Agricultural Sciences and Engineering
by Owen Borville
January 14, 2023
Agriculture, Biosciences
Agricultural science and engineering is the research and experimentation of methods of crop production, soil science, the development of farm animals, and the development of new food products for the benefit of the world's food supply. In addition, new technologies used to produce crop and animal products are also developed in agricultural science. Agricultural science is part of the Creation Mandate (Genesis 1:28) for man to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over all living creatures on Earth. Therefore, agricultural sciences also involve being good stewards of the Earth by practicing sustainability to ensure that the Earth remains safe and healthy for all fellow man, while allowing man to benefit from the Earth.
The History of Agriculture Timeline: The First Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic) The first Agricultural revolution is also known as the Neolithic Revolution, when man transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming. However, agriculture likely developed at the same time as hunting and gathering. Agriculture was the first industry after coastal and river fishing, where fishermen built wooden boats and used nets to catch fish. Agriculture was used for basic necessities like desirable food, clothing, and medicine was discovered by trial and error. There was also hunting and gathering of wild crops, but man soon realized the convenience of agriculture in one location along river floodplains that could sustain significant populations. Hunter gatherers, nomads, and cavemen were outcasts that chose to do so despite living concurrently with agricultural civilizations. These people still live today.
Abrahamic tradition teaches that God taught Adam how to farm plants and animals and this knowledge was passed on to his children and future generations. Agriculture began on dry land with the domestication of animals and crops like wheat and grains. People began to grow domesticated grains after experimenting with wild grains in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia. Wheat, barley, chickpeas, peas, beans, lentils, and flax were grown in the Levant as the first major crops. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were used as a water source along with irrigation techniques in the region. Animals domesticated included sheep and goats.
Agriculture then spread to Europe, Pakistan, where wheat, sesame, barley, eggplant were grown. Cattle and chicken were domesticated. Rice was domesticated in southeast Asia. Plants and animals were domesticated and grown in Spain. Food storage rooms were found in Pakistan, along with developed irrigation, drainage, and sewage systems. Field systems in Ireland were discovered enclosed by brick walls. Pearl, millet, sorghum, cowpeas were domesticated in wet grassy Sahara. Pakistan grew peas, sesame seeds, dates, cotton, water buffalo. The Nile River supplied ancient Egypt with a water source for growing grain crops and raising livestock. The Nile River also supplied civilizations to the south with water. Egyptians made bread with yeast. The first light wooden plows and irrigation in Mesopotamia. Agriculture in Central America included (domesticated corn, beans, squash).
In the South American Andes, domestication of potatoes and manioc, beans, squash, tomatoes, peanuts, coca, lamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs. Cassava was domesticated in the Amazon Basin. Maize came from central America. Cotton in Peru and Mesoamerica, Eastern U.S. Native Americans domesticated sunflower, sumpweed, and goosefoot, corn, squash, beans.
In Austronesia, there was domestication of taro, yam, bananas, sugarcane, and root vegetables. Indus valley spices included turmeric, cardamom, pepper, mustard. Fermentation of dough, grain, and fruit. Sugarcane was processed in India and New Guinea, along with bananas.
Sorghum was domesticated in sub-Saharan Africa, and later pearl millet, yams, cowpeas. Rice was independently domesticated in west Africa in 1000 B.C. Teff, finger millet, noog, ensete, and coffee were domesticated in Ethiopia. Other crops from Africa include watermelon, okra, tamarind, black-eyed peas, kola nut, oil palm, plantains, bananas, guineafowl, cattle.
Agriculture in the Bronze Age 3200-1200 B.C. Civilizations had an intense development of agriculture within a short time and simultaneously. These civilizations included Mesopotamian Sumer, ancient Egypt, ancient Sudan, the Indus Valley, ancient China, and ancient Greece. Rich farmland on river valleys allowed abundant crops to grow. Improved agricultural techniques allowed food production to grow and allowed the population of the world to grow significantly.
The Iron Age saw continued development of agriculture in Rome, the Mediterranean, and western Europe. Into the Middle Ages, agriculture continued to improve, new crops were developed like sugar, rice, cotton, and fruit trees.
The Earliest Domesticated Animals in History The earliest domesticated animals were dogs, sheep, goats, cows, pigs, camels. Animals were used originally for meat, then other uses were realized, such as skins, manure for fertilizer, wool, milk, traction.
Agricultural development in Antiquity Commercial timber of cedar trees exported from Phoenicia (Lebanon). Wind powered machines were developed in Babylon, along with the seed drill. Canal was created from the Nile Delta to the Red Sea. The first aqueduct (Jerwan) built in the world in Assyria to Nineveh (50 miles) 690 B.C. Underground tunnels known as Qanats were built in Iran 3,000 years ago to transport water to cities by accessing underground streams. Later, more were built in other places. Metallurgy led to the development of stronger plows for plowing the soil.
The Chinese Agricultural Innovation Iron plow invented in China 500 B.C., along with row cultivation of crops. The trace and collar harness for plowing was also developed in China. The rotary winnowing fan was invented in China. Multi-tube seed drill (China) fishing reel (China), distillation of alcohol (China) canal system to connect Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.
The Golden Age Agriculture (8-13th cent. AD) The land of ancient Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent Near East saw a spread in new crops and advanced techniques in agriculture along with many other scientific fields, while Europe was experiencing the Dark Ages of little progress.
The Columbian Exchange (1492-1800 AD) began in the 15th century when explorers from Europe and Asia traveled to the Americas, Africa, Australia, and other new lands around the world and introduced new seeds of crops to the Old world and vice versa. Crops from the old world were also introduced to the Americas. Potatoes were brought from the Andes to Europe by the Spanish in 1536 and eventually by the 17th century became a popular food staple. Maize (corn), tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc were introduced to Europe from South America. Old World crops like wheat, barley, rice, and turnips, and livestock including horses, cattle, sheep, and goats were introduced to the Americas.
The British Agricultural Revolution 17th -19th century (also known as the 2nd Agricultural Revolution) and Modern Agricultural Technology (also Scottish Agricultural Revolution) occurred not only in Britain but across Europe, U.S. and the world. Major developments of the 2nd (British Agricultural Revolution) include:
Norfolk four course crop rotation=four different crops are grown each year in a four year cycle=wheat, turnips, barley, clover/undergrass. This increased yields and soil fertility. The Dutch acquired a more efficient Chinese Iron Plow. Enclosure is the exclusive ownership of land.
Development of a national market free of tariffs, tolls, and customs barriers. Improved roads, canals, railways. Increased land development, drainage systems, and reclamation. Increase in farm size. Selective breeding. Synthetic Fertilizers. Pesticides. Some scholars say a better climate helped boost the 2nd Agricultural Revolution.
