Saving American Agriculture
explanatory Essay
967 words
Saving American Agriculture American agriculture has changed dramatically since the first days of mechanized equipment and large-scale crop production. “Many conceived of farming as a rewarding life . . . and a source of moral virtue” (Mariola, 2005). While presently, many view farming as purely economic in purpose. It has been stated that farming in America is decreasing more quickly than any other occupation. Yet, population increases steadily, making agriculture all the more essential. Many current issues are affecting agricultural progress in America; basic concerns over water, land, and climate only begin to describe the complex predicament. Economics, as well as public involvement and education are important tools, needed to save American agriculture. Water is the chief resource for agricultural production. One historical dilemma between farming and water occurs when misapplication of chemicals and nutrients leach into the ground water table, or run off to rivers and streams, polluting this vital resource. “Twenty-five years after the Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed . . . [it was reported] that nearly 40% of waters were too polluted for basic uses” (Secchi et al, 2005). Projects to rehabilitate and conserve water often prove complex and expensive. Comprehensive understanding of the opportunity costs involved in management projects is key to forming an efficient conservation strategy. Similarly, it will be imperative to transition out-dated agricultural attitudes and routines towards new sustainable practices. The greatest motivation for this shift may be in the form of government subsidies and rewards for progressive, sustainable water management practices on agricultural lands. Favorable climate is another key... ... middle of paper ... ...3. Secchi, S., Gassman, P.W., Jha, M., Kurkalova, L., Feng, H.H., Campbell, T., & Kling, C. (2005). The cost of clean water: Assessing agricultural pollution reduction at the watershed scale. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Retrieved March 26, 2007, from http://www.card.iastate.edu Lamptey, B.L., Barron, E.J., & Pollard, D. (2005). Impacts of agriculture and urbanization on the climate of the northeastern United States. Global and Planetary Change. 49, 203-221. Cox, L.A. Jr., Popken, D.A., VanSickle, J.J., & Sahu, R. (2005). Optimal Tracking and Testing of U.S. and Canadian Herds for BSE: A Value-of-Information (VOI) Approach. Risk Analysis, 25, 827-839. Hwang, Y., Roe, B., & Teisl, M. (2005). An Empirical Analysis of United States Consumers' Concerns About Eight Food Production and Processing Technologies. AgBioForum. 8(1), 40-49.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that agriculture has changed dramatically since the first days of mechanized equipment and large-scale crop production. while many view farming as purely economic in purpose, population increases steadily making agriculture all the more essential.
- Explains that water is the chief resource for agricultural production. misapplication of chemicals and nutrients leach into the ground water table, or run off to rivers and streams, polluting this vital resource.
- Opines that a balanced, long-term, low-impact urbanization program can be established to conserve land essential for agricultural practice.
- Explains that urbanization and other economic factors have impeded on past agricultural successes. outbreaks of illness and disease negatively impacted many agricultural productions.
- Opines that if quality crops can be produced, harvested, and sold efficiently to a local community of consumers, huge economic and environmental benefits will be apparent.
- Explains that many americans do not realize the fairly universal presence of genetically modified organisms (gmos) or the many beneficial aspects of modern agricultural biotechnology.
- Opines that agriculture will continue to be of paramount importance to our nation's success. it is important to consider realistic versus idealistic goals, and economic opportunity costs for conservation efforts.
- Cites matthew j. mariola, s. secchi, p.w. gassman, m. kurkalova, h.h. feng, t. campbell, and c. kling.
- Explains lamptey, barron, e.j., and pollard, d. impacts of agriculture and urbanization on the northeastern united states.
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- Agriculture in the U.S.explanatory essayIn the past several years, there has been much public interest regarding agricultural practices and irrigation in the western United States. With pressures of climate change mounting in the mind of Americans, the allocation of scarce water resources has become an important political issue. When at first, farmlands in the western U.S. were ideally located to depend heavily on natural water resources or cheap irrigation methods, today these costs are greatly elevated. The marginal cost of irrigation in the West has changed greatly, as have other viable uses for this water. Public discourse has shown that this water currently being allocated toward oftentimes-inefficient farmland irrigation can also be used for municipal areas or even conserved altogether. As scarcity of this precious resource rises, the opportunity cost of electing a certain use for the water over another also expands. (Wichelns)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the allocation of scarce water resources has become an important political issue with pressures of climate change mounting in the minds of americans.
