Quiz 1: Overview of Agriculture Reading

ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE In 1830, it took 5 acres and 250 to 300 man-hours (a man-hour is an estimate of the amount of work one person can do in one hour) to produce 100 bushels of wheat. By 1975, it took only 3 acres and 3.75 man-hours to produce 100 bushels of wheat. What happened between 1930 and 1975 to cause such a drastic change? The largest wheat-producing countries are: China, India, Russia, and the U.S. As the population increases, so does the global demand for wheat. In the next forty years, farmers will need to produce more wheat than they did in the last 1,500 years, and they are going to have to do it with less land and less water than ever before. How are we going to meet the global demands for wheat? We will need to find out whether there are more things we can do to push production even higher with fewer resources. Is it even possible? OBJECTIVES Describe tool making and the role it played in early societies. Examine technological advances and determine their importance to agriculture. Examine scientific advancements and determine their importance to agriculture. VOCABULARY bioengineering the science that uses living things in a way that they are not normally used or alters living things to produce a desired change genetic engineering the science that alters the genetic make-up of a living thing mouldboard plow a metal plow that could be used to dig deep ridges in an agricultural field sickle a long, curved blade used in agriculture thresher a device used in harvesting that separates the husk from the grain THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL TOOLS AND METHODS There is no doubt that the advances in the quality, flexibility, and ease of use of hunting and farming tools made a drastic difference in agriculture. As the tools became easier to use and more effective, the farming yields and ability to hunt efficiently also increased. Let us take a look at some of the early tools and how these and other tools changed hunting and farming from the time of hunter-gatherer societies until modern farming. One of the earliest known farming communities in the United States developed between 600 and 1300 AD in present-day southwest Colorado. Mesa Verde, as the community is now known, is not only a National Park, it is the largest archeological preserve in the country. The residents of Mesa Verde, the Anasazi, carved sophisticated homes and apartments into the sides of mesas and farmed the flat land above them. Their crops consisted mostly of corn, which they would either use as feed for cattle and other animals they raised, or carry it down to cliff-side storage sites where the corn was ground for use in baking. The first agriculture was defined by subsistence farming; farmers were able to raise only enough food for their immediate families. As agriculture became a permanent component of society, farmers used their ever-developing tools to begin raising more than they needed for personal use, often trading their grain and livestock for other items they needed. Early farmers also used polished stone tools, pottery, and canoes. All of this led to communities that were able to grow enough food to feed the people and have a surplus at times. This changed the people's diet from one that was highly seasonally variable to one that was more stable. Several years later, in some regions of the world, people began to use copper or iron tools to farm. The quality and quantity of these tools increased as the people learned to work with metals, and the population of farmers grew. FARMING TOOLS AFTER WORLD WAR II World War II ended in 1945. Troops returned home to find some new techniques and inventions. The hardships that the war placed on the farming community resulted in some vast improvements in efficiency and production. Many of the new tools were not based on new technology; instead, they were based on improvements in existing ideas or technology. The foundation for modern farming equipment By the mid- to late-20th century, tractors were common, as was other mechanical farming equipment. Advances in technology during and just after the war sparked the second agricultural revolution, which took place from approximately 1945 to 1970. Multiuse tractors were common. A single tractor could till, cut, make rows, plant seeds, and distribute fertilizer. Combines were used to harvest and bale hay for storage. Modern Farming Tools Helicopters are used in rough terrain to spray crops. Today, we not only use a number of farm-based machines to grow and harvest food, we also use helicopters and airplanes to survey and spray crops. Many machines are computer-operated and have GPS locators. Farmers use complex computer systems to manage growing, help with distribution of fertilizer and pesticides, track weather conditions, and more. These tools allow a farmer to be more prescriptive in applying fertilizer and pesticide. SHOW TRANSCRIPT Transcripts Farming today is a high-tech industry in which farmers are striving to produce more crop yields with fewer people and resources. With the development of satellite navigation systems, farmers have been able to do just that. GPS systems now take over the steering mechanism of a tractor once the coordinates of a specific field are programmed into the device. The accuracy is amazing, leaving little the farmer must do in terms of steering modern-day tractors. In the past, when preparing the field for planting, fertilizer spray would be applied to the field. There was a lot of guesswork in determining the amount of fertilizer to apply, due to the lack of straight rows in the field and overlap of spray from one part of the field to the next. With modern GPS devices that guide the tractor in straight lines, hoses deliver the fertilizer in the exact location needed in the furrow. Then, when the farmer comes back to plant corn seed, for example, the GPS guides the seed on top of the row in the exact location desired. This is called precision farming. The end of one row and the beginning of the next are so precise that fertilizer and seed waste is saved. This is a huge environmental benefit, as fertilizer is the leading cause of water pollution as runoff into water systems and watersheds. In addition, fuel costs are saved, the farmer doesn't miss spots on the field or overlap, and, crop yields increase to help meet the global demand for food. These high tech tools allow modern farmers to map fields for wet spots so they can plan future tile drainage construction, for spot spraying of perennial weed patches, for insect and pest monitoring by field locale, and for location of sinkholes that are potentially dangerous and can cause expensive equipment maintenance. Farming is no different than any other industry in terms of leveraging the use of technology to save time and money and to produce record crop yields. The use of GPS systems is revolutionizing farming as we know it. Reflection 1. What do you think was the most important event in the history of agriculture? 