Italian chemist and agriculturalist Vincenzo Danaldo silk production (1804). Frenchman Nicholas Appert invented canning and air -tight food preservation in 1809. John Deere (U.S.) invented the steel plow in 1837. Advances in the 2nd agricultural revolution in the UK led to the mechanization of agriculture, increased productivity, and fewer need for human workers. Therefore a supply of workers was available to supply the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Gradually, workers in the 19th century shifted from the farm to the factory.
Gregor Mendel’s work on inheritance and genetics was published in 1866. Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization processes of foods in 1871. Refrigeration for home use and commercial drink in the U.S. and U.K. became available in 1895. The Haber-Bosch process was developed to produce ammonia for agriculture fertilization on an industrial scale in 1913 (Fritz Haber, German chemist Nobel Prize 1918). Aerial photography developed for agriculture and earth sciences 1960
GPS for Agriculture applications and precision farming in 1988.
The Green Revolution (3rd Agricultural Revolution) began in Mexico 1944 (greatly increased crop yields around the world, in particular in developing countries). New technologies were introduced such as high-yielding varieties of cereal grains (dwarf wheat, rice), the widespread use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and controlled irrigation. Newer methods of cultivation, mechanization. Leaders of Green Movement: Norman Borlaug, Yuan Longping (China), MS Swaminathan (India)=used higher yield grains, increased irrigation, new management techniques, hybridized seeds, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides
China created the 1st hybrid rice 1974 (Yuan Longping) Genetically modified plants developed around the world by 2000. Lasers used to replace stickers on fresh fruits to track their origin by 2005. Collective farming (collectivization) occurs when multiple farmers operate their farms as a joint venture, and can be done with several private farmers or state farms operated by a government. Sustainable agriculture aims to protect the environment and includes the use of crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, and pesticide reduction.
Precision agriculture provides profitability, efficiency, and sustainability while protecting the environment where sensing, information technologies, and mechanical systems enable sub-field crop management. Precision farming is easier to monitor, has better spacing, better yield, uses less seed, more time in the field, less time in the shop. The downside is the cost, which may be an issue for small farmers.
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are used to produce superior crops with higher yields and better traits. However, there are potential health and environmental risks. Government subsidies help farmers, labor, the environment, and animal welfare. Modern agriculture is concerned with overpopulation of humans, water pollution, biofuels, GMOs, tariffs, farm subsidies. Organic farming has developed in the 20th century as an alternative to synthetic pesticides use.
Agriculture Course List
Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics is the economics of agricultural products including crops, animals, their production and development, and the materials produced from these.
Agricultural engineering involves the use of machinery and technology to solve problems in agriculture and improve the methods of crop production and the production of animal products while protecting the environment.
Agronomy is the science of soil management and crop production.
Animal physiology is the study of diseases of animals that are relevant to humans, such as agricultural livestock. Research of diseases of these animals can also contribute to medical science for humans.
Animal Science is the study of the anatomy, physiology, and development of animals for agricultural research purposes, including livestock dairy and poultry science.
Biotechnology uses biosciences and in particular genetic engineering to solve problems in agriculture and help produce better products for humans.
Botany is the science of plants for agriculture, medical, and research.
Crops include vegetables, grains, fruits-nuts, spices, oils, cotton, wool, silk
Food Science is the study of food products for humans and animals and the development of food products for the benefit of mankind.
Forestry is the study of forest environments for the purpose of conservation of the environment.
Horticulture is the study of garden cultivation and management.
Landscaping/Landscape Architecture is the study of creating healthy, safe, and asthetically pleasing outdoor landscapes with abundant greenspace and plant life.
Nutrition is the study and development of healthy and beneficial foods for humans and animals.
Plant Pathology is the study of the causes of plant diseases and preventative solutions to these diseases.
Soil Science is the study of the formation, ecology, and classification of soils.
Sustainable Agriculture attempts to meet the agricultural needs of humanity without harming the ability of current or future generations to access agricultural products, including for food, textiles, and agricultural products.
Textiles are produced from not only crops such as cotton, but also animal products such as wool and silk. Synthetic fibers and blends can also be produced for textiles.
More Articles on Agriculture
Agriculture Development in the World
The development of agriculture in the world led to civilization.
Short Written and Agricultural History
A young timeline can be seen from the short written and agricultural history.
by Owen Borville
January 14, 2023
Agriculture, Biosciences
Agricultural science and engineering is the research and experimentation of methods of crop production, soil science, the development of farm animals, and the development of new food products for the benefit of the world's food supply. In addition, new technologies used to produce crop and animal products are also developed in agricultural science. Agricultural science is part of the Creation Mandate (Genesis 1:28) for man to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over all living creatures on Earth. Therefore, agricultural sciences also involve being good stewards of the Earth by practicing sustainability to ensure that the Earth remains safe and healthy for all fellow man, while allowing man to benefit from the Earth.
The History of Agriculture Timeline: The First Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic) The first Agricultural revolution is also known as the Neolithic Revolution, when man transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming. However, agriculture likely developed at the same time as hunting and gathering. Agriculture was the first industry after coastal and river fishing, where fishermen built wooden boats and used nets to catch fish. Agriculture was used for basic necessities like desirable food, clothing, and medicine was discovered by trial and error. There was also hunting and gathering of wild crops, but man soon realized the convenience of agriculture in one location along river floodplains that could sustain significant populations. Hunter gatherers, nomads, and cavemen were outcasts that chose to do so despite living concurrently with agricultural civilizations. These people still live today.
Abrahamic tradition teaches that God taught Adam how to farm plants and animals and this knowledge was passed on to his children and future generations. Agriculture began on dry land with the domestication of animals and crops like wheat and grains. People began to grow domesticated grains after experimenting with wild grains in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia. Wheat, barley, chickpeas, peas, beans, lentils, and flax were grown in the Levant as the first major crops. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were used as a water source along with irrigation techniques in the region. Animals domesticated included sheep and goats.
Agriculture then spread to Europe, Pakistan, where wheat, sesame, barley, eggplant were grown. Cattle and chicken were domesticated. Rice was domesticated in southeast Asia. Plants and animals were domesticated and grown in Spain. Food storage rooms were found in Pakistan, along with developed irrigation, drainage, and sewage systems. Field systems in Ireland were discovered enclosed by brick walls. Pearl, millet, sorghum, cowpeas were domesticated in wet grassy Sahara. Pakistan grew peas, sesame seeds, dates, cotton, water buffalo. The Nile River supplied ancient Egypt with a water source for growing grain crops and raising livestock. The Nile River also supplied civilizations to the south with water. Egyptians made bread with yeast. The first light wooden plows and irrigation in Mesopotamia. Agriculture in Central America included (domesticated corn, beans, squash).
In the South American Andes, domestication of potatoes and manioc, beans, squash, tomatoes, peanuts, coca, lamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs. Cassava was domesticated in the Amazon Basin. Maize came from central America. Cotton in Peru and Mesoamerica, Eastern U.S. Native Americans domesticated sunflower, sumpweed, and goosefoot, corn, squash, beans.
