture stocks tend to rise, why is this?

12. How does Growing Plants related to the agriculture Industry?

Agriculture is defined as the growing of crops or the raising of livestock, as in farming. Industry, in this context, is defined as the production and sale of goods or services. So unless you are growing these things in a fairly large quantity with the intent to sell them it really does not relate to the agriculture industry at all.

13. What are some good ideas about bringing agriculture to the city?

community gardening...involve an agriculture program from local schools.... try this: www.cityseed.org

14. What should I do in my plan to study Master of agriculture in Japan?

Try to get a roommate who knows her/his way around. Find the most inexpensive places to shop and eat. Learn Japanese and make sure you understand the cultural differences to be respectful. Get a job on campus and try to get a Research Assistant job with a professor researching in your field or related field such as horticulture or botany (etc.)? Hope this helps. Sounds exciting. Take care.

15. What is the effect of global warming on agriculture?

Do you want the truth? There is no effect of global warming on agriculture.

16. How can we protect our water supply from animal agriculture?

Dairies in our area have gone to a vacuuming system...they have a giant vacuum that vacuums up the poop and then disposes of the waste into a digester. The digester in return makes fuel to run the dairy. The solids are then inert and are used for fertilizers on the fields.... The urine from the animals goes into a plastic lined pond that is treated to also make this product inert and it is mixed with the inert solids to make liquid fertilizer. This system requires that the entire surfaces the cows are on be cement. Bedding is put into mounds so they have places to sleep off the cement....they usually don't soil their bedding... As far as creeks, rivers, and lakes go....farmers ranchers have made accesses to the water supply with cement ramps...and fencing the manure from the animals (within reason) is a good food supply for the fish.... It is the wildlife, deer, elk, beavers, etc that we have no control over. In concentrated herds the deer elk contribute to a great deal of damage to creeks streams thru the erosion because they eat the tree seedlings surrounding the creek banks that would have grown up to protect the creek banks from erosion. Beavers contribute to a great deal of erosion and destruction of habitat by damning up streams and creeks with the trees they have cut down to make their dams. But then these types of erosion and pollution is considered to be natural and therefore is deemed ok even though the damage is sometimes worse than any herd of cows or horses could have ever done. Grazing cattle sheep benefits the rangelands, timber deserts by keeping down the underbrush (fire hazards), by grazing off the old grasses (which allows new grass to grow better), by aerating and churning up the soils so they don't become soil bound (hardness of soil). Soil that is soil bound does not grow native grasses properly nor does it take in moisture like it could if the soil wasn't so hard and non-absorbent by rain snow. I know that organizations like PETA the Sierra Club do their level best to present what is wrong instead of being objective and contributing to solutions that feed people. I don't buy into the all or nothing mentality. There is good, in-between, and bad in everything that is done on this planet. As far as I am concerned I would lend more credit to these types of people when they quit wiping their asses with toilet paper that is made from trees, wearing leather shoes that are made from animals hides, stop driving anything that uses fuel, and don't live in houses built from lumber or any other type of material that is taken from the earth. In other words, practice what you preach.

17. Can Sale of Agriculture land not used for agriculture purpose be tax free?

Your losses from shares and the capital gains are different. You cannot set off your shares loss in capital gains. If the land is not used for agricultural use then it attracts LTC gains tax irrespective of municipal limits. You have to buy a house/flat with in 2 years from the date of sale of land, or should construct the house with in 3 years. Mean while, the amount of capital gains should be deposited in a special capital gains account in a Nationalized bank. (Like SBI). Otherwise you have to deposit your gains in any infrastructure bonds for 3 years. (with in 6 months from the date of sale). There are so many ways to save tax. First consult a good C.A in your area. He will tell you many ideas. Even I can advise you. (for free).

18. What's the difference between subsistence agriculture and market-orientated agriculture?

Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficient farming in which farmers grow only enough food to feed the family and to pay taxes or feudal dues. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to eat during the year. Planting decisions are made with an eye toward what the family will need during the coming year, rather than market prices. Subsistence farming typically uses few fertilizers and no machines. Instead the farmers may use draft animals which can be fed and raised on the farm. Subsistence farmers often rely on crop rotation, animal manure, and compost to restore the nutrients rather than purchasing expensive synthetic fertilizers. In areas which are sparsely populated, subsistence agriculture can be sustainable for a long time. In more densely populated areas, subsistence agriculture may deplete the soil of nutrients, and damage the environment. However the traditional agriculture of East Asia, for example the small-holdings of China, has been described as sustainable, using extensive methods of cultivation and despite high population pressure. Market or commercial agriculture is the production of crops for sale, crops intended for widespread distribution (e.g. supermarkets), and any non-food crops such as cotton and tobacco. Commercial agriculture includes livestock production and livestock grazing. Commercial agriculture does not include crops grown for household consumption (e.g backyard garden or from a vegetable garden or fruit tree's) Commercial farming is a progression from Diversified (sometimes called Mixed) farming, when the landowner acquires a sufficiently large amount of arable land and sufficiently advanced technology (such as hybrid seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.). At this point, it becomes more profitable for the landowner to specialize and focus on one particular crop due to economies of scale. This is further augmented by high levels of technology, which significantly reduces the risk of poor harvests. Another important difference between commercial farming and less-developed forms of agriculture is the new emphasis on capital formation, scientific progress and technological development, as opposed to an emphasis on natural resource utilization that is common to subsistence and diversified agriculture Due to the expensive nature of capital formation and implementation of technological processes, the landowners of such farms are often large agricultural corporations (especially in developing countries). Commercial farming, in terms of some of its processes, is conceptually not very different from large industrial enterprises.

19. is it legal to drive with a agriculture permit in new jersey?

From the farm to the feed store, the slaughter house, to and from livestock shows and so on but not a regular job to and from, you would be ticketed for doing this and face a heavy fine....................

20. What is the status of agriculture today?

From our famed export, apples, to lentils, sweet cherries, and potatoes, Washington ranks in the top five nationwide in production for more than two dozen different agricultural products. Processed foods, such as frozen potatoes, carrots, even organic tofu, are all made here, too. The variety Washington brings to the table is tremendous. This is quoted from the website: http://www.heartofwashington.com/ I do not feel it is our job to be specific for you to do your homework. Looking up these questions on the internet today is so easy, all you have to do is google your key words and you have a multitude of sources to resource. Get going and do your own homework. Best wishes.