2. Why was World War II important to the advancement of agriculture? Recent Advances That Affect Agriculture Over time, advancements in science and technology have dramatically increased the productivity of agriculture. Agricultural yields, or the products that agriculture produces, have steadily increased since ancient times. However, because of the advances in science and technology in the mid-20th century, the yields have dramatically increased. Some reasons for this rapid jump in productivity include advances in science and technology, and capital investment. We have previously discussed how technology has improved farming equipment, which has resulted in higher yields. ADVANCES IN SCIENCE Technological advances are also important in the fields related to biotechnology and scientific research. Bioengineering Bioengineering is a branch of biology and engineering that attempts to use technology to solve problems in medicine and the environment. The goals of bioengineering include curing disease, preventing disease, and promoting sustainable living. Sustainable living is a way of living that does not damage the environment or deplete the Earth's natural resources. Bioengineering uses technology in a way that involves, alters, or measures biological agents. Let us look at some examples that relate to agriculture. Scientists alter plant or animal genetics with genetic engineering. By taking part of the DNA from a donor plant or animal and inserting into the receiving plant or animal, scientists can alter the plant or animal's traits or characteristics. The donor DNA contains the code for a specific trait. When inserted into the DNA of the receiving plant or animal, the receiving plant or animal will exhibit the trait. You will often find these plants and animals referred to as genetically modified foods. In agriculture, scientists genetically modify plants. They do so by inserting part of the DNA that belongs to another plant into an existing plant's DNA. The plant that received the DNA will then exhibit specific traits that the donor plant exhibited. For example, plants can be genetically engineered to resist herbicide. This means when a farmer sprays weed killer, the crop of genetically engineered plants will not be killed, only the weeds. Another example is plants that are engineered to produce pesticides. This means that the plants will produce the pesticides that will keep insects away. This means fewer chemicals are needed to keep the crop healthy and free of pests. In 1994, the first genetically engineered food hit the market: a tomato. It did not sell well because consumers thought it tasted different than non-GM tomatoes. As of now, genetic engineering is used in a number of crop plants. In fact, it is estimated that 75 percent of the food Americans eat contains some type of genetically modified ingredient. In agriculture, scientists genetically modify animals by inserting a piece of DNA from one animal into another. The receiving animal will then exhibit the desired traits of the donor animal. Genetically modified animals first appeared in the 1980s. Since then, there have been a number of debates on the safety of genetically modified meats. Some believe that genetic engineering of animals offers some great potential. Farmers could use genetically modified animals to boost food production. Possibly the animal would be engineered to require less food or water, produce more meat, survive in harsh climates, or grow faster and larger. Are you wondering if these are safe to eat? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these foods are no different than other foods and should not be held to different standards. However, as these are new scientific techniques, there are no long-term safety studies yet. Genetically modified meats are not currently being sold in the U.S. In 2013, farmers from Canada asked for FDA approval to sell genetically modified salmon in the U.S. The FDA concluded that the salmon posed no health risk to humans but has not yet made a decision on whether to allow the sale in the U.S. Since this decision, there has been a some resistance and protest against allowing genetically modified meats in the U.S. CAPITAL INVESTMENT After World War II, the government focused on research and development. They appropriated funds, but much of the funds went to military research. Few funds found their way to the farming industry. The funding for farming research slowly increased. In the mid-1900s, private companies also invested in research and development of farming techniques and technology. The combined investments helped discover and develop farming equipment, which resulted in higher yields and the need for fewer farming personnel. The need for fewer farming personnel saved the farmers money, so that for the first time, they had the ability to invest in farming machinery. Tractors, harvesters, and other machines that assist in food production transformed the farming industry. Today, private companies fund more research and development projects related to farming than the federal government does. Reflection 1. Why do you think capital investment was so important? 2. What do you think is the most important area of agricultural scientific research? Why? 3. What impact did machines have on the farming industry? 4. Do you agree with genetic modification of animals? Why or why not? Career Corner: Biomedical Engineering Biomedical engineers work to solve problems in medicine and biological science. They work to create systems, technology, equipment, devices, and more that will use living things or benefit living things. Biomedical engineers work for companies, medical institutions, the government, private research and development institutions, and elsewhere. To become a biomedical engineer, you need a bachelor's and master's degree in biomedical engineering. Many biomedical engineers have doctoral degrees. The outlook for jobs in this career field is expected to be very good. A high demand for biomedical engineers is expected both in the near future and long term.