In Austronesia, there was domestication of taro, yam, bananas, sugarcane, and root vegetables. Indus valley spices included turmeric, cardamom, pepper, mustard. Fermentation of dough, grain, and fruit. Sugarcane was processed in India and New Guinea, along with bananas.
Sorghum was domesticated in sub-Saharan Africa, and later pearl millet, yams, cowpeas. Rice was independently domesticated in west Africa in 1000 B.C. Teff, finger millet, noog, ensete, and coffee were domesticated in Ethiopia. Other crops from Africa include watermelon, okra, tamarind, black-eyed peas, kola nut, oil palm, plantains, bananas, guineafowl, cattle.
Agriculture in the Bronze Age 3200-1200 B.C. Civilizations had an intense development of agriculture within a short time and simultaneously. These civilizations included Mesopotamian Sumer, ancient Egypt, ancient Sudan, the Indus Valley, ancient China, and ancient Greece. Rich farmland on river valleys allowed abundant crops to grow. Improved agricultural techniques allowed food production to grow and allowed the population of the world to grow significantly.
The Iron Age saw continued development of agriculture in Rome, the Mediterranean, and western Europe. Into the Middle Ages, agriculture continued to improve, new crops were developed like sugar, rice, cotton, and fruit trees.
The Earliest Domesticated Animals in History The earliest domesticated animals were dogs, sheep, goats, cows, pigs, camels. Animals were used originally for meat, then other uses were realized, such as skins, manure for fertilizer, wool, milk, traction.
Agricultural development in Antiquity Commercial timber of cedar trees exported from Phoenicia (Lebanon). Wind powered machines were developed in Babylon, along with the seed drill. Canal was created from the Nile Delta to the Red Sea. The first aqueduct (Jerwan) built in the world in Assyria to Nineveh (50 miles) 690 B.C. Underground tunnels known as Qanats were built in Iran 3,000 years ago to transport water to cities by accessing underground streams. Later, more were built in other places. Metallurgy led to the development of stronger plows for plowing the soil.
The Chinese Agricultural Innovation Iron plow invented in China 500 B.C., along with row cultivation of crops. The trace and collar harness for plowing was also developed in China. The rotary winnowing fan was invented in China. Multi-tube seed drill (China) fishing reel (China), distillation of alcohol (China) canal system to connect Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.
The Golden Age Agriculture (8-13th cent. AD) The land of ancient Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent Near East saw a spread in new crops and advanced techniques in agriculture along with many other scientific fields, while Europe was experiencing the Dark Ages of little progress.
The Columbian Exchange (1492-1800 AD) began in the 15th century when explorers from Europe and Asia traveled to the Americas, Africa, Australia, and other new lands around the world and introduced new seeds of crops to the Old world and vice versa. Crops from the old world were also introduced to the Americas. Potatoes were brought from the Andes to Europe by the Spanish in 1536 and eventually by the 17th century became a popular food staple. Maize (corn), tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc were introduced to Europe from South America. Old World crops like wheat, barley, rice, and turnips, and livestock including horses, cattle, sheep, and goats were introduced to the Americas.
The British Agricultural Revolution 17th -19th century (also known as the 2nd Agricultural Revolution) and Modern Agricultural Technology (also Scottish Agricultural Revolution) occurred not only in Britain but across Europe, U.S. and the world. Major developments of the 2nd (British Agricultural Revolution) include:
Norfolk four course crop rotation=four different crops are grown each year in a four year cycle=wheat, turnips, barley, clover/undergrass. This increased yields and soil fertility. The Dutch acquired a more efficient Chinese Iron Plow. Enclosure is the exclusive ownership of land.
Development of a national market free of tariffs, tolls, and customs barriers. Improved roads, canals, railways. Increased land development, drainage systems, and reclamation. Increase in farm size. Selective breeding. Synthetic Fertilizers. Pesticides. Some scholars say a better climate helped boost the 2nd Agricultural Revolution.
Italian chemist and agriculturalist Vincenzo Danaldo silk production (1804). Frenchman Nicholas Appert invented canning and air -tight food preservation in 1809. John Deere (U.S.) invented the steel plow in 1837. Advances in the 2nd agricultural revolution in the UK led to the mechanization of agriculture, increased productivity, and fewer need for human workers. Therefore a supply of workers was available to supply the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Gradually, workers in the 19th century shifted from the farm to the factory.
Gregor Mendel’s work on inheritance and genetics was published in 1866. Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization processes of foods in 1871. Refrigeration for home use and commercial drink in the U.S. and U.K. became available in 1895. The Haber-Bosch process was developed to produce ammonia for agriculture fertilization on an industrial scale in 1913 (Fritz Haber, German chemist Nobel Prize 1918). Aerial photography developed for agriculture and earth sciences 1960
GPS for Agriculture applications and precision farming in 1988.
The Green Revolution (3rd Agricultural Revolution) began in Mexico 1944 (greatly increased crop yields around the world, in particular in developing countries). New technologies were introduced such as high-yielding varieties of cereal grains (dwarf wheat, rice), the widespread use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and controlled irrigation. Newer methods of cultivation, mechanization. Leaders of Green Movement: Norman Borlaug, Yuan Longping (China), MS Swaminathan (India)=used higher yield grains, increased irrigation, new management techniques, hybridized seeds, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides
China created the 1st hybrid rice 1974 (Yuan Longping) Genetically modified plants developed around the world by 2000. Lasers used to replace stickers on fresh fruits to track their origin by 2005. Collective farming (collectivization) occurs when multiple farmers operate their farms as a joint venture, and can be done with several private farmers or state farms operated by a government. Sustainable agriculture aims to protect the environment and includes the use of crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, and pesticide reduction.
Precision agriculture provides profitability, efficiency, and sustainability while protecting the environment where sensing, information technologies, and mechanical systems enable sub-field crop management. Precision farming is easier to monitor, has better spacing, better yield, uses less seed, more time in the field, less time in the shop. The downside is the cost, which may be an issue for small farmers.
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are used to produce superior crops with higher yields and better traits. However, there are potential health and environmental risks. Government subsidies help farmers, labor, the environment, and animal welfare. Modern agriculture is concerned with overpopulation of humans, water pollution, biofuels, GMOs, tariffs, farm subsidies. Organic farming has developed in the 20th century as an alternative to synthetic pesticides use.
Agriculture Course List
Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics is the economics of agricultural products including crops, animals, their production and development, and the materials produced from these.
Agricultural engineering involves the use of machinery and technology to solve problems in agriculture and improve the methods of crop production and the production of animal products while protecting the environment.
Agronomy is the science of soil management and crop production.
Animal physiology is the study of diseases of animals that are relevant to humans, such as agricultural livestock. Research of diseases of these animals can also contribute to medical science for humans.
Animal Science is the study of the anatomy, physiology, and development of animals for agricultural research purposes, including livestock dairy and poultry science.
Biotechnology uses biosciences and in particular genetic engineering to solve problems in agriculture and help produce better products for humans.
