Information Age  2000 - present

President George W. Bush

George W. Bush was sworn into office in January of 2001. President Bush led the American people through the difficult days following the September 11 attacks. Visit the White House website to read a brief biography of President Bush and answer the following questions.

President George W. Bush website

Ann M. Veneman

"Ann M. Veneman was sworn in as the 27th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 20, 2001. Her lifelong commitment to food and farm issues, along with her bipartisan approach to solving problems and confronting new challenges, are reasons that explain why she was chosen by President George W. Bush to serve in his Cabinet and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

"Growing up on a family farm in a small rural community, Ann Veneman understands well the issues important to America's farmers and ranchers. She has spent much of her career dedicated to food and agriculture issues and advancing sound U.S. farm and food policies.

"President Bush has often said that the spirit of the American farmer is emblematic of the spirit of America, signifying the values of hard work, faith and entrepreneurship. Secretary Veneman believes strongly in these principles and since taking office, has worked to foster economic opportunities for farmers and ranchers, ensure a safe and wholesome food supply, protect agriculture against pests and diseases, encourage conservation and environmental stewardship, invest in rural communities, and support the next generation of agricultural leaders through new educational opportunities.

"Secretary Veneman [played] a key role in eliminating trade barriers and expanding opportunities for American farmers through new export markets. She [worked] closely with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, helping lead to the successful launch of a new round of trade negotiations for the World Trade Organization.

"Following a devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease in parts of Europe and the tragic events of September 11th, Secretary Veneman and her team acted swiftly to respond to potential threats and continues working to strengthen USDA's protection systems. The Secretary has been an advocate for strong pest and disease, food safety and research programs to ensure U.S. agriculture and consumers have a safe, wholesome food supply and the infrastructure to protect it.

"Secretary Veneman [was] a strong advocate of agriculture education and established the 'Leaders of Tomorrow' initiative to strengthen USDA education programs, particularly those involved with mentoring young adults.

"The Secretary earned her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Davis, a master's degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a juris doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. In a personal capacity, she serves as a board member of the Close Up Foundation, a nonpartisan civic education organization."

Free Trade in a Global Economy

"President George W. Bush said 'We know that nations that open their economies to the benefit of trade are more successful in climbing out of poverty...We also know that free trade encourages the habits of liberty that sustain freedom. . . .'

"The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. The WTO agreements are negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business."

E. Kwan Choi, "The Foundations of the World Trading System," Economics 355, Iowa State University [online].

Global Food Safety Initiative - GFSI

In the 1990s, the food industry experienced some major crisis in outbreaks of listeria (bacterium), mad cow disease (BSE), and dioxins (highly toxic pollutants). Without a consistent method of ensuring food safety on a global scale, The Consumer Goods Forum (GCF), an international trade group, decided to take action, which led to the creation of the Global Food Safety Initiative in May 2000. GFSI is a non-profit organization whose goal is "once certified, always recognized". 

Global Food Safety Initiative

National Organic Standards

Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act in 1990, however it took over a decade of working with all stakeholders for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the national organic standards (October, 2002) regarding the production and processing of organic foods.

Although not an indication of nutritional value or food safety, the organic certification seal is a marketing tool that provides information to consumers that certain requirements have been met in the production of the food source.

Foods that are organically certified are grown and processed according to specific federal guidelines, which include quality of the soil, insect and weed control, animal raising practices, and additive use. Produce that is labeled organic comes from soil that has had no use of forbidden synthetic fertilizers or pesticides for a period of three years before harvesting. With regard to meat, an organic label requires that the animal be raised in a natural-type habitat, be fed organic foods, and be free from antibiotic or hormone additives. In labeling packaged foods, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives are generally prohibited.

Biomass Research and Development

The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 provided government grants for the research and development of biofuels and biobased products from crops and feedstock (renewable, biological materials that can be used for fuel). 

Biomass is organic plant and animal waste that can be used as a source of energy. Taking a relatively small amount of time to produce, rather than million of years for the formation of fossil fuels, biomass is a renewable energy source, the only renewable energy source that can be turned in liquid biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel fuel. 

To learn more about biomass and its uses, use the National Geographic link below.

Biomass Energy

The American Food Budget

On average, Americans spend 10.3 percent of their disposable personal income on food—divided between food at home (5.2 percent) and food away from home (5.1 percent). 

USDA - ERS

What's On America's Table?

While people in the United States are consuming more vegetables and fruit than in 1970, the average U.S. diet still falls short of the recommendations in the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans for these major food groups. On average, 2018 consumption of meat, eggs, and nuts as well as grains in the United States was higher than the recommended amounts.