- Explains that it is difficult to determine how much water a certain farmland production organization should be spending in normative terms because the cost of irrigation in the u.s. fluctuates dramatically based on so many components.
- Argues that a viable policy objective in the agricultural industry must incorporate sustainable irrigation processes, instead of suggesting that farmers eradicate their irrigation.
- Explains that irrigation pricing in the west reflects historical pricing schemes, and not the true cost of water being used.
- Explains that federal and state subsidies distort the true costs of water through subsidization.
- Explains that reclamation subsidies and federal cost-sharing policies are great means of government intervention in incentivize conservation, but set the price of water much too low.
- Explains that the price for water in the u.s. varies greatly due to the wide array of water sources and irrigation agreements.
- Explains that climate change could "dramatically reduce agricultural productivity in the united states." the world population will only continue to grow.
- Explains that much of the cost attached to water price is heavily reliant on ground water, specifically from the ogallala aquifer, and residential homes and commercial operations nearby.
- Explains that former unsafe waste disposal practices are a major danger to the safety of available groundwater.
- Explains that high extraction costs, declining water levels and increased water pollution have motivated many agricultural operations to conserve, in part, by replacing surface irrigation with more costly center-pivot and low-pressure sprinklers, and subsurface drip irrigation.
- Explains wichelns' estimate of the variable costs of irrigation in the region, while pumping from a depth of 61 meters, is $772 per hectare.
- Opines that technological innovations could improve efficiency in agricultural irrigation, but can technological innovation reduce sensitivity to extreme temperature changes?
- Opines that genetically modified crops are the biggest hope for improving heat tolerance.
- Explains that demand for agricultural products is highly price inelastic and that the u.s. provides approximately one-fourth of the world’s basic calories.
- Explains that vaux places the price elasticity of demand for domestic water in the west between -0.2 and-0.6. this is good for the government that may want to tax water.
- Opines that increased production abroad, protectionism, and the relatively high value of the dollar have all served to reduce the demand for exports substantially.
- Explains that irrigation costs and prices are rising in most regions of the united states due to increasing scarcity, changes in public preferences regarding water allocation among competing uses, increasing budget scrutiny in the national and state legislatures, rising energy prices, and increasing awareness of climate change.
- Explains that moore, gollehon and carey performed an econometric analysis on variables affecting water prices in the western united states in 1994.
- Explains that econometric analysis proves to be an effective way on looking at the role of water price as a determinant of producer decisions because of its importance to water conservation policy.
- Explains that farmers respond more drastically to water prices in regards to certain crops than others. land allocation functions can substitute for crop supply functions in analysis of output substitution.
- Describes the water conservation potential from irrigation technology transitions in the pacific northwest.
- Explains that henry j. vaux, jr., american journal ofagricultural economics, vol. 68, no. 5, proceedings issue, 1986, pp. 1135-1142.
1888 wordsRead More - Agriculture: Industrial or Organicexplanatory essayIn earlier years, observing nature brought happiness. One look around at the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee or at Lindsey’s Rainbow Farm in Arkansas showed everything the world offered—tall grassy fields, magnificent black bears, chilly fall nights, clear streams, slimy trout, and the warmth of the sun on my face at sunset. Breathtaking sights awaited us around every corner. Nature seemed endless. Today, places such as these appear to be found less and less. With the expansion of not only civilization but also its economy, Americans slowly destroy the once symbiotic relationship between nature and community. Americans face such a difficult situation due to the way we live our lives—specifically, the way we obtain our food.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that with the expansion of civilization and its economy, americans slowly destroy the once symbiotic relationship between nature and community.
- Explains how society created a system in nature where animals and farming actually ruin the land, the same land that was once so cherished by our ancestors.
- Explains that industrial farming is highly mechanized and harms the environment. big organic farms use crop rotations and less chemicals, but remain detrimental to the animals and land.
- Explains how joel salatin created polyface, inc., a large community farm, which uses plants and animals to ensure land remains fertile and able to sustain the next cycle of growth.
- Explains that community farms preserve an excellent environment for the growth of varieties of plants by allowing the earth to reproduce and cultivate.
- Explains that higher quality soil benefits farmers in a myriad of ways, such as disposing of outside chemicals to aid in the growth of their plants, and relying on all natural fertilizers.
- Explains that small scale farms promote the local economy by cutting the middleman out of the relationship between the buyer and the producer.
- Explains that buying directly from these producers allows people to acquaint themselves with the location of where the food is grown as well as the people who actually grow it.