Botany is the science of plants for agriculture, medical, and research.
Crops include vegetables, grains, fruits-nuts, spices, oils, cotton, wool, silk
Food Science is the study of food products for humans and animals and the development of food products for the benefit of mankind.
Forestry is the study of forest environments for the purpose of conservation of the environment.
Horticulture is the study of garden cultivation and management.
Landscaping/Landscape Architecture is the study of creating healthy, safe, and asthetically pleasing outdoor landscapes with abundant greenspace and plant life.
Nutrition is the study and development of healthy and beneficial foods for humans and animals.
Plant Pathology is the study of the causes of plant diseases and preventative solutions to these diseases.
Soil Science is the study of the formation, ecology, and classification of soils.
Sustainable Agriculture attempts to meet the agricultural needs of humanity without harming the ability of current or future generations to access agricultural products, including for food, textiles, and agricultural products.
Textiles are produced from not only crops such as cotton, but also animal products such as wool and silk. Synthetic fibers and blends can also be produced for textiles.
More Articles on Agriculture
Agriculture Development in the World
The development of agriculture in the world led to civilization.
Short Written and Agricultural History
A young timeline can be seen from the short written and agricultural history.
What is Agriculture?--------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture can be described as all of the following: Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture is also a type of work, an academic discipline, a science, an applied science, an industry, including Agricultural activities. The agricultural cycle is the annual cycle of activities related to the growth and harvest of a crop. Land use is the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. Agricultural production results in a cash crop, which is an agricultural crop which is grown for sale for profit.
Agricultural Products Include-------------------------------------------------
Food as any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body.
Natural fibers are a class of hair-like materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to pieces of thread. They can be spun into filaments, thread, or rope. Natural fibers are made from plant, animal and mineral sources.
Lumber wood in any of its stages from felling to readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production.
Paper is sheet material used for writing on or printing on (or as a non-waterproof container), usually made by draining cellulose fibers from a suspension in water.
Medicine great quantity of herbal and animal parts are used for medicinal purposes worldwide, especially in traditional and naturopathic medicines.
Biofuels come from a wide range of plants and plant products used for converting to fuels, such as firewood, biodiesel, methane gas etc.
Agricultural resources
Agricultural land is land suitable for agricultural production, both crops and livestock. It is one of the main resources in agriculture.
Labor (economics) is the measure of the work done by human beings.
Water is the chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O.
Agricultural machinery is the machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.
Fertilizers are any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming materials) that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
The Branches of Agriculture-----------------------------------------------
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation.
Organic gardening is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants by following the essential principles of organic agriculture in soil building and conservation, pest management, and heirloom variety preservation.
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.
Mariculture is a specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms for food and other products in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds or raceways which are filled with seawater.
Types of Farming-----------------------------------------------------------
Alligator farming is the establishment for breeding and raising of crocodilians in order to produce meat, leather, and other goods.
Aquaculture (aquafarming) is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.
Contract farming is agricultural production carried out according to an agreement between a buyer and farmers.
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.
Integrated farming is more integrated approach to farming as compared to existing monoculture approaches. It refers to agricultural systems that integrate livestock and crop production and may sometimes be known as Integrated Biosystems.
Orchardry involves managing orchards, intentional planting of trees or shrubs that are maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production.
Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control.
Pig farming the farming of pigs varieties.
Poultry farming the farming of poultry animals.
Sericulture is silk farming, the rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk.
Sheep husbandry specifically deals with the raising and breeding of domestic sheep.
Viticulture is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
Farming Facilities--------------------------------------------------------
Crops are non-animal species or variety that is grown to be harvested as food, livestock fodder, fuel or for any other economic purpose.
Orchards are the intentional planting of trees or shrubs that are maintained for food production.
Farm is an area of land, together with the buildings on it, that is used for growing crops or raising animals, usually in order to sell them.
Greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown.
Farming Equipment is any kind of machinery used on a farm to help with farming.
Baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop (such as hay, cotton, straw, or silage) into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport and store.
Combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests grain crops.
Farm tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction.
Manure spreader is used to distribute manure over a field as a fertilizer.
Mower is a machine for cutting grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g. with reapers and combines.
Pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area (bed).
Plough is a tool (or machine) used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture.
Farming Products
Livestock is domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor.
Cattle are most common type of large domesticated ungulates.
Pigs are any of the animals in the genus Sus.
Poultry is the category of domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or killing for their meat and/or feathers.
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock.
Produce are farm-produced goods, not limited to fruits and vegetables (i.e. meats, grains, oats, etc.).
Grains are grasses (members of the monocot family Poaceae, also known as Gramineae) cultivated for the edible components of their grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran.
Fruits are part of a flowering plant that derives from specific tissues of the flower, mainly one or more ovaries.
Legumes are plants in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or a fruit of these specific plants. A legume fruit is a simple dry fruit that develops from a simple carpel and usually dehisces (opens along a seam) on two sides.
Nut (fruit)s – hard-shelled indehiscent fruit of some plants. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts.
Vegetables are edible plant or part of a plant, but usually excludes seeds and most sweet fruit. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant.
Farming Methods and Practices-------------------------------------------------
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium.
Aquaponics combines aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment.
Artificial selection describes intentional breeding for certain traits, or combination of traits.
Field day (agriculture) – related to a show is the "field day", with elements of a trade show for machinery, equipment and skills required for broadacre farming.
Grazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil.
Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity.
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil.
Permaculture is the theory of ecological design which attempts to develop sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.
Pollination management is the horticultural practices that accomplish or enhance pollination of a crop, to improve yield or quality, by understanding of the particular crop's pollination needs, and by knowledgeable management of pollenizers, pollinators, and pollination conditions.
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
Apiculture (is Beekeeping)-------------------------------------------
Apiary is a place where beehives of honey bees are kept.
Apiology is the scientific study of honey bees
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax.
Beehive is the enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus Apis live and raise their young.
Beekeeper is the person who manages honey bees at a location.
Honey is the sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers.
Fisheries-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishing is the activity of catching fish, which are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.
Fishery is a facility engaged in raising or harvesting fish.
Forestry---------------------------------------------------------------------
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit.
Agroforestry is the integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.
Analog forestry is a system of planned, managed forests, primarily employed in tropical or subtropical areas.
Forest gardening is low-maintenance organic plant-based food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans.
Forest farming is agroforestry practice characterized by the four "I's"- Intentional, Integrated, Intensive and Interactive management of an existing forested ecosystem wherein forest health is of paramount concern. Moreover, agriculture means cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, processing of farm produce and selling.
Ranching---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranching is the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool.
Climate-based Agriculture--------------------------------------------------
Arid-zone agriculture is agriculture practiced in desert areas of any sort.
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
Tropical agriculture is agriculture practiced in the tropical environments of the earth, near the equator.