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=58334

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Peter Menzel, a California photographer,  and  writer Faith D'Aluisio traveled to 24 countries to interview and photograph families to discover what they ate, as well as the weekly cost of their food. Analyze the photos and the information provided in the link below. Pay special attention to the types of food eaten, the number of people in each family, and the weekly grocery bill.

What the World Eats

U.S. Trade: Exports v. Imports

While U.S. agricultural exports have historically exceeded imports and have positively contributed to U.S. trade the gap is narrowing. This impacts the U.S. balance of trade. A "trade deficit" occurs when a country imports more than it exports.

https://www.wita.org/ustrade/us-trade-trends/the-us-trade-deficit/

Agricultural Exports Provide Jobs

In 2020, Agricultural Exports Supported More Than 1 Million Full-time Civilian Jobs. U.S. agricultural exports support output, employment, income, and purchasing power in both the farm and nonfarm sectors. In 2020, every $1 billion of U.S. agricultural exports supported approximately 7,550 U.S. jobs throughout the economy. Agricultural exports in 2020 required 1,133,000 full-time civilian jobs, which included 694,000 jobs in the nonfarm sector.

https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/international-markets-u-s-trade/u-s-agricultural-trade/outlook-for-u-s-agricultural-trade/

Exploring the First 50 Sequenced Plant Genomes

While the first plant to have its genome sequenced was a member of the mustard family in the year 2000, the rate of decoding plant genomes has been rapidly increasing since then. From the following link, read more about genome sequencing and the first 50 plant genomes that have been sequenced.

Crop Science

Fisher, Madeline. "Exploring the first 50 sequenced plant genomes." Crop Science Society of America. 2018. Web. 16 August 2018.

Farmer's Market

"Direct marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. Farmers markets, now an integral part in the urban/farm linkage, have continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. The number of farmers markets in the United States has grown dramatically, increasing 79 percent from 1994 to 2002. According to the 2002 National Farmers Market Directory, there are over 3,100 farmers markets operating in the United States. This growth clearly indicates that farmers markets are meeting the needs of a growing number of farmers with small- to medium-size operations."

"Farmers Market Facts," Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture [online].

Roots of Farmers' Markets

The history of farmers' markets dates back to 1730 in Lancaster, PA, when city planners designed Lancaster Central Market, a 120-square-foot plot in the middle of the city. Farmers' Markets were popular among people from all walks of life. For example, in July 1806, President Thomas Jefferson traveled to a local Georgetown market for fresh vegetables, beef, and eggs. He was used to fresh produce that came from his Monticello farm in Charlottesville, VA, so a farmers' market was valuable to him. He even documented vegetables that were sold in the Washington, DC area, a total of thirty-seven different varieties. 

In the first decades of the 20th Century, local markets were commonplace. However, with the advancements in transportation, refrigeration, and improved roads, supermarkets were built, which soon replaced the popularity of farmers' markets. In the 1970s, a green revolution took root once again, particularly in New York City and California, which led to the concern of where food came from and how it was grown, along with a desire to protect farmland and improve conservation practices. 

Jablow, Valerie and Horne, Bill. "Farmers' Markets." Smithsonian Magazine. June 1999. Web. 31 July 2018. Neal, Arthur. "Meet Me at the Market." USDA. 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 31 July 2018.

Y2K Scare

The Y2K scare was a phenomenon that had people in fear that on December 31, 1999, computers would shut down, which led to the spending of millions of dollars by government and private sectors to prevent the problem. Prior to the year 2000, computer programmers had used a two-digit code to represent the year, rather than the standard four-digits. People were concerned that once a computer hit the year "00", it would fail. Transport systems, particularly the airlines, were concerned that flight times would be inaccurate. Banking systems, which heavily rely on computer software, worried that the calculation of daily interest rates might fail. This caused a decline in stock prices for banks. Government institutions, hospitals, and other businesses were impacted, as well.

The solution was to create new software programs that included a four-digit code to represent each year, along with amending the algorithm that was used to calculate leap years.

View the National Geographic video clip on Y2K.

Department of Homeland Security

In response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the President created the Department of Homeland Security, to coordinate counter terrorism efforts. Biosecurity is an important part of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. Visit the Homeland Security website pages on biosecurity efforts, and answer the following questions.

Homeland Security Biological Security

National Bio and Agro- Defense Facility

Plum Island Animal Disease Center

Agroterrorism

On September 11, 2001, terrorist hijackers flew airplanes into the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City, NY, killing 2,606 people. The Pentagon was attacked, as well, leaving 125 Pentagon workers dead. Another plane destined for Washington, DC, was diverted by passengers who overpowered the hijackers, and crashed in a field in Shanksville, PA. A total of 2,996 people perished in the attacks, wounding an additional 6,000.

What is the WTO?