- Explains that natural agriculture encompasses many benefits, but organic farming also contains numerous hidden costs that are quite detrimental to the overall system.
- Opines that the cost of a natural agriculture system is incomparable to the benefits, but it is impractical. without change, our nation cannot sustain itself using it.
- Opines that for natural agriculture to become a possibility, we must change the system. subsidizing local farmers would guarantee land preservation and healthy foods at cheaper costs.
1462 wordsRead More - Water Conservation and Agriculture in the Colorado River Basinexplanatory essayAccording to Webster’s dictionary, agriculture is defined as the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products. Essentially, agriculture is a key element to a thriving and sustainable community for the seven billion habitants of our planet Earth. A key resource in providing life to necessary agriculture is the Colorado River. From its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California in Mexico, the Colorado River spans more than 1400 miles in its entirety. Encompassing the river, the Colorado River basin covers more than 256,000 square miles across the southwestern United States, providing valuable support to a large amount of systems (Cohen et al. V). This crucial resource supports more than thirty million people, four million acres of farmland, seven states, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, and the largest irrigation canal in the world (Water Uses). Although agriculture is still by far the largest user of water in the Colorado, more than ninety percent of pasture and cropland within the Colorado River basin receives water from the Colorado River as a supplement to support growth (Cohen et al. V). With this incredible amount of water comes a very large concern: are these water usage practices sustainable over a longer period of time? If not, how are we to combat the lasting effects set by unstainable water use?
In this essay, the author
- Defines agriculture as the science, art, or practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, raising livestock, and in various degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products.
- Explains that agriculture and irrigation have long been a part of the colorado river basin and desert southwest.
- Explains that acreage decisions and irrigation decisions go hand-in-hand, due to many factors. certain crops require more water to deliver a crop, and certain times of the year require much more.
- Explains that the colorado river and its basin are a key resource in agriculture within the southwestern united states and northern mexico.
- Explains that the colorado river basin is now in the 15th year of the driest period in recorded history for the region.
- Explains that arizona is one of the most important states within the colorado river basin, with seventy percent of arizona’s water usage going to agriculture.
- Explains that irrigation along the main stem of the colorado river accounts for more than forty percent of arizona’s total colorado river allocation.
- States that california is home to a large amount of alfalfa acreage, helping support the large livestock industry within the region.
- Explains that california receives 4.4 million acre-feet of water annually from the lower colorado river's average annual flows, and 3.1 million are diverted to the imperial irrigation district.
- Explains that colorado is one of the, if not the most important states within the colorado river basin. the western slope of colorado has a population of 512,000 people and 2.5 million acres of irrigated land.
- Explains the colorado big thompson project, which diverts water across the continental divide into northern colorado and the south platte river basin. in 2009, sixty percent of the diverted water was used for agricultural purposes.
- Explains that more users and less water are stressing the colorado river — with serious consequences for vegas.
- Explains 21st century solutions for the colorado river basin's unbalanced uses.
- Opines that colorado farmland goes dry as suburbs secure water supplies.
- Analyzes finley, bruce, and lee, nathan, in agricultural water use in the colorado river basin: conservation and efficiency tools for a water friendly future.
- States mackinnon, anne, "slow disaster: dwindling colorado river will demand congressional action."
- Explains that colorado river crisis: do farmers have the water to solve it?.
- Narrates how the slow disaster: dwindling colorado river will demand congressional action.
1619 wordsRead More - Pesticidesopinionated essayOne of the main reasons to use environmentally friendly pesticides is to reduce pollution. In an article from National Wildlife, it was found that surface and groundwater pollution is the biggest “uncontrolled” threat to American water today. This is caused when rain washes the chemicals from pesticides in into streams, lakes, and other bodies of water (Miller, par. 5). It can be very hard to monitor this issue because it is difficult to decide which farmer is using too much or even misusing pesticides (Miller, par.5). One way to reduce pollution from pesticides is to cut back on the amount of pesticides used. Farmers in Iowa were encouraged to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers on their crops to help stop polluting the groundwater and runoffs. The farmers were over-using fertilizers and pesticides because they were not taking into consideration the fertilizers that were already in the ground from past years. Since the project began, there has been a decline in nitrate levels in groundwater (Miller, par. 16). If all farmers would adopt this new way of thinking, the water contamination problem would deteriora...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that people should not use chemicals without researching and considering serious consequences. rachel carson, an aquatic biologist, wrote an article about the damage chemicals are having on the earth.
