The Farming Industry In The United States

Most people at some point in their life have heard the quote, “if you ate today thank a farmer”. Farming is a lifestyle that can double as a business, that typically is passed down as a tradition between families for many generations. However, many fail to realize how the countless amounts of fields and thousands of dollars worth of equipment came to be. The world of farming has grown from a seed in the ground to a blossoming corporation that provides food for every mouth in the world. Furthermore, even though this booming industry consumes many acreage across the globe, it doesn’t mean it is the same in every country; even the raising of livestock may differ from country to country. Although there any many parts to how agriculture came

Department of Agriculture was created in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln no one could have ever predicted the changes in farming that would take place in years to come. The Department of Agriculture is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for handling topics related to the farming and food industry. The large change in the agriculture business is best understood when looking at the numbers. In 1862 “about 90 out of every 100 americans were farmers. Today that number has shrunk to about just 2 out of every 100 americans.” (Farming Today and Tomorrow) Today it doesn't take as many people to work on farms as it once did. Farmers now have the ability to produce at a much larger scale than in the past. “In the 1830s, 40s and 50s when pioneers first settled Iowa's rich prairie lands, most farms were just 80 acres.” (Farming Today and Tomorrow) If one were to multiply that number by five that would represent the size of the average American farm today. This large growth in acreage, along with the help of advancements made in other areas, results in more people being able to be fed. “Through the use of technology, an average farmer is able to feed 155 people today, compared to 1940, when one farmer could typically feed only 19 people. (Comparing Agriculture of the Past with Today) In today’s world new developments are constantly being introduced. Our planet is continuously changing and farming has a mandate to develop right along with it; a growing population calls for the technology to grow along with it. In order to provide for the immense populace of our country not only does the equipment need to progress, but what is being planted must prosper as well. “ Seed technology has changed over the years through the help of both biotechnology and genetic engineering.”(Comparing Agriculture of the Past with Today) In the past, crops have been destroyed due to harsh weather conditions, but now scientists can change crop outcomes by modifying seeds in the