Assignment 2

PEOPLE AND AGRICULTURE Do you enjoy a good meal, some nice clothes, and a walk in the park? If you do, then you are enjoying things that are all related to the agricultural industry. We know the agricultural industry is important because it touches almost evey part of your life. How do you think the agricultural industry came to be, and what impact has it had on the world? Let us move on with the lesson to find out. OBJECTIVES Describe people in relation to the trades of living for survival. Identify the common impact that agriculture had on major historical wars. Identify the impact war has had on the agricultural industry. Describe the history and development of farming. VOCABULARY animal husbandry the practice of keeping and caring for animals; the practice of breeding livestock cultivation to prepare and plant crops domestication to capture and keep animals, usually involves a breeding process to adapt plants or animals to live closely with humans, for the benefit of humans fertilizer a soil additive that supplies nutrients to plants hunter-gatherer society a society where all food is gained by hunting wild animals and gathering available resources (for example, plants) from the wild pesticides substances that will kill or control pests PEOPLE AND FOOD The methods that people have used to obtain food and sustain their families has changed over time. Historically, food was collected by gathering. Individuals often gathered plants or insects, and people obtained meat they needed by finding animals that had died by natural causes. Tools and weapons were developed to create new methods to track and kill animals. Both hunters and gatherers seek and find food to bring back to feed the groups in which they live. In today's world, some cultures still rely on hunting and gathering to sustain their families and provide food. These societies generally exist in areas that are not appropriate for agriculture. Agriculture Develops As the methods of collecting food changed over time, the hunter-gatherer society began to change into an agricultural society. People established new and more effective ways to gather and grow plants and learned how to raise and use animals as a food source. This was the beginning of domestication, the process where people take living things from the wild and raise or grow them to meet some physical need. Both plants and animals have been domesticated. The process of planting and harvesting can be referred to as cultivation of plant products. The process involves preparing the ground, planting the crops, and harvesting the crops. When people raise animals to meet a specific need, it is called animal husbandry. Animal husbandry involves keeping and breeding domesticated animals. Domesticated animals have been taken from the wild, tamed, and contained in a space controlled by people. Some examples of domesticated animals used as food are cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Some food animals also provide other products, such as leather and wool. Not all domesticated animals are used for food. Pets like dogs and cats are domesticated. Domesticated plants were originally gathered from the wild and are grown in an area to meet a specific need. Some examples of domesticated plants are apples, sugar cane, oranges, and cotton. Grains such as wheat and corn are among the most important domesticated plants. Today we find these crops growing in fields and orchards around the country. DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS How do people domesticate animals? People domesticate animals when they take an animal from the wild and breed it to keep captive. Often they breed animals to have desirable traits. Some examples of domesticated animals are cows and dogs. Many years ago, people recognized the cow's value for meat and milk. Instead of always having to hunt for wild cows, they captured some cows and kept them contained. SHOW TRANSCRIPT Transcripts Animals around the globe were domesticated when early man discovered they could meet humans' needs for food, warmth, transportation, or companionship. Here are a few examples. Dogs, sheep, goats, and pigs were some of the first animals to be domesticated in Southwest Asia. In Central Asia, early people soon domesticated the two-hump Bactrian camels for carrying loads of goods on the trade routes. Additionally, humans consumed camels' milk, used the dung for firewood, and spun camel hair into clothing. Then in China, water buffalo were domesticated and used for plowing fields. In fact, more human beings depend on water buffalo than on any other domestic animal. They are especially well suited for tilling rice fields, as they can remain in muddy water for long periods of time. In addition, their milk became a food source, being richer in fat and protein than the milk of dairy cows. In the deserts of Arabia, the one-humped camel, which could withstand long periods without water, was soon domesticated for carrying goods and people. In the cold, outer reaches of the Ukraine, people domesticated wild tarpan horses that lived well in forests and had great endurance. Then donkeys were domesticated in Egypt due to their ability to work hard without requiring a lot of water and vegetation. And, finally, we all are familiar with the domestication of the llama and alpaca in South America, where they are used as pack animals, hauling goods in the steep mountain areas. These are just