The World Trade Organization (WTO), created in 1995, is the only international organization that governs the rules of trade. It grew from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which began after WWII in 1948. The WTO is responsible for solving trade disputes between nations and help trade move as smoothly as possible. Principles of the WTO include lowering trade barriers, such as bans and tariffs, discouraging unfair practices, help developing nations transition to market economies, work to protecting the environment, and not discriminate between trading partners or various products. 

On December 11, 2001, China became the 143rd member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after lengthy negotiations that required vast changes to their economic structure, such as the elimination of various tariffs and opening agricultural trade. The WTO establishes rules for global trade and promotes effective practices for a market economy.

Use the WTO website to answer the following questions.

The Safety of Bioengineered Foods

There has been an on-going debate around the world about the use of GMOs. However, while the safety of genetically modified food has been part of the debate, science-based organizations agree GMO are safe to eat. 

GMO Potatoes

Approved in 2014, the first GMO potatoes became available commercially for farmers to grow. These potatoes are non-browning, have reduced bruising and black spot, are blight resistant, and contain low acrylamide levels. Late blight continues to be a major problem for potato growers around the world, particularly in wet climates, and was responsible for the potato famine in Ireland in the mid-1840s.

Golden Rice

Golden Rice, a genetically-modified rice containing beta-carotene, was introduced by Peter Beyer and Ingo Potrykus in an attempt to eradicate Vitamin D deficiencies in low-income nations. Vitamin A is essential for good vision and healthy immune systems.

https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/population-health/divisions-sections-centers/medical-ethics/education/high-school-bioethics-project/learning-scenarios/gmos-the-golden-rice-debate

GMO Apples

The first GMO apple, named the "Arctic Apple" became commercially available in 2017. This non-browning apple produces no polyphenol oxidase (PPO), a plant enzyme that creates a chemical reaction that browns the fruit when cut, bruised, or bitten. A modified Golden Delicious apple, the Arctic Apple was genetically engineered by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, from British Columbia, Canada, through a process called RNA Interference, or gene slicing. By adding an extra strand of RNA, the gene is basically shut down, preventing the browning process.

To see current GMO crops that are currently available, use the link below.

Current GMO Crops

Gerlock, Grant. "Why The Arctic Apple Means You May Be Seeing More GMOs At The Store." NPR. 1 February 2017. Web. 27 July 2018.

Cloning

On March 5, 2000, five female cloned pigs were born at the PPL Therapeutics laboratory in Blacksburg, Virginia. Scientists and colleagues from the Edinburgh-based company created the pigs using cloned adult cells, similar to the technique they used to create Dolly, the sheep. In the Food and Drug Consumer Magazine an article by Linda Bren wrote this,

"Proponents of livestock cloning see it benefiting consumers, producers, animals and the environment.

The consumer is looking for a nutritious and wholesome product provided to them in a repeatable and reliable manner and produced in a humane and ethical way,' says [rancher and veterinarian Donald] Coover, who also owns and manages SEK Genetics Inc., a beef cattle semen distribution company. 'If a consumer spends $30 on a steak dinner at a restaurant, they expect a great steak, but don't always get it.'

For farmers whose livelihoods depend on selling high-quality meat and dairy products, cloning can offer a tremendous advantage, says Coover. It gives them the ability to preserve and extend proven, superior genetics. They can select and propagate the best animals--beef cattle that are fast-growing, have lean but tender meat, and are disease-resistant[,] dairy cows and goats that give lots of milk and sheep that produce high-quality wool. Through cloning, it would be possible to predict the characteristics of each animal, rather than taking the chance that sexual reproduction and its gene reshuffling provide.

Coover compares the process of identifying a superior animal to spinning a giant roulette wheel. 'Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes you hit the jackpot.' But a producer cannot tell if he's hit the jackpot with a young animal. 'It's like trying to identify the school kid in the second grade who is going to grow up to solve the riddle of cancer,' says Coover. 'A rancher may think he has a good bull, but that bull has to sire calves, the calves have to mature and produce calves of their own, and this has to occur for several generations to know that it's not a fluke. By that time, the bull is dead and gone, and its genetics are lost to the industry.' Through SCNT cloning, even deceased animals can be cloned if a tissue sample is preserved in life or within a short time after death.

Cloning has the potential to improve the welfare of farm animals by eliminating pain and suffering from disease. 'From time to time, in nature, you find a naturally disease-resistant animal,' says [Larisa] Rudenko [a molecular biologist and risk assessor in the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine]. 'You can expand that genome through cloning, and then breed that resistance into the overall population and help eliminate major diseases in livestock.'

Cloning can reduce the number of unwanted animals, such as veal calves,' says Ray Page, chief scientific officer and biomedical engineer at Cyagra, a livestock cloning company. Veal calves are commonly surplus male offspring from dairy cows. Since the males don't produce milk, they are not as useful to the dairy industry and are turned into veal calves. Cloning can ensure the creation of more female offspring for dairy production.