Agricultural chemistry is the study of both chemistry and biochemistry which are important in agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and beverages, and in environmental monitoring and remediation.
Agricultural communication is the field of study and work that focuses on communication about agricultural related information among agricultural stakeholders and between agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders.
Agricultural economics was originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil ecosystem. Throughout the 20th century the discipline expanded and the current scope of the discipline is much broader. Agricultural economics today includes a variety of applied areas, having considerable overlap with conventional economics.
Agrarian system is the economic and technological factors that affect agricultural practices.
Agribusiness is the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales.
Agricultural Extension Education was once known as the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. The field of extension now encompasses a wider range of communication and learning activities organised for rural people by professionals from different disciplines, including agriculture, agricultural marketing, health, and business studies.
Agricultural Marketing covers the services involved in moving an agricultural product from the farm to the consumer. This may include transferring of agricultural products either directly or indirectly through middleman to consumers.
Custom harvesting is the business of harvesting of crops for others. Custom harvesters usually own their own combines and work for the same farms every harvest season. Custom harvesting relieves farmers from having to invest capital in expensive equipment while at the same time maximizing the machinery's use.
Economic development is the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area.
Rural Community Development is the range of approaches and activities which aim to improve the welfare and livelihoods of people which live in rural area and through improving activities in rural areas it helps to maintain a population balance by reducing rural to urban migration.
Agricultural Education is the instruction about crop production, livestock management, soil and water conservation, and various other aspects of agriculture. Farmers acquire adequate knowledge required on the correct amount use of agrochemicals and other agriculture related technologies. Agricultural Education is provided by colleges and universities, in addition to government services.
Agricultural engineering is the application of engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing.
Agricultural Machinery is the machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.
Bioprocess Engineering is a specialization of Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering or of Agricultural Engineering. It deals with the design and development of equipment and processes for the manufacturing of products such as food, feed, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, chemicals, and polymers and paper from biological materials.
Electrical energy efficiency on United States farms covers the use of electricity on farms and the methods and incentives for improving the efficiency of that use.
Electronics, a branch of physics, engineering and technology dealing with electrical circuits that involve active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies.
Energy is the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems.
Farm equipment is machinery used on a farm to help with farming.
Food Engineering is the multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries.
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems.
System Engineering is the interdisciplinary field of engineering focusing on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over their life cycles.
Workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of goods.
Agricultural philosophy is the discipline devoted to the systematic critique of the philosophical frameworks (or ethical world views) that are the foundation for decisions regarding agriculture.
Agricultural policy is the set of laws relating to domestic agriculture and imports of foreign agricultural products.
Agricultural science is the broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture.
Agricultural economics originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil ecosystem. Throughout the 20th century the discipline expanded and the current scope of the discipline is much broader. Agricultural economics today includes a variety of applied areas, having considerable overlap with conventional economics.
Agricultural engineering is the discipline that applies engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing.
Agrophysics is the branch of science bordering on agronomy and physics, whose objects of study are the agroecosystem - the biological objects, biotope and biocoenosis affected by human activity, studied and described using the methods of physical sciences.
Animal science is the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind.
Animal breeding is the branch of animal science that addresses the evaluation (using best linear unbiased prediction and other methods) of the genetic value (estimated breeding value, EBV) of domestic livestock.
Animal nutrition focuses on the dietary needs of domesticated animals, primarily those in agriculture and food production.
Fisheries science is an academic discipline of managing and understanding fisheries.
Poultry science is animal science applied to poultry – chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, etc.
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic plants.
Biological Engineering
Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the genetic structure of an organism. (Ethics)
Microbiology is the branch of biology that deals with microorganisms, especially their effects on man and other living organisms.
Environmental science is the integrated study of factors that influence the environment and environmental systems, especially the interaction of the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment.
Conservation is the preservation of the environment and the wise use of resources.
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science.
Wildlife range management
Resources management is the efficient and effective deployment of an organization's resources when they are needed.
Food science is the study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork". It is considered one of the life sciences and is usually considered distinct from the field of nutrition.
Human nutrition is the provision to obtain the materials necessary to support life.
Food technology is the branch of food science which deals with the actual production processes to make foods.
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation.
Plant science is the science of plant life.
Crop science is the broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture.
Plant pathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious diseases) and environmental conditions (physiological factors).
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit.
Wood Science
Theoretical production ecology quantitatively studies the growth of crops.
Horticulture is the science, technology and business of intensive plant cultivation for human use.
Plant breeding is the science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics.
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming materials) that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
Agricultural soil science is the branch of soil science that deals with the study of edaphic conditions as they relate to the production of food and fiber.
Agrogeology is the study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regard to soil fertility and fertilizer components. These minerals are usually essential plant nutrients and are referred to as agrominerals.
Agrology is the branch of soil science dealing with the production of crops.
Agrominerals are minerals of importance to agriculture and horticulture, and are usually essential plant nutrients.
Land degradation is the process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by one or more combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land.
Land improvement is investments making land more usable by humans.
Soil chemistry is the study of the chemical characteristics of soil.
Soil amendment is material added to soil to improve plant growth and health.
Soil erosion is the process by which soil is removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow, and then transported and deposited in other locations.
Soil life is the collective term for all the organisms living within the soil.
Soil type refers to the different sizes of mineral particles in a particular sample.
Soils retrogression and degradation are two regressive evolution processes associated with the loss of equilibrium of a stable soil.
Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to the production of food, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals and the management of agroecosystems.
Agroecosystem analysis is the thorough analysis of an agricultural environment which considers aspects from ecology, sociology, economics, and politics with equal weight.
Agrophysics is the branch of science bordering on agronomy and physics, whose objects of study are the agroecosystem - the biological objects, biotope and biocoenosis affected by human activity, studied and described using the methods of physical sciences.
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.
Effects of Climate Change on agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale.
Composting Uses compost the organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment.
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment.
Ecosystem is the biological system consisting of all the living organisms or biotic components in a particular area and the nonliving or abiotic component with which the organisms interact, such as air, mineral soil, water and sunlight.
Environmental Economics is the subfield of economics concerned with environmental issues.
Green manure is a type of cover crop grown primarily to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form.
Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.
Rural Sociology is a field of sociology associated with the study of social life in non-metropolitan areas.
Soil Science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
Wild culture is the umbrella term used to include all aspects and styles of "hunting and gathering" food harvesting.
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The History of Agriculture developed at least 4,000 years ago, although some forms of agriculture such as forest gardening and fire-stick farming date back even earlier to prehistoric times.
Agriculture in Mesopotamia and Fertile Crescent
Agriculture in Ancient Egypt
Agriculture in Ancient Greece
Agriculture in Mesoamerica
The Arab Agricultural Revolution
Persian Orchards
The (2nd) British Agricultural Revolution
The Columbian Exchange
The Domestication of Animals
The Eastern Agricultural Complex
The Genomics of domestication – study of the structure, content, and evolution of genomes, or the entire genetic information of organisms.