some of the earliest domesticated animals. And you can quickly see why specific animals from geographic locations were selected for the tasks for which they are known. They noticed that some cows produced more milk or meat. These desirable traits made the animals more valuable to people. At this point, people began to mate animals having desirable traits with each other, so the desirable traits were passed on to the next generation. Over time, because people chose specific mates for the animals, certain traits became common in the population. We call this "artificial selection" or "selective breeding." Another example of selective breeding for specific traits is the pet dog. Long ago, people tamed wild dogs and used them for hunting and protection. They noticed certain traits were favorable and started breeding specific dogs to produce offspring with these traits. As a result, we have many different breeds of dogs that have specific traits that make them good hunters or good shepherds. What types of animals can be domesticated? Animals have instincts, or inborn patterns of behavior. Some instincts can make animals dangerous or difficult to keep contained. This is one reason not all animals can be domesticated. To be a good candidate for domestication, the animal must be: calm and relatively friendly; easy to feed; fast-growing; easy to breed; and able to conform to a specific way of life. Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed. They get their name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where early Conquistadores found them in abundance. Not all animals have traits that make them desirable for domestication. For example, animals such as pandas, lions, and zebras are too violent and/or do not easily conform to a new way of life. But part of domestication involves selective breeding to instill calmness and other desired traits. Your pet Chihuahua, after all, is descended from the wild wolf. DOMESTICATION OF PLANTS How did plants become domesticated? When people discovered plants that met their needs, they gathered these plants and started growing them in contained areas. They began selectively to breed plants that were healthier, bigger, or produced bigger fruit or more seeds than others. They began using seeds from only the best plants to grow crops for the next season. The seeds from weaker plants were discarded. This is a type of artificial selection. People step in and alter the natural cycle to produce more desirable crops. This rearranges the number and mix of traits present in the population of plants in a way that is beneficial to people. At this point, farming was fairly simple. As time went on, simple tools were developed and farming practices became more complicated. Farmers learned about the benefits of rotating crops and using fertilizer. Natural fertilizers and pesticides were used. As demand for food grew, so did the knowledge of farmers. By the mid-19th century, farmers were using basic farm equipment to make their work easier and more efficient. After World War II and the addition of more sophisticated farm equipment, the farming industry became much more productive. In the mid-20th century, farmers began to use artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Advances in science and technology gave farmers more efficient techniques, machinery, and methods still in use today. Some examples are genetic engineering, which alters plant DNA to produce a plant with characteristics such as larger fruit or pest resistance. Modern farmers use antibiotics to prevent infection or hormones to stimulate growth or milk production. They use complex equipment, computer systems, and machinery. All of this required changes in the work force. Around 1850, 90 percent of the population were farmers. Today, only 2 percent are farmers. However, the agriculture industry is huge, with all types of individuals and businesses that support farming, from preparing the ground and planting seeds to delivering that food to the grocery stores for you to purchase. Farmers also grow crops such as cotton to make non-food products. This feeds another industry, which relies on the farming industry to survive. According to U.S. government data, 16,070,600 people were involved in industries related to agriculture as of 2011. It is estimated that more than 20 percent of the U.S. workforce works in agriculture-related positions. Reflection 1. What developments in agriculture changed the way people gathered their food? 2. What are some differences between the domestication of plants and the domestication of animals? 3. What impact do you think domestication had on society? Agriculture Once plants and animals were domesticated, the roles of individuals in society became more specialized. This was the beginning of farming or agriculture. You may hear these terms used interchangeably. We can define both as the practice of cultivating crops and raising livestock to meet human needs. There are many different branches of agriculture, which we will discuss during this course. Modern agriculture is highly dependent on science and technology. Historically, agriculture has played an important part in society. For example, agriculture has played an important role in disputes between different groups of people. WAR AND AGRICULTURE Agriculture made a dramatic impact on how people lived. As agriculture became more organized and crop yields increased, agriculture became a big