An environmental benefit could result from cloning grass-fed instead of grain-fed animals. Grain-fed animals are known to be better tasting and more tender, but once in a while, a high-quality grass-fed animal comes along. 'If we can move our cattle-raising from a grain economy to a grass-fed economy, we can make food more efficiently and there are benefits to us as a society,' says John Matheson, a toxicologist and environmentalist who serves as a senior regulatory review scientist for biotechnology in CVM. Grass is a soil-building crop. In addition to reducing erosion, grass does not need the quantities of fertilizers and pesticides required by grain. And because forage is cheaper than grain, production savings can be passed on to consumers.

Cloning can help spread the best genetics over larger populations of animals,' says [Ph.D. Steven] Stice. When farm animals are cloned, genetic diversity may be reduced, but cloning can also be a tool to preserve rare genetics in livestock and, potentially, wild animals. Stice encourages zoos and wildlife refuges to preserve the tissue of endangered species in the hopes that technology in the theoretical stage today can be developed to regenerate these species in the future."

Linda Bren, "Cloning: Revolution or Evolution in Animal Production?" FDA Consumer Magazine (May-June 2003) [online].

The WIC Program

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program was initially created as a pilot program in 1972 to provide food, education on nutrition, and access to health services for low-income women, infants, and children up to the age of five. The federal program became permanent in 1974 and is operated by the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA, emphasizing its role as a nutrition program.

Congress allocates a specific amount funds each year for WIC, making it a grant, rather than entitlement, program. Based on 2015 statistics, WIC is operated through all 50 state health departments, 34 Native American Tribal Organizations, as well as Washington, DC, and 5 US territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana). 

In 1974, 88,000 people received WIC benefits. In 1980, 1.9 million; in 1985, 3.1 million; in 1990, 4.5 million; in 2000, 7.2 million; and by 2016, 7.7 milion. Children have always been the largest group to receve WIC benefits. In 2017, of the 7.3 million people who participated in the program, 3.76 million were children, 1.79 million were infants, and 1.74 million were women.

Food and Nutrition Services. "Women, Infants and Children (WIC)". USDA. 14 February 2018. Web. 12 July 2018.

Food and Nutrition

Eating healthy and maintaining a sense of well-being has been a major focus in the new millennium. In 2005, McDonald's announced that it would begin displaying nutrition facts on most of their fast-food menu items, including calories and fat content.  By 2012, the company began displaying calorie counts on display boards in their restaurants. Other restaurants followed suit. This interest in diet and health led to the development of various strategic initiatives to improve proper health and nutrition.

Nut Allergies

Researchers at the USDA discovered a peanut variety that lacks a major allergen, in hopes that a hypoallergenic peanut can be created. Peanut allergies, which can be fatal, affect over 1.5 million Americans. Researchers continue to determine what causes a food allergy, although genetic and environmental factors seem to be contributors. Statistically, one of 90 people in the US suffer from peanut allergies, between 0.6-1.0%, with an estimate of 20% of peanut allergies that can be outgrown. Peanut allergies are less common in Asia and Africa, where peanuts are staple foods. 

"Nut Allergy." The Peanut Institute.

Edible Coating for Sliced Apples

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) developed an edible coating to keep sliced apples fresh, Patented in 1999 and made available nationwide in 2005, the sulfite-free coating consisted of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamin C, while preserving the fruit's color, texture, and flavor for up to 28 days.

Impacts of Colony Collapse Disorder

Honeybees are essential to agriculture. Crops such as apples, berries, and almonds, as well as three-fourths of all flowering plants, require pollination in order to be productive. It is estimated that one-third of our food comes from honeybee pollination.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) was first reported during the winter of 2006-2007 when beekeepers began seeing high losses in their adult honeybee colonies. The bees would leave the hives, almost all at the same time. The queen was often discovered in the hives with the immature bees, and sufficient food supplies, but without many attending bees.

Major factors threatening honey bee health can be divided into four general areas: parasites and pests, pathogens, poor nutrition, and sublethal exposure to pesticides. In reality though, these factors tend to overlap and interact with one another, which complicates determining the exact cause of CCD. In addition, there are other issues that have impacts on honey bee health such as the narrow genetic base of honey bees in the United States.

Stats for a Hungry Planet

Population and productivity continued to grow in the new century. A few videos captured the trends, growing demand for food, and the productivity of farmers. These videos also highlight challenges ahead—populations increasing while farmland staying the same.

View the linked videos before answering  the questions.