- Explains the importance of using environmentally friendly pesticides to reduce pollution. rainwater pollution is the biggest "uncontrolled" threat to american water.
- Explains the negative effects of synthetic pesticides on fish, such as atrazine, which causes gender mutations in amphibians and fish.
- Analyzes the effects of pesticides on humans, animals, and mother's breast milk in the article "the spraying of america".
- Opines that pesticides are having a negative effect on the health of humans. studies conducted since the 1960s have found one-hundred-thirty-nine different pesticide residues in groundwater, making up over half of american's drinking water supply
- Explains that jane ford, an advanced master gardner, wrote an article about the many environmentally friendly pesticides available.
- Recommends scrubbing, washing, or peeling your produce before eating to lower pesticide residue digested. barbara loecher's article beyond love canal explains other simple ways to avoid ingesting pests.
- Concludes that all americans should be very concerned about the impact pesticides are having on the environment and all living creatures.
1232 wordsRead More - Omnivore's Dilemma Analysisanalytical essayFirst reading, “Omnivore's dilemma” by Michael Pollan has been considered as one of the classics among population who is concerned about food industry and its methods. In the first part of the book the author describes a cornopoly or a dominance of a single crop—corn—in the food humans as well as farm animals eat, in the fields U.S. farmers work, in production of processed foods. Second reading, the article ”The Healthy Farmland Diet: How Growing Less Corn Would Improve Our Health and Help America’s Heartland” by Kranti Mulik and Jeffrey O’Hara, who represent the Union of Concerned Scientists, compares two guidelines—one by the U.S. government, the other by scientists from Harvard—and how would Americas agriculture, as well as job market, and
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes michael pollan's "omnivore’s dilemma" as one of the classics among population who is concerned about food industry and its methods.
- Explains that the third reading, "land acquisition and transfer in u.s. agriculture" by daniel bigelow and todd hubbs from usda economic research service is an informative piece regarding the current state of land ownership in the united states.
- Analyzes how the second and third readings are written in a report manner, where one is concerned with the public health and overall welfare issues, while the third is an economic report, that does not express any direct concern.
366 wordsRead More - Ethical Issues In Mass Farminganalytical essayThis environmental issue pertains to water usage as well as the pollution of water sources by large scale meat packing plants. A 2015 report by the Food and Water watch on factory farming illustrates just how dangerous the pollution of water sources by the farming industry is. The runoff from factory farming has polluted an estimated 20,000 miles of rivers and streams as well as an estimated quarter of a million acres of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds (Food and Water Watch). All this pollution can have serious impacts on the communities of organisms and animals who use these rivers and lakes as their main water sources and humans are also affected by this pollution, as these rivers and reservoirs provide drinking water for many
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the current practices of mass farming in the united states, and especially that of animals, carries serious ethical and environmental consequences.
- Explains the definition of a factory farm, which refers to the style of modern farming in which animals are viewed as resources to exploit for economic gain.
- Analyzes the ethical issues associated with factory farming, such as slitting pigs' throats, butchering dead animals, and hitting sick animals repeatedly to kill them.
- Explains that people who support the industrial farming industry view animals as having instrumental value and not intrinsic value. this view of animals also travels over into the environmental side of this.
- Explains that many in the farming industry view animals as simply a resource and that attitude leads to some of the horrendous acts that occur in meat processing locations.
- Explains that the 2015 food and water watch report on factory farming illustrates how dangerous the pollution of water sources by the farming industry is.
- Argues that factory farming advocates deny that pollution of lakes and rivers is occurring on a large scale and that the waste water and manure is being contained and taken care of.
- Explains that while many deny the damage caused by pollution of rivers and lakes from factory farming, there is evidence that the effects of pollution might be more harmful than previously thought.
- Explains that the third issue with factory farming is the health issues for humans. a study by the center for disease control estimated that approximately 48 million americans suffer from a food borne illness.
- Argues that factory farming does not necessarily mean that conditions are horrible crowded to the point of breading diseases and that many farms are not like what is commonly thought of as a factory farm.
- Argues that while the argument that not all factory farms are responsible for the spread of diseases has merit, it is true that a majority of factories are crowded and horrible conditions.
- Explains that both sides of the issue agree that it is difficult to feed the high number of people in the world and that large operations are necessary, but opposing views have different theories on how this should be accomplished.