part of society. People were dependent upon it for food and income. The concept of owning or controlling certain land areas that were desirable for farming became a source of conflict among individuals, tribes, and nations. Trade of agricultural products became another source of conflict. Agriculture has a significant impact on conflict and war. Some impacts are negative; some might be considered positive. Range wars often developed in the wild west when farmers and ranchers fought over water or grazing rights on the open range. Agriculture was one of the issues that led to the American Civil War. Farmers in the South used slaves to grow and harvest their crops, which gave many white Southerners a high standard of living and favorably affected trade and the economy. Conflicts between Northerners who wanted to abolish slavery and Southerners who wanted to keep slavery became one cause of the Civil War. War also has an impact on agriculture. World War I brought the opportunity for American farmers to make money, because, during the war, much of Europe depended on America for food. This enabled farmers to charge high prices. Unfortunately, the farmers started growing only certain profitable crops. This resulted in depleting the soil of important nutrients. At the end of the war, as countries began to recover, the European demand for food declined, leaving farmers with depleted soil, surplus goods, and low food prices. This was devastating to the agricultural industry. World War II took many young American farm workers away from farms and off to war. This resulted in a need to find new ways to grow food. Because of the degraded soil found in some areas and the lack of workers, farmers began to use machinery as well as inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. All of these practices degrade the environment. There was a large increase in productivity but at the cost of environmental quality. During war, an invaded country can suffer great losses from destruction of farmland, loss of lives, and degraded environmental conditions. When war devastates the farming community, people run the risk of starvation. This is seen in many conflicts, such as that between the African countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea. These two countries have a long history of conflict over land and other issues. In 1997, Eritrea attacked Ethiopia. The war took place mostly on Ethiopian land and did not end until 2000. Large portions of heavily populated areas were destroyed. As a result, agriculture in Ethiopia suffered. Because of war, drought, and resulting lack of resources to feed the people, the government estimates that only 60 percent of the entire population received an adequate food supply. Hundreds of thousands of people fled the country or died of starvation. Russia has attacked its subordinate region of Chechnya twice. One conflict lasted from 1994 to 1996, the second from 1999 to 2009. Over time, the wars have contaminated soil and destroyed crops. Today, over 40 percent of the land is not considered safe to live on. The wars decimated the agriculture industry because of the loss of land. Many areas in the country are not fit for growing food. As you would expect, this led to food shortages. SHOW TRANSCRIPT Transcripts War with Russia has taken a toll on the land to the extent that 40 percent is no longer arable for farming due to oil spills and pollutants leaked into the ground. Since 1994, it is recorded that 20,000 tons of oil have leaked as a result of the Russian bombardment of Chechnya's plants and oil refineries. Moreover, 1.5 to 2 million tons of these

Assignment 3

Assignment 1

PEOPLE AND AGRICULTURE Do you enjoy a good meal, some nice clothes, and a walk in the park? If you do, then you are enjoying things that are all related to the agricultural industry. We know the agricultural industry is important because it touches almost evey part of your life. How do you think the agricultural industry came to be, and what impact has it had on the world? Let us move on with the lesson to find out. OBJECTIVES Describe people in relation to the trades of living for survival. Identify the common impact that agriculture had on major historical wars. Identify the impact war has had on the agricultural industry. Describe the history and development of farming. VOCABULARY animal husbandry the practice of keeping and caring for animals; the practice of breeding livestock cultivation to prepare and plant crops domestication to capture and keep animals, usually involves a breeding process to adapt plants or animals to live closely with humans, for the benefit of humans fertilizer a soil additive that supplies nutrients to plants hunter-gatherer society a society where all food is gained by hunting wild animals and gathering available resources (for example, plants) from the wild pesticides substances that will kill or control pests PEOPLE AND FOOD The methods that people have used to obtain food and sustain their families has changed over time. Historically, food was collected by gathering. Individuals often gathered plants or insects, and people obtained meat they needed by finding animals that had died by natural causes. Tools and weapons were developed to create new methods to track and kill animals. Both hunters and gatherers seek and find food to bring back to feed the groups in which they live. In today's world, some cultures still rely on hunting and