The Green Revolution
The History of agricultural science Gregor Mendel's genetic work
The History of organic farming
The Neolithic Revolution and the wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement.
Incan agriculture
Roman agriculture
Selective breeding
Agriculturally based manufacturing industries
The Food industry is the complex, global collective of diverse businesses that together supply much of the food energy consumed by the world population.
Bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies.
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains) in water and then fermenting with yeast.
Brewing industry is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history.
Dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk – mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels for human consumption.
Distribution center is a warehouse or other specialized building, often with refrigeration or air conditioning, which is stocked with products (goods) to be redistributed to retailers, to wholesalers, or directly to consumers.
Food processing is a set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry.
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.
Food preservation is a process of treating and handling food to stop or slow down spoilage (loss of quality, edibility or nutritional value) and thus allow for longer storage.
Food safety is the scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness.
Food science is the study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork".
Foodborne illness is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural toxins such as poisonous mushrooms.
Mandatory labelling is the requirement of consumer products to state their ingredients or components.
Packaging is the science, art, and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use.
Pasteurization is the process of heating a food, usually a liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time and then cooling it immediately.
Quality assurance is planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled
Sterilization (microbiology) is the term referring to any process that eliminates (removes) or kills all forms of microbial life, including transmissible agents (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, etc.) present on a surface, contained in a fluid, in medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media.
Warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods.
Yeast is the eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom fungi, with 1,500 species currently described
The Pulp and paper industry comprises companies that use wood as raw material and produce pulp, paper, board and other cellulose-based products.
Agricultural Markets---------------------------------------------------------
Food distribution from farms is made in a variety of markets to the public.
Agricultural marketing – services involved in moving an agricultural product from the farm to the consumer.
Wholesale marketing – transactions made through wholesale markets
Food outlets include retail stores, outdoor markets, and restaurants.
Supermarkets are self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments.
Farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages.
Grocery store is a store that retails food.
Food Trucks sell fresh fruits, vegetables, or cooked prepared food.
Street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and often held only on particular days of the week.
Prominent Agricultural Scientists-------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Bakewell (farmer) was the first to implement systematic selective breeding of livestock.
Norman Borlaug the American agronomist, humanitarian, and Nobel laureate who has been called "the father of the Green Revolution".
Luther Burbank the American botanist, horticulturist and pioneer in agricultural science. He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 55-year career.
George Washington Carver the American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. Carver's reputation is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes, which also aided nutrition for farm families.
René Dumont the French engineer in agronomy, a sociologist, and an environmental politician.
Charles Roy Henderson the statistician and a pioneer in animal breeding — the application of quantitative methods for the genetic evaluation of domestic livestock.
Ronald Fisher the English statistician, evolutionary biologist, eugenicist and geneticist.
Jay Lush the pioneering animal geneticist who made important contributions to livestock breeding. He is sometimes known as the father of modern scientific animal breeding.
Gregor Mendel the Austrian scientist and Augustinian friar who gained posthumous fame as the founder of the new science of genetics. Mendel demonstrated that the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants follows particular patterns, now referred to as the laws of Mendelian inheritance.
Louis Pasteur the French chemist and microbiologist born in Dole. He was best known to the general public for inventing a method to stop milk and wine from causing sickness, a process that came to be called pasteurization.
M. S. Swaminathan the Indian agricultural scientist. Swaminathan is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India", for his leadership and success in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat in India.
More Agricultural Topics
Agribusiness
Extensive farming
Factory farming
Free range
Industrial agriculture
Mechanized agriculture
Intensive farming
Stock-free agriculture
Subsistence agriculture
Urban agriculture
Research the Largest producing countries of agricultural commodities
A List of agricultural organizations
A List of agricultural universities and colleges
A List of sustainable agriculture topics
Free Federal Resources for Educational Excellence – Agriculture USDA
UKAgriculture.com = Advance the education of the public in all aspects of agriculture, the countryside and the rural economy
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health = Agriculture Page
Research on the role of Agriculture in Poverty Reduction from the Overseas Development Institute
Agriculture can be described as all of the following: Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture is also a type of work, an academic discipline, a science, an applied science, an industry, including Agricultural activities. The agricultural cycle is the annual cycle of activities related to the growth and harvest of a crop. Land use is the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. Agricultural production results in a cash crop, which is an agricultural crop which is grown for sale for profit.
Agricultural Products Include-------------------------------------------------
Food as any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body.
Natural fibers are a class of hair-like materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to pieces of thread. They can be spun into filaments, thread, or rope. Natural fibers are made from plant, animal and mineral sources.
Lumber wood in any of its stages from felling to readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production.
Paper is sheet material used for writing on or printing on (or as a non-waterproof container), usually made by draining cellulose fibers from a suspension in water.
Medicine great quantity of herbal and animal parts are used for medicinal purposes worldwide, especially in traditional and naturopathic medicines.
Biofuels come from a wide range of plants and plant products used for converting to fuels, such as firewood, biodiesel, methane gas etc.
Agricultural resources
Agricultural land is land suitable for agricultural production, both crops and livestock. It is one of the main resources in agriculture.
Labor (economics) is the measure of the work done by human beings.
Water is the chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O.
Agricultural machinery is the machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.
Fertilizers are any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming materials) that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
The Branches of Agriculture-----------------------------------------------
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation.
Organic gardening is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants by following the essential principles of organic agriculture in soil building and conservation, pest management, and heirloom variety preservation.
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.
Mariculture is a specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms for food and other products in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds or raceways which are filled with seawater.
Types of Farming-----------------------------------------------------------
Alligator farming is the establishment for breeding and raising of crocodilians in order to produce meat, leather, and other goods.
Aquaculture (aquafarming) is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.
Contract farming is agricultural production carried out according to an agreement between a buyer and farmers.
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.
Integrated farming is more integrated approach to farming as compared to existing monoculture approaches. It refers to agricultural systems that integrate livestock and crop production and may sometimes be known as Integrated Biosystems.
Orchardry involves managing orchards, intentional planting of trees or shrubs that are maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production.
Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control.
Pig farming the farming of pigs varieties.
Poultry farming the farming of poultry animals.
Sericulture is silk farming, the rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk.
Sheep husbandry specifically deals with the raising and breeding of domestic sheep.
Viticulture is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
Farming Facilities--------------------------------------------------------
Crops are non-animal species or variety that is grown to be harvested as food, livestock fodder, fuel or for any other economic purpose.
Orchards are the intentional planting of trees or shrubs that are maintained for food production.
Farm is an area of land, together with the buildings on it, that is used for growing crops or raising animals, usually in order to sell them.
Greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown.
Farming Equipment is any kind of machinery used on a farm to help with farming.
Baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop (such as hay, cotton, straw, or silage) into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport and store.
Combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests grain crops.
Farm tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction.