A World Without Farmers - One Hungry Planet (2010)

Growing Today For Tomorrow (2013)

Who is Hungry

The goal of the World Food Programme (WFP), founded in 1961, is to deliver food assistance to those in emergency situations and ensure that everyone in the world has access to good nutrition, not just food. 

Explore the interactive World Hunger Map to learn about food availably.

Food Waste

"In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. This estimate, based on estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. Reducing this loss and waste could generate a number of benefits to society:

• Wholesome food that is currently wasted could help feed families in need.
• Land, water, labor, energy and other inputs that are used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing, and disposing of discarded food could be conserved to protect the environment.
• Greenhouse gases generated from food rotting in landfills could be reduced to help mitigate climate change.

Food loss occurs for many reasons, with some types of loss—such as spoilage—occurring at every stage of the production and supply chain. Between the farm gate and retail stages, food loss can arise from problems during drying, milling, transporting, or processing that expose food to damage by insects, rodents, birds, molds, and bacteria. At the retail level, equipment malfunction (such as faulty cold storage), over-ordering, and culling of blemished produce can result in food loss. Consumers also contribute to food loss when they buy or cook more than they need and choose to throw out the extras."

https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/faqs 

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

In February 2009, Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, launched The People's Garden initiative on the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, who created the Department in 1862. He referred to it as "The People's Department." The purpose of The People's Garden was to help USDA employees create community gardens and encourage sustainable practices that benefit the environment. As of 2017, over 1,200 People's Gardens were in existence, providing educational resources and giving people the opportunity to grow their own food.

In the fall of 2009, Secretary Vilsack announced the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" Initiative to help individuals understand where their food comes from and how it gets to their plates. Using existing programs to support the development of local and regional food systems, the initiative's goal was to provide new income opportunities for local growers, increase sustainable agricultural practices, decrease the energy used to transport foods, and keep heathy options available to local consumers. 

To learn more about what this program's goals were, view this video "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food." 

MyPlate

In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, unveiled the new food guide for a healthy diet known as MyPlate. Replacing MyPyramid, the MyPlate provided a visual display of an individual's plate sectioned into four parts: grains, protein, fruits, and vegetables, with half of the plate being fruits and veggetables. A separate circle represents dairy products. 

To read Michelle Obama's remarks on the MyPlate announcement, go to the following website: Remarks by the First Lady at MyPlate Icon Announcement. 

To learn more about the MyPlate initiative visit: MyPlate.gov

2009 American Recovery and Investment Act

Signed by President Barack Obama, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the "Recovery Act" or "The Stimulus", was a $787 billion economic stimulus package to help end the Recession of 2008. The main objective of the Act was to create emergency relief by saving and creating jobs. In addition, the package was to invest in infrastructure, education, health services, renewable energy, expansion of unemployment benefits, and federal tax incentives. 

Congressional Research Service. "H.R. 1 (111th): American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009". www.govtrack.us. 2009. Web. 26 July 2018.

2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 4, 2011. The FSMA provided the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities to regulate the way food is produced (grown/harvested) and processed. The law granted the FDA the power to conduct mandatory recalls and issue guidance documents to reduce incidents of foodborne illnesses. This bill was considered the first major piece of federal legislation addressing food safety since 1938.

FDA.gov

2012 Federal Public Transportation Act

The Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 (also called the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act) was passed and provided funding for increased ridership of buses, subways, commuter trains, and ferry boats. In addition, the Act focused on improved safety and established a State of Good Repair program to help public transportation systems address growing maintenance needs.

2012 Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act

The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240) represented the most significant reforms in agricultural policy in decades. The bill ended direct payments, streamlined and consolidates programs, and reduced the deficit by $23 billion. It also strengthened top priorities that continue to help farmers, ranchers, and small business owners grow our economy.

The Agricultural Act of 2014

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (farm bill) was signed into law by President Obama on February 7, 2014 and remained in effect until 2018, with some policies extending beyond that timeframe. According to the USDA, “The 2014 Farm Act made major changes in commodity programs, adds new crop insurance options, streamlines conservation programs, modifies some provisions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and expands programs for specialty crops, organic farmers, bioenergy, rural development, and beginning farmers and ranchers.”

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2018). Agricultural Act of 2014: Highlights and implications.

Irrigation

In 2005, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) began demonstrating how strategic use of irrigation water can reduce water use and boost its quality. In the seventeen neighboring states in the West, approximately 75% of the value of various crops are grown on 25% of irrigated land. Remote sensors, more efficient sprinklers, automation, and improved delivery systems (e.g., drip) allow farmers to produce greater yields and adapt to the effects of climate change. For example, in California, almond growers have discovered that the drip method has reduced the amount of water needed to grow a pound of almonds by 33%, based on their experiences. Water-saving measures and strategies are now being used on millions of acres across the American West, where irrigation can consume up to 90 percent of available water resources. 

Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly contagious disease that occurs in wild and domestic animals, particularly those with cloven hooves. There are seven distinct types of the virus, with over sixty subtypes. The disease causes lesions, fluid-filled blisters, between the toes, heels, lips, tongue, and roof of the mouth. Lesions on the hooves, or feet, can prevent animals from walking, and those in the mouth can keep animals from eating or drinking.

Researchers at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in Orient Point, NY, developed a safer vaccine to help combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in animals. Elizabeth Rieder, a microbiologist, and her colleagues used a DNA sequence that altered the FMD virus so they could study how it grows and interacts with host animals. Instead of using a virulent virus, the research team discovered how to create a weakened virus that does not cause disease, which is much safer than the traditional vaccine methods. The new vaccine may also be distinguished from other viruses that cause outbreaks.

There is often much confusion about Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), also known as Hoof-and-Mouth Disease, and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD). FMD affects animals, such as pigs, cattle, and sheep, and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease affects humans. The diseases are not related, and they come from different viruses. 

Emergency Food Development

Food technologist, Charles Onwulata, developed an instant, fully cooked, nutritionally fortified, corn-soy blend emergency aid food with a one-year shelf life.  Onwulata developed the new food using the same process used in creating Cheese Puffs, or any other puffed cereal or snack.  The "puffs" are then crushed and processed to create a powder, which can be reconstituted with clean water and turned into a porridge.

Twenty metric tons of this new food aid were able to be shipped to Haiti in 2011. after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, devastating the island, affecting three million people, and leaving 1.6 million displaced and homeless. This effort has fed over 3,000 malnourished children and provided jobs for 128 disabled employees in the United States.

Bliss, Rosalie Marion. "Fully Cooked Emergency Aid Food." AgResearch Magazine. USDA. 2011. Web. 26 July 2018.

Automating Irrigation

Water is a key resource that plays an important role in agriculture across the United States. In states and regions where there is little rainfall it is key that the use of water is managed to provide the crops what they need to thrive. In areas like California where rain falls variably from year to year solutions must be put in place to ensure crops flourish.

According to the Agricultural Research Services (ARS), “ARS scientists have saved millions of gallons of water on farms in California and in other dry States by developing an automated irrigation scheduling system that targets water to where and when it is needed most. The technology monitors soil and crop conditions and records rainfall levels so that it can time irrigation with a sophisticated variable-rate center-pivot irrigation system. The technology is the first of its kind for center-pivot irrigation systems, which are used on more than 50 percent of the Nation’s irrigated croplands.”

Agricultural Research Services. (2018). Saving watera precious global resource. Scientific Discoveries: The Impact of Agricultural Research Services (ARS) Research-Fiscal Year 2017, p. 13.

Renewable Fuels

Renewable fuels are assisting many rural communities economically. Looking to the field of biofuels, Agricultural Research Services (ARS) in Lincoln, NE developed a new perennial switchgrass called ‘Liberty’ that thrives in the Upper Midwest and provides 530 gallons of bioethanol per acre as compared to 567 gallons per-acre from corn grain that has to be grown on higher quality food-cropping land. According to the ARS, “This new ARS-developed switchgrass can grow on marginal lands where other crops can’t necessarily grow. It is also high yielding, meaning that it will generate more revenue for both farmers and the bio-refineries they supply. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuels are already derived each year from switchgrass, and the new variety should enhance the crop’s economic value.”

Agricultural Research Services. (2018). Making the unusable profitable. Scientific Discoveries: The Impact of Agricultural Research Services (ARS) Research-Fiscal Year 2017, p. 15.

Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is a method of farming that uses technological innovations – including GPS guidance, drones, sensors, soil sampling and precision machinery – in order to grow crops more efficiently. Ultimately, precision agriculture techniques help farmers make more informed decisions through the use of artificial intelligence and data supplied by sensors in the ground, weather stations on the ground, along with infrared images taken by satellites and drones. 

This video provides an overview about how farmers are using precision agriculture techniques. 

2012 First Self-Driving Tractor

Created by Terry Anderson, founder of the Autonomous Tractor Corporation, the first self-driving, autonomous tractor was unveiled at the Big Iron Farm Show in West Fargo, North Dakota. Anderson came out of retirement to design an automated tractor after hearing complaints from farmers about labor issues, increased tractor prices, and design problems. The 25,000-pound tractor, named The Spirit, is able to travel in a straight line, turn corners, prepare the soil for planting, destroy weeds, and cut hay.

Using Drones in Agriculture

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones, are not a new technology, but they are playing a bigger role in agriculture than in the past due to less regulation and more investments in the technology. There are two major reasons why drones will lend themselves to agriculture.

