Agriculture Today

• What is the name and acronym of the agency that represents agricultural interests in the US Federal government?

  
  

  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• 1. Compare the dictionary definition of a farm to the USDA definition.
  2. Dictionary ~ “Any plot of land devoted to agriculture and to the raising of crops and domesticated animals”
  3. Can include your backyard! Or any plot of land where you grow things
  4. USDA ~ “Any place from which $1000 or more of agricultural products are sold annually”
  5. Focuses more on economics
• How many farms are in the US?

  2 million
• What is the average size for farms in the US?

  446 acres
• 1 acre = 43,560 ft
• 1 acre = 0.404 ha
• 1. List the 3 types of financial assistance provided by the USDA.
  2. Commodity payments ~ direct payments or price supports
  3. Conservation payments ~ Reduce production on environmentally sensitive lands
  4. Disaster payments ~ for emergencies, if crops have little to no yield
• 1. List the top 5 crops worldwide
  2. Worldwide
  3.  Sugarcane
  4. Corn
  5. Rice
  6. Wheat
  7. Potatoes
• 1. List the top 5 crops in the US
  2. In the United States
  3. Corn
  4. Cotton
  5. Fruit
  6. Tree nuts
  7. Rice
• 1. List the top 5 crops in Texas
  2. In Texas
  3. Cotton
  4. Hay (forage)
  5. Corn
  6. Wheat
  7. Sorghum