gathering to sustain their families and provide food. These societies generally exist in areas that are not appropriate for agriculture. Agriculture Develops As the methods of collecting food changed over time, the hunter-gatherer society began to change into an agricultural society. People established new and more effective ways to gather and grow plants and learned how to raise and use animals as a food source. This was the beginning of domestication, the process where people take living things from the wild and raise or grow them to meet some physical need. Both plants and animals have been domesticated. The process of planting and harvesting can be referred to as cultivation of plant products. The process involves preparing the ground, planting the crops, and harvesting the crops. When people raise animals to meet a specific need, it is called animal husbandry. Animal husbandry involves keeping and breeding domesticated animals. Domesticated animals have been taken from the wild, tamed, and contained in a space controlled by people. Some examples of domesticated animals used as food are cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Some food animals also provide other products, such as leather and wool. Not all domesticated animals are used for food. Pets like dogs and cats are domesticated. Domesticated plants were originally gathered from the wild and are grown in an area to meet a specific need. Some examples of domesticated plants are apples, sugar cane, oranges, and cotton. Grains such as wheat and corn are among the most important domesticated plants. Today we find these crops growing in fields and orchards around the country. DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS How do people domesticate animals? People domesticate animals when they take an animal from the wild and breed it to keep captive. Often they breed animals to have desirable traits. Some examples of domesticated animals are cows and dogs. Many years ago, people recognized the cow's value for meat and milk. Instead of always having to hunt for wild cows, they captured some cows and kept them contained. SHOW TRANSCRIPT Transcripts Animals around the globe were domesticated when early man discovered they could meet humans' needs for food, warmth, transportation, or companionship. Here are a few examples. Dogs, sheep, goats, and pigs were some of the first animals to be domesticated in Southwest Asia. In Central Asia, early people soon domesticated the two-hump Bactrian camels for carrying loads of goods on the trade routes. Additionally, humans consumed camels' milk, used the dung for firewood, and spun camel hair into clothing. Then in China, water buffalo were domesticated and used for plowing fields. In fact, more human beings depend on water buffalo than on any other domestic animal. They are especially well suited for tilling rice fields, as they can remain in muddy water for long periods of time. In addition, their milk became a food source, being richer in fat and protein than the milk of dairy cows. In the deserts of Arabia, the one-humped camel, which could withstand long periods without water, was soon domesticated for carrying goods and people. In the cold, outer reaches of the Ukraine, people domesticated wild tarpan horses that lived well in forests and had great endurance. Then donkeys were domesticated in Egypt due to their ability to work hard without requiring a lot of water and vegetation. And, finally, we all are familiar with the domestication of the llama and alpaca in South America, where they are used as pack animals, hauling goods in the steep mountain areas. These are just some of the earliest domesticated animals. And you can quickly see why specific animals from geographic locations were selected for the tasks for which they are known. They noticed that some cows produced more milk or meat. These desirable traits made the animals more valuable to people. At this point, people began to mate animals having desirable traits with each other, so the desirable traits were passed on to the next generation. Over time, because people chose specific mates for the animals, certain traits became common in the population. We call this "artificial selection" or "selective breeding." Another example of selective breeding for specific traits is the pet dog. Long ago, people tamed wild dogs and used them for hunting and protection. They noticed certain traits were favorable and started breeding specific dogs to produce offspring with these traits. As a result, we have many different breeds of dogs that have specific traits that make them good hunters or good shepherds. What types of animals can be domesticated? Animals have instincts, or inborn patterns of behavior. Some instincts can make animals dangerous or difficult to keep contained. This is one reason not all animals can be domesticated. To be a good candidate for domestication, the animal must be: calm and relatively friendly; easy to feed; fast-growing; easy to breed; and able to conform to a specific way of life. Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed. They get their name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where early Conquistadores found them in abundance. Not all animals have traits that make them desirable for domestication. For example, animals such as pandas, lions, and zebras are too violent and/or do not easily conform to a new way of life. But part of domestication involves selective breeding to instill calmness and other desired traits. Your pet Chihuahua, after all, is descended from the wild wolf. WAR AND AGRICULTURE Agriculture made a dramatic impact on how people lived. As agriculture became more organized and crop yields increased, agriculture became a big part of society. People were dependent upon it for food and income. The concept of owning or controlling certain land areas that were desirable for farming became a source of conflict among individuals, tribes, and nations. Trade of agricultural products became another source of conflict. Agriculture has a significant impact on conflict and war. Some impacts are negative; some might be considered positive. Range wars often developed in the wild west when farmers and ranchers fought over water or grazing rights on the open range. Agriculture was one of the issues that led to the American Civil War. Farmers in the South used slaves to grow and harvest their crops, which gave many white Southerners a high standard of living and favorably affected trade and the economy. Conflicts between Northerners who wanted to abolish slavery and Southerners who wanted to keep slavery became one cause of the Civil War. War also has an impact on agriculture. World War I brought the opportunity for American farmers to make money, because, during the war, much of Europe depended on America for food. This enabled farmers to charge high prices. Unfortunately, the farmers started growing only certain profitable crops. This resulted in depleting the soil of important nutrients. At the end of the war, as countries began to recover, the European demand for food declined, leaving farmers with depleted soil, surplus goods, and low food prices. This was devastating to the agricultural industry. World War II took many young American farm workers away from farms and off to war. This resulted in a need to find new ways to grow food. Because of the degraded soil found in some areas and the lack of workers, farmers began to use machinery as well as inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. All of these practices degrade the environment. There was a large increase in productivity but at the cost of environmental quality. During war, an invaded country can suffer great losses from destruction of farmland, loss of lives, and degraded environmental conditions. When war devastates the farming community, people run the risk of starvation. This is seen in many conflicts, such as that between the African countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea. These two countries have a long history of conflict over land and other issues. In 1997, Eritrea attacked Ethiopia. The war took place mostly on Ethiopian land and did not end until 2000. Large portions of heavily populated areas were destroyed. As a result, agriculture in Ethiopia suffered. Because of war, drought, and resulting lack of resources to feed the people, the government estimates that only 60 percent of the entire population received an adequate food supply. Hundreds of thousands of people fled the country or died of starvation. Russia has attacked its subordinate region of Chechnya twice. One conflict lasted from 1994 to 1996, the second from 1999 to 2009. Over time, the wars have contaminated soil and destroyed crops. Today, over 40 percent of the land is not considered safe to live on. The wars decimated the agriculture industry because of the loss of land. Many areas in the country are not fit for growing food. As you would expect, this led to food shortages. SHOW TRANSCRIPT Transcripts War with Russia has taken a toll on the land to the extent that 40 percent is no longer arable for farming due to oil spills and pollutants leaked into the ground. Since 1994, it is recorded that 20,000 tons of oil have leaked as a result of the Russian bombardment of Chechnya's plants and oil refineries. Moreover, 1.5 to 2 million tons of these pollutants have leaked into the groundwater, which eventually flows into the Caspian Sea. Further complications result from the Russian bombing of Chechnyan chemical plants, causing radioactive pollution. Not only are the people in the area at risk, but the animals and plants as well as the ecological balance of life have been affected. CAREER CORNER: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY One might think that individuals working in animal husbandry are always found on farms. This is not the case! Working in animal husbandry means caring for captive animals. Farming is just one example. Zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, and research laboratories all need people with expertise in animal husbandry or animal science. To work in animal husbandry, you need a college degree. Some areas of animal husbandry require a master's degree. A bachelor's degree will prepare you to work in the field or laboratory as an assistant or technician. Most people who work in animal husbandry develop a specific expertise, such as wildlife, livestock, or aquaculture. A master's degree will prepare you to work in a specific area of animal husbandry at a higher level. Some animal husbandry specialists complete a doctoral degree. These individuals might hold positions with great responsibilities. There is also a voluntary certification offered through the American Association of Animal Sciences. An individual may want to obtain this certification to increase his or her marketability in job hunting.