- Opines that the industry's use of anti-biotics in animal feed is one of the most harmful impacts of factory farming.
1890 wordsRead More - When people hear of pollution in the water system, agriculture is nearly always the first to get the finger pointed at. From Currituck to Lumberton, acres of agricultural crops are visible from the road. There are pick-for-yourself strawberry farms, hog houses with their lagoons, farmers markets selling their fresh produce; people are literally swamped with agriculture in all the river basins of Eastern North Carolina. It is natural for agriculture to get the blame with all of the exposure it gets in the community. Some of that blame is justifiable, though, as po...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that it would be foolish to regress in the development of the coastal plain.
- Explains that agriculture is the first to get the finger pointed at when people hear of pollution in the water system. poor farming practices have caused nitrogen to enter the river basin and surrounding waters.
- Explains that the flathead catfish, native to the mississippi, rio grande, and mobile bay drainage basins, has been spread across the southeastern united states intentionally and accidentally.
632 wordsRead More - Cauyahoga River Research Paperexplanatory essayIn 1969, the Cuyahoga River (in Cleveland, Ohio) caught on fire because it was “polluted from decades of industrial waste.” Furthermore, after the river set on fire for the final time, the government of Cleveland stepped in to stop the factories’ water runoff into the river. They no longer allowed the factories to have overflow into the river, Although the main problem was fixed for the present, another problem was creeping up: runoff from large industrial farms. Pollution is a serious matter, because if our world gets polluted, it will no longer be safe or healthy to live. The way people eat has a big part in pollution. If they eat locally, or at least try to, they can help cut down on out pollution. The method of Local Sustainable farming
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the cuyahoga river caught on fire in 1969 because it was polluted from decades of industrial waste. the government of cleveland stepped in to stop the factories' water runoff into the river.
- Opines that eating locally promotes the health of the consumer. michael pollan and richie chevat stated, "no fossil fuels or added fertilizer or chemicals needed."
- Explains that farmers are messing with the animals diet and they can't get all the nutrition that they need to be healthy. there are no set national food culture that are followed, unlike other countries like france or spain.
- Explains that eating and buying locally is superior for the consumer and the environment. joel salatin's farm in swoope, virginia uses natural fertilizers.
- Explains that buying locally can affect the environment and the health of the consumer, positively or negatively.
1091 wordsRead More - Water in Coloradocomparative essayIn one month, 3.9 trillion gallons of water are used per month in the United States. The Boulder Creek is necessary to provide water, recreation, power supplies, and more. While the water quality is not solely worsened by humans, further damage could mean losing the creek and all that it offers. The Colorado River gives 15 billion gallons of water to 7 states total . Since 1976, a system has been made to “recycle” water. In 2009, a Water Quality Strategic Plan (WQSP) was proposed as a 5- year plan to help conserve water . Although we have already developed some plans and programs to help preserve our water, citizen and legislative action, and agricultural water conservation would take us one step closer to meeting the needs of our increasing population.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the boulder creek is necessary to provide water, recreation, power supplies, and more. the colorado river gives 15 billion gallons of water to 7 states.
- Explains how indirect potable use (ips) helps preserve rivers by putting clean water back into our drinking water system.
- Explains that boulder's "blue line" is an example of citizen and legislative action, but it will not be enough to save our water.
- Explains that 75% of colorado's water is used for agriculture, but if a farmer were to conserve the rest of his water, he would violate the colorado law.
- Concludes that colorado needs to increase citizen and legislative action regarding water, while balancing the amount of water we use on agriculture.
874 wordsRead More - Our Future (FFA): Future Farmers Of Americaanalytical essayDo you like to eat? Without farmers there’s no food, and without FFA, there aren’t people learning and advocating the farmers who feed America. The name of the program even states “Future Farmers of America”. So why would you, the school board, want to get rid of such a beneficial club? It doesn’t make sense. FFA is our Future because in Agriculture Education Classes students are taught valuable information teaching foundation classes need as prerequisites for future education.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that ffa is our future because in agriculture education classes students are taught valuable information teaching foundation classes as prerequisites for future education.
- Explains that agriculture classes aren't just about'sows, cows and plows', but leadership development events, career development, speaking, floral classes, and leadership classes. dick wallrath has set an example for young ffa members everywhere.
- Opines that ffa members with so much potential will improve america. they would be letting down talented kids and taking away from scholarship opportunities.
259 wordsRead More