The first is the growing population which is projected to be at 9 billion people by 2050, this means that agricultural consumption could increase nearly 70% within this same time frame. The second challenge that could be remedied by the use of drones is extreme weather events which create obstacles to productivity. Great strides in the integration of drones into agriculture could be made with the collaboration of stakeholders including governments, technology leaders, and industry. 

The MIT Technology Review lists six uses for agricultural drones including:

1. Soil and field analysis
2. Planting
3. Crop spraying
4. Crop monitoring
5. Irrigation
6. Health assessment

Looking to the future, drones may be sent out in fleets or swarms in order to monitor tasks collectively and/or hybrid aerial-ground drones could collect data and perform other tasks. Several issues continue to impact the progress surrounding the use of drones, as well as, integration into all industries. Some of these on-going issues include safety of drone operations, privacy issues, and insurance-coverage questions. One of the biggest issues when looking to the use of drones in agriculture is the type and quality of data received from the technology. In order to address this, the industry is pushing for more sensors and cameras. Other considerations in the integration of drones into agriculture include using drones that require minimal training and highly automated technology.

Mazur, M. (2016). Six ways drones are revolutionizing agriculture. MIT Technology Review.

Wearable Technology for Livestock

In 2002, Agricultural Research Service rangeland scientist David Ganskopp from Burns, Oregon, installed GPS collars on twelve cattle to track movements and better understand why they tend to graze in certain areas. Using satellite coordinates from over two dozen satellites, data was entered into a computer, which used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to determine specific environments of the grazing cattle. 

With continued advances in technology, farmers and ranchers are able to use accelerometers, devices which measure acceleration, on grazing animals. In addition, GPS collars have become easier to manufacture at lower costs, which makes monitoring extensive rangeland more effective. Ranchers now have the ability to more quickly rescue animals in need.

Not only are high-tech collars now available for tracking livestock, there are many other options provided to farmers. The idea is that "precision farming," should be more efficient, as well as save time and money. Based on 2016 figures, livestock tracking devices were a $1 billion industry, with estimates of increasing to $2.5 billion by the year 2025. 

Elstein, David. "Tracking Movement of Cattle With Satellites." Agricultural Research Service. USDA. 12 August 2002. Web. 26 July 2018.

2010 Energy Security Plan

President Barack Obama announced initiatives to boost advanced biofuel production, which included five research centers, the installation of 10k fuel pumps with access to ethanol fuel blends, the increase of biofuel use in USDA's fleet, and  the resumption of USDA's Biomass Crop Assistance program. 

Vilsack, Tom."Boosting Advanced Biofuel Production and Creating Jobs." USDA. 2010. Web. 26 July 2018.

2011 White House Rural Council

By Executive Order, President Barack Obama announced the creation of a White House Rural Council to help rural communities meet economic challenges. President Obama said, "Strong rural communities are key to a stronger America." Chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Council coordinated programs across government to help strengthen rural communities. Specific goals included: the increase of broadband across America, improved access to quality healthcare, expansion of agricultural markets, the increased production of biofuels, and the improvement of job opportunities and training for people in rural areas.

Office of the Press Secretary. "Obama Administration Establishes White House Rural Council to Strengthen Rural Communities." The White House. 9 June 2011. Web. 26 July 2018.

The Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations’ focus with the Sustainable Development Goals includes poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. Using the Sustainable Development Goals website explore the 17 goals and learn more about what this plan entails.

Sustainability Development Goals

United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

According to the Agricultural Sustainability Institute, “The goal of sustainable agriculture is to meet society’s food and textile needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Practitioners of sustainable agriculture seek to integrate three main objectives into their work: a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Every person involved in the food system—growers, food processors, distributors, retailers, consumers, and waste managers—can play a role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system.”

What is sustainable agriculture. (n.d.). Agricultural Sustainability Institute.

2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development

The United Nations’ focus with the Sustainable Development Goals includes goals to address poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. 

Using the Sustainable Development Goals website explore the 17 goals and learn more about what this plan entails.

United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals.

Conservation and Protecting Natural Resources

Provisions in the farm bill provide funding to farmers and ranchers for conservation efforts preventing soil erosion, preserving and restoring wetlands, cleaning the air and water, and enhancing wildlife. In addition to soil and water conservation, the practice of crop rotation also plays a role in caring for the land, as well as, contour farming where farmers plant crops across slopes for purposes of water conservation and protecting the soil.

According to the American Farm Bureau, “No-till or conservation tillage—a way of farming that reduces erosion (soil loss) while using less energy—is used on more than twice as many cropland acres compared to conventional tillage. Advanced conservation practices are used on more the 50 percent of cropland.

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. (2017). Environment. Food and Farm Facts, pp. 20-21.

