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Agriculture is the nation’s largest industry and is a significant part of every person’s life. Although less than 2 percent of our nation’s population is directly involved in the production of our food and fiber, almost one-fifth of the United States population has direct involvement in agriculture through farming and agribusiness. The remaining proportion of the population has an indirect involvement through the consumption and use of food and fiber commodities on a daily basis.
From an academic perspective, agriculture is not a single content area to be studied. It is a system that deals with the management of food and fiber commodities from growth to consumption. The topics associated with agriculture are frequently more meaningful to students because they directly impact their quality of life and integrate multiple content areas. Yet, these topics are generally missing from today’s educational materials. The study of agriculture has frequently been relegated to vocational agriculture classes at the high school level. Most people feel the study of agriculture is limited to those interested in becoming “farmers”. Yet, agriculture is part of every student’s learning experience when they study topics such as ecosystems and biomes, the effects of erosion, or the migration of people across our nation; studying managed systems, rather than natural systems, generally involves the agricultural industry. Basic decisions such as the addition of a housing development to meet the needs of a growing population or eliminating miles of railroad track impacts the agricultural industry. “Farmers” are not the only people in our society who must make informed decisions about agriculture.
By opening the doors wider to the study of agriculture, it is expected that the literacy rate about the agricultural industry will increase and more informed decisions will be made about agriculture as it relates to everyday life.
Based on the findings of the National Research Council's
(NRC) 1988 report,
Understanding Agriculture - New Directions for Education
- Agriculture is too important a topic to be taught only to a relatively small percentage of students considering agricultural careers and pursuing vocational agriculture studies.
- Ag literacy includes an understanding of agriculture's history and current economic, social and environmental significance to all Americans. This understanding includes some knowledge of food and fiber production, processing, and domestic and international marketing.
- Increased knowledge about agriculture and nutrition allows individuals to make informed personal choices about diet and health.
- Informed citizens will be able to participate in establishing the policies that will support a competitive agricultural industry in this country and abroad.
- The NRC offered these principal findings and recommendations:
- Agricultural education in U.S. high schools usually does not extend beyond a vocational agriculture program.
- The focus of agricultural education should include more than vocational agriculture.
- Beginning in kindergarten and continuing through 12th grade, all students should receive some systematic instruction about agriculture.
- Employment opportunities exist across the board in agriculture. Career choices cover farm production, agribusiness management, and marketing; agricultural research and engineering; food science; processing and retailing; banking; education; landscape architecture; urban planning; and other fields.
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