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Section 4 Technological Contexts
helps guide planting and harvesting.
Technology, however, has caused massive
changes in farming. See Figure 19-1. New
and modern agricultural machines and
equipment allow fewer people to grow more
food. Also, technological advances have
helped people preserve and store food for
later use. These and other advancements
are part of agricultural technology.
What is agriculture? Agriculture is
using science and technology in planting,
growing, and harvesting crops and raising
livestock. This practice includes using
materials, information, and machines to
produce the food and natural fibers needed
to maintain life.
Main Types of
Agriculture
Agriculture takes place on the farms
and ranches of the world. See Figure 19-2.
Individuals using small plots of land called
gardens also practice agriculture.
This practice has two main branches.
Crop production grows plants for human
food, animal feed, and natural fibers
to meet daily needs. This production
produces ingredients for medicines and
industrial processes. Crop production
provides plants for landscaping needs.
This production produces trees for orna-
mental uses and wood-product needs.
Animal husbandry involves breeding,
feeding, and training animals. These
animals are used for food and fiber for
humans. In some cases, they are used to
do physical work. Many animals are raised
for hobbies, such as horseback riding, and
for dog and horse racing.
Agricultural
Crops
The crops raised today have evolved
from specific regions of the world. Corn,
beans, sweet potatoes, white pota-
toes, tomatoes, tobacco, peanuts, and
sunflowers came from North and South
America. China and central Asia gave
us peas, sugarcane, lettuce, onions, and
soybeans. Rice, citrus fruits, and bananas
Figure 19-1. Technology has greatly changed farming. This pea combine harvests green peas.