Food that Never Leaves the Farm

It is calculated that U.S. food waste equates to 40% of food not including on-farm food loss. Some estimate on-farm food loss at 30%. When researchers look at the food that never leaves the farm there is a story to be told. Fruits and vegetables that are planted and never harvested or harvested but not sold because they have imperfections, often times caused by weather, have an environmental, economic, and social impact. 

There are a few markets for farmers to consider when deciding whether or not to harvest the “ugly produce.” These markets include programs at grocery stores, subscription box home delivery programs, and food banks.

Dunning, R. D., Johnson, L. K., & Boys, K. A. (2019). Putting dollars to waste: Estimating the value of on-farm food lose. Choices, Quarter 1.

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 was a bipartisan "farm bill" singed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2018. According to the Republican Policy Committee, “H.R. 2 amends and extends major programs for income support, food and nutrition, land conservation, trade promotion, rural development, research, forestry, horticulture, and other miscellaneous programs administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for five years through 2023"

Republican Policy Committee. (2019). H.R. 2(115th): Agriculture Improvement act of 2018.

2017-2019 Trade and Tariffs

In 2017, the United States traded $140 billion worth of goods with China the majority of those being agricultural goods including farm and ranch products. Exports to China in 2017 were $19.6 billion resulting in China being the second-largest export market for U.S. farmers and ranchers. In retaliation for tariffs imposed on aluminum and steel in September of 2018, China imposed large tariffs on 90% of U.S. agricultural exports. These retaliatory tariffs will result in China moving from the second-largest trading partner in 2017 to the fifth-largest trading partner in 2019. 

In addition to China, other countries have imposed retaliatory tariffs on the United States including the European Union, Canada, and Mexico. Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China have resulted in a $12 billion USDA federal assistance program resembling Depression Era policy. This federal assistance gives farmers in need direct payment assistance. The government will buy goods from farmers including fruit, nuts, and rice to be distributed at food pantries. One major impact of the tariffs is that the USDA is forecasting a 12-year low in farmer income.

American Farm Bureau Federation. (2018). Farm Bureau details trade, tariff impacts on agriculture. Honig, E. (Writer). (2018). Trump attempts to blunt tariff impact on U.S. farmers. [Morning Edition]. National Public Radio.

2018 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

In 2018, President Trump renegotiated and reconceptualized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that first took effect on January 1, 1994. This new agreement with Canada and Mexico is known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This new trade agreement will take effect in 2020 and will be reviewed by all parties every six years. To learn more about USMCA please watch Six Big Changes NAFTA’s replacement, the USMCA, makes.

For more information on USMCA please see the various fact sheets found through the Office of the United Staes Trade Representative--United States-Mexico-Canda Agreement

Elker, J. (Producer). (2018). Six Big Changes NAFTAs replacement, the USMCA, makes. [Video].

U.S. Drought Monitor

Extreme weather has been experienced in the early decades of the 21st Century. Farmers monitor weather throughout the growing season; planting, irrigation, and cultivation, for a productive harvest. The U.S. Drought Monitor website provides weekly updates to a map showing drought intensity and impacts. 

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Questions About Climate Change

NASA has created a “Frequently Asked Question” (FAQs) page where people have submitted their questions and answers have been provided. 

The NASA: Global Climate Change website answers additional questions about, the evidence, causes, effects, and solutions regarding climate change.

NASA: Global Climate Change. (2019). NASA. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov

Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply

Agriculture greatly impacts the U.S. economy. Crops, livestock, and seafood contribute more than $300 billion to the economy each year and when factoring in food-service and other agricultural industries the impact is even greater at $750 billion to the gross domestic product according to 2016 data. Overall, the climate has a big impact on agriculture. Both increases in temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) can increase certain crop yields, but only if nutrient levels, soil moisture, water availability, and other conditions are met. Impacts of climate change including droughts and floods can also pose challenges to farmers, ranchers, and food safety.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Overall, climate change could make it more difficult to grow crops, raise animals, and catch fish in the same ways and same places as we have done in the past. The effects of climate change also need to be considered along with other evolving factors that affect agricultural production, such as changes in farming practices and technology.”

Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply. (2016). United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Agricultures' Share of U.S. Exports

Agriculture is a major contributor to what the U.S. exports. Use this interactive OEC hisorical export data website to learn about what the U.S. exports annually. 

U.S. Agricultural Export and Imports

You can make this map larger and interact with the country export and import totals by viewing the map on the USDA-ERS website

https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/international-markets-u-s-trade/u-s-agricultural-trade/outlook-for-u-s-agricultural-trade/

State Agricultural Exports

Annual state contributions to agricultural exports can be explored on the USDA Economic Research Services' Export Interactive Chart. Go to this website to answer the following questions.

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-agricultural-trade-data/annual-state-agricultural-exports/