Manure spreader is used to distribute manure over a field as a fertilizer.
Mower is a machine for cutting grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g. with reapers and combines.
Pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area (bed).
Plough is a tool (or machine) used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture.
Farming Products
Livestock is domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor.
Cattle are most common type of large domesticated ungulates.
Pigs are any of the animals in the genus Sus.
Poultry is the category of domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or killing for their meat and/or feathers.
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock.
Produce are farm-produced goods, not limited to fruits and vegetables (i.e. meats, grains, oats, etc.).
Grains are grasses (members of the monocot family Poaceae, also known as Gramineae) cultivated for the edible components of their grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran.
Fruits are part of a flowering plant that derives from specific tissues of the flower, mainly one or more ovaries.
Legumes are plants in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or a fruit of these specific plants. A legume fruit is a simple dry fruit that develops from a simple carpel and usually dehisces (opens along a seam) on two sides.
Nut (fruit)s – hard-shelled indehiscent fruit of some plants. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts.
Vegetables are edible plant or part of a plant, but usually excludes seeds and most sweet fruit. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant.
Farming Methods and Practices-------------------------------------------------
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium.
Aquaponics combines aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment.
Artificial selection describes intentional breeding for certain traits, or combination of traits.
Field day (agriculture) – related to a show is the "field day", with elements of a trade show for machinery, equipment and skills required for broadacre farming.
Grazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil.
Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity.
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil.
Permaculture is the theory of ecological design which attempts to develop sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.
Pollination management is the horticultural practices that accomplish or enhance pollination of a crop, to improve yield or quality, by understanding of the particular crop's pollination needs, and by knowledgeable management of pollenizers, pollinators, and pollination conditions.
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
Apiculture (is Beekeeping)-------------------------------------------
Apiary is a place where beehives of honey bees are kept.
Apiology is the scientific study of honey bees
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax.
Beehive is the enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus Apis live and raise their young.
Beekeeper is the person who manages honey bees at a location.
Honey is the sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers.
Fisheries-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishing is the activity of catching fish, which are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.
Fishery is a facility engaged in raising or harvesting fish.
Forestry---------------------------------------------------------------------
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit.
Agroforestry is the integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.
Analog forestry is a system of planned, managed forests, primarily employed in tropical or subtropical areas.
Forest gardening is low-maintenance organic plant-based food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans.
Forest farming is agroforestry practice characterized by the four "I's"- Intentional, Integrated, Intensive and Interactive management of an existing forested ecosystem wherein forest health is of paramount concern. Moreover, agriculture means cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, processing of farm produce and selling.
Ranching---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranching is the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool.
Climate-based Agriculture--------------------------------------------------
Arid-zone agriculture is agriculture practiced in desert areas of any sort.
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
Tropical agriculture is agriculture practiced in the tropical environments of the earth, near the equator.
Agricultural chemistry is the study of both chemistry and biochemistry which are important in agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and beverages, and in environmental monitoring and remediation.
Agricultural communication is the field of study and work that focuses on communication about agricultural related information among agricultural stakeholders and between agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders.
Agricultural economics was originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil ecosystem. Throughout the 20th century the discipline expanded and the current scope of the discipline is much broader. Agricultural economics today includes a variety of applied areas, having considerable overlap with conventional economics.
Agrarian system is the economic and technological factors that affect agricultural practices.
Agribusiness is the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales.
Agricultural Extension Education was once known as the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. The field of extension now encompasses a wider range of communication and learning activities organised for rural people by professionals from different disciplines, including agriculture, agricultural marketing, health, and business studies.
Agricultural Marketing covers the services involved in moving an agricultural product from the farm to the consumer. This may include transferring of agricultural products either directly or indirectly through middleman to consumers.
Custom harvesting is the business of harvesting of crops for others. Custom harvesters usually own their own combines and work for the same farms every harvest season. Custom harvesting relieves farmers from having to invest capital in expensive equipment while at the same time maximizing the machinery's use.
Economic development is the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area.
Rural Community Development is the range of approaches and activities which aim to improve the welfare and livelihoods of people which live in rural area and through improving activities in rural areas it helps to maintain a population balance by reducing rural to urban migration.
Agricultural Education is the instruction about crop production, livestock management, soil and water conservation, and various other aspects of agriculture. Farmers acquire adequate knowledge required on the correct amount use of agrochemicals and other agriculture related technologies. Agricultural Education is provided by colleges and universities, in addition to government services.
Agricultural engineering is the application of engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing.
Agricultural Machinery is the machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.
Bioprocess Engineering is a specialization of Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering or of Agricultural Engineering. It deals with the design and development of equipment and processes for the manufacturing of products such as food, feed, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, chemicals, and polymers and paper from biological materials.
Electrical energy efficiency on United States farms covers the use of electricity on farms and the methods and incentives for improving the efficiency of that use.
Electronics, a branch of physics, engineering and technology dealing with electrical circuits that involve active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies.
Energy is the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems.
Farm equipment is machinery used on a farm to help with farming.
Food Engineering is the multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries.
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems.
System Engineering is the interdisciplinary field of engineering focusing on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over their life cycles.
Workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of goods.
Agricultural philosophy is the discipline devoted to the systematic critique of the philosophical frameworks (or ethical world views) that are the foundation for decisions regarding agriculture.
Agricultural policy is the set of laws relating to domestic agriculture and imports of foreign agricultural products.
Agricultural science is the broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture.
Agricultural economics originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil ecosystem. Throughout the 20th century the discipline expanded and the current scope of the discipline is much broader. Agricultural economics today includes a variety of applied areas, having considerable overlap with conventional economics.
Agricultural engineering is the discipline that applies engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing.
Agrophysics is the branch of science bordering on agronomy and physics, whose objects of study are the agroecosystem - the biological objects, biotope and biocoenosis affected by human activity, studied and described using the methods of physical sciences.
Animal science is the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind.
Animal breeding is the branch of animal science that addresses the evaluation (using best linear unbiased prediction and other methods) of the genetic value (estimated breeding value, EBV) of domestic livestock.
Animal nutrition focuses on the dietary needs of domesticated animals, primarily those in agriculture and food production.
Fisheries science is an academic discipline of managing and understanding fisheries.
Poultry science is animal science applied to poultry – chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, etc.
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic plants.
Biological Engineering
Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the genetic structure of an organism. (Ethics)
Microbiology is the branch of biology that deals with microorganisms, especially their effects on man and other living organisms.
Environmental science is the integrated study of factors that influence the environment and environmental systems, especially the interaction of the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment.
Conservation is the preservation of the environment and the wise use of resources.
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science.
Wildlife range management
Resources management is the efficient and effective deployment of an organization's resources when they are needed.
Food science is the study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork". It is considered one of the life sciences and is usually considered distinct from the field of nutrition.
Human nutrition is the provision to obtain the materials necessary to support life.
