QA Farming

There is not a single person on this planet that is disassociated with farming. It is how people live and eat. Even vegans or vegetarians have to rely on this food source. There is so much that goes on in the farming community. From the actually production of food to the final stage where the food is consumed, growing plants and animals on a farm is the cornerstone to civilization. It has been around since mankind first began to till the land or domesticate animals. In this article we will cover the basics of how the farm works and how you finally end up with the products that you eat. It is a fascinating process from beginning to end and it will make you aware of the obstacles that farmers face each day.

What is farming?

Farming is actually referred to as agriculture. The practice of agriculture has been around for roughly 10,000 years. It encompasses livestock, plants, fuels, pharmaceuticals and even illegal drugs and exotic products. Farms produce most of the products that you would typically find in a home. From the trees grown on farms for building purposes to the herbs that you season your food with, agriculture has a monumental impact on everyone’s daily lives. It is hard to be entirely self-sustaining. At one point or another you have to buy something that is agriculturally produced that you cannot provide for yourself. There are only a few places in the entire world that agriculture does not take place. Science has played a remarkable role in how farms have changed their planting and growing techniques.

What impact does farming have on the economics of the world?

Farming has a tremendous impact on the world’s economy even though it is less than 5% of the gross world product. Nearly one-third of the population, across the entire globe, is employed in some agricultural related job. The huge impact that agriculture has stems from the fact that everyone has to eat. Some countries are not able to grow enough food or raise enough livestock to provide for all of its citizens. So other countries sell or trade their excess food. Industrialization has played a huge part in taking away some of the impact that agriculture has on the world’s economy. But agriculture still remains very strong. If you were to remove all agricultural products from the stock market and even markets in general, you would see a lightening fast decline in how the world functions and operates.

What is organic farming?

Organic farming is a method in which farmers raise crops and livestock using no artificial pesticides or hormones. They utilize crop rotation in order to keep the soil healthy. Going organic is not new. During the 50′s and 60′s there was a movement to start eating more natural food sources and ensuring that people were not consuming harmful pesticides that were being heavily used at the time. This return to the organic movement has helped small farmers immensely. In a typical market they were being ousted by large scale farm operations. But by raising organically grown vegetable, fibers and animals, they can cash in on the organic niche. They do not have to worry about owning large expanses of land and they can charge more for their produce since it is “healthier.”

Where can I go to get the latest information about farming?

The absolute, best source of information on anything to do with agriculture is the USDA. The United States Department of Agriculture has a website that covers everything from the latest research products to any outbreaks of avian flu. You can visit the website as www.usda.gov.