Food technology is the branch of food science which deals with the actual production processes to make foods.
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation.
Plant science is the science of plant life.
Crop science is the broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture.
Plant pathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious diseases) and environmental conditions (physiological factors).
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit.
Wood Science
Theoretical production ecology quantitatively studies the growth of crops.
Horticulture is the science, technology and business of intensive plant cultivation for human use.
Plant breeding is the science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics.
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming materials) that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
Agricultural soil science is the branch of soil science that deals with the study of edaphic conditions as they relate to the production of food and fiber.
Agrogeology is the study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regard to soil fertility and fertilizer components. These minerals are usually essential plant nutrients and are referred to as agrominerals.
Agrology is the branch of soil science dealing with the production of crops.
Agrominerals are minerals of importance to agriculture and horticulture, and are usually essential plant nutrients.
Land degradation is the process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by one or more combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land.
Land improvement is investments making land more usable by humans.
Soil chemistry is the study of the chemical characteristics of soil.
Soil amendment is material added to soil to improve plant growth and health.
Soil erosion is the process by which soil is removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow, and then transported and deposited in other locations.
Soil life is the collective term for all the organisms living within the soil.
Soil type refers to the different sizes of mineral particles in a particular sample.
Soils retrogression and degradation are two regressive evolution processes associated with the loss of equilibrium of a stable soil.
Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to the production of food, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals and the management of agroecosystems.
Agroecosystem analysis is the thorough analysis of an agricultural environment which considers aspects from ecology, sociology, economics, and politics with equal weight.
Agrophysics is the branch of science bordering on agronomy and physics, whose objects of study are the agroecosystem - the biological objects, biotope and biocoenosis affected by human activity, studied and described using the methods of physical sciences.
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.
Effects of Climate Change on agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale.
Composting Uses compost the organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment.
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment.
Ecosystem is the biological system consisting of all the living organisms or biotic components in a particular area and the nonliving or abiotic component with which the organisms interact, such as air, mineral soil, water and sunlight.
Environmental Economics is the subfield of economics concerned with environmental issues.
Green manure is a type of cover crop grown primarily to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form.
Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.
Rural Sociology is a field of sociology associated with the study of social life in non-metropolitan areas.
Soil Science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
Wild culture is the umbrella term used to include all aspects and styles of "hunting and gathering" food harvesting.
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The History of Agriculture developed at least 4,000 years ago, although some forms of agriculture such as forest gardening and fire-stick farming date back even earlier to prehistoric times.
Agriculture in Mesopotamia and Fertile Crescent
Agriculture in Ancient Egypt
Agriculture in Ancient Greece
Agriculture in Mesoamerica
The Arab Agricultural Revolution
Persian Orchards
The (2nd) British Agricultural Revolution
The Columbian Exchange
The Domestication of Animals
The Eastern Agricultural Complex
The Genomics of domestication – study of the structure, content, and evolution of genomes, or the entire genetic information of organisms.
The Green Revolution
The History of agricultural science Gregor Mendel's genetic work
The History of organic farming
The Neolithic Revolution and the wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement.
Incan agriculture
Roman agriculture
Selective breeding
Agriculturally based manufacturing industries
The Food industry is the complex, global collective of diverse businesses that together supply much of the food energy consumed by the world population.
Bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies.
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains) in water and then fermenting with yeast.
Brewing industry is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history.
Dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk – mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels for human consumption.
Distribution center is a warehouse or other specialized building, often with refrigeration or air conditioning, which is stocked with products (goods) to be redistributed to retailers, to wholesalers, or directly to consumers.
Food processing is a set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry.
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.
Food preservation is a process of treating and handling food to stop or slow down spoilage (loss of quality, edibility or nutritional value) and thus allow for longer storage.
Food safety is the scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness.
Food science is the study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork".
Foodborne illness is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural toxins such as poisonous mushrooms.
Mandatory labelling is the requirement of consumer products to state their ingredients or components.
Packaging is the science, art, and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use.
Pasteurization is the process of heating a food, usually a liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time and then cooling it immediately.
Quality assurance is planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled
Sterilization (microbiology) is the term referring to any process that eliminates (removes) or kills all forms of microbial life, including transmissible agents (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, etc.) present on a surface, contained in a fluid, in medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media.
Warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods.
Yeast is the eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom fungi, with 1,500 species currently described
The Pulp and paper industry comprises companies that use wood as raw material and produce pulp, paper, board and other cellulose-based products.
Agricultural Markets---------------------------------------------------------
Food distribution from farms is made in a variety of markets to the public.
Agricultural marketing – services involved in moving an agricultural product from the farm to the consumer.
Wholesale marketing – transactions made through wholesale markets
Food outlets include retail stores, outdoor markets, and restaurants.
Supermarkets are self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments.
Farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages.
Grocery store is a store that retails food.
Food Trucks sell fresh fruits, vegetables, or cooked prepared food.
Street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and often held only on particular days of the week.
Prominent Agricultural Scientists-------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Bakewell (farmer) was the first to implement systematic selective breeding of livestock.
Norman Borlaug the American agronomist, humanitarian, and Nobel laureate who has been called "the father of the Green Revolution".
Luther Burbank the American botanist, horticulturist and pioneer in agricultural science. He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 55-year career.
George Washington Carver the American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. Carver's reputation is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes, which also aided nutrition for farm families.
René Dumont the French engineer in agronomy, a sociologist, and an environmental politician.
Charles Roy Henderson the statistician and a pioneer in animal breeding — the application of quantitative methods for the genetic evaluation of domestic livestock.
Ronald Fisher the English statistician, evolutionary biologist, eugenicist and geneticist.
Jay Lush the pioneering animal geneticist who made important contributions to livestock breeding. He is sometimes known as the father of modern scientific animal breeding.
Gregor Mendel the Austrian scientist and Augustinian friar who gained posthumous fame as the founder of the new science of genetics. Mendel demonstrated that the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants follows particular patterns, now referred to as the laws of Mendelian inheritance.
Louis Pasteur the French chemist and microbiologist born in Dole. He was best known to the general public for inventing a method to stop milk and wine from causing sickness, a process that came to be called pasteurization.
M. S. Swaminathan the Indian agricultural scientist. Swaminathan is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India", for his leadership and success in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat in India.
More Agricultural Topics
Agribusiness
Extensive farming
Factory farming
Free range
Industrial agriculture
Mechanized agriculture
Intensive farming
Stock-free agriculture
Subsistence agriculture
Urban agriculture
Research the Largest producing countries of agricultural commodities
A List of agricultural organizations
A List of agricultural universities and colleges
A List of sustainable agriculture topics
Free Federal Resources for Educational Excellence – Agriculture USDA
UKAgriculture.com = Advance the education of the public in all aspects of agriculture, the countryside and the rural economy
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health = Agriculture Page
Research on the role of Agriculture in Poverty Reduction from the Overseas Development Institute