Transcript Slide 1

Corn Harvest – Iowa
Photographer: Frank T. Wilson
1903-1904
FOR 460, 2006
J.Tyndall
Cultural Evolution of
Agriculture:
A Historical Assay
1900 - 2000
1922 Case 12-20 Tractor
(Abiotic & Biotic)
Vegetation Types == FF(?)
What about culturally speaking?
Vegetation Types = F(?)
111 miles of track in
Illinois in 1850 increased
to over 10,000 by 1890
Maps: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl
> 93% of Iowa’s land area has been
converted to fairly homogenous
crop production
Photo: MS®
Central Iowa
Central Illinois
Systems Hierarchy in Agriculture
Dominance of constraints :
• field scale - agronomic
• farm scale - microecon
• Watershed/ landscape scale
– politico-ecological
• National/ transnational level –
politico-macroeconomic
Harvested Acres – 1900 - 2000
US Corn Production History
Year
Acres
harvested
(000’s)
Bushels
/Ac
1900’s
95,000
25
1950’s
72,000
42
1960’s
60,000
64
1980’s
63,000
98
2000’s
70,000
135
Data Source - NASS
US Production of Corn
(this relates to other crops too…)
• The gasoline tractor – ‘20s and ‘30s
usda
• Changes in Performance, Parentage, and Genetic Diversity of
Successful Corn Hybrids, 1930–2000
• Post WWII – new technology
• Increased production in corn belt 1960 and beyond– Why?
– Land grants (Purdue & ISU); Research $ = i.e. hybrids, pest control,
fertilizer inputs that are tested in Midwest; growing power of
agribusiness corps.
• Larger contiguous acreages – economies of scale
• Limited crop diversification = stronger infrastructure
• Rise in Predicate Industries & clustering of concomitant industries
• Subsidy programs
2003-2004 U.S. Corn Use By Segment (bushels)
5.8 billion (56.8%)
Feed/Residual
Exports
1.9 billion (18.6%)
Ethanol (fuel)
1.2 billion (11.7%)
High Fructose Corn Syrup
530 million (5.1%)
Corn Starch
271 million (2.6%)
Corn Sweeteners
228 million (2.2%)
Cereal/Other
187 million (1.8%)
Beverage Alcohol
132 million (1.2%)
Total
10.2 billion bushels
Source: USDA, industry statistics.
Corn Subsidies by year, Iowa
Year
Corn
Subsidies
1995
$596,197,712
1996
$325,359,974
1997
$556,282,084
1998
$928,223,373
1999
$1,376,230,642
2000
$1,529,407,150
2001
$1,015,844,232
2002
$371,750,668
2003
$532,368,974
2004
$867,720,362
Total
$8,099,385,172
Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database.
Harvested Acres – 1900 - 2000
US Soybean Production History
John Deer
Year
Acres
harvested
(000’s)
Bushels
/Ac
1920’s
580
11
1940’s
8,000
18.5
1950’s
16,000
20
1970’s
55,000
25
2000’s
72,500
38
Data Source - NASS
US History of the SB
• Introduced around 1765 – Samuel Bowen - EIC
• 1930’s – Surplus of cotton and wheat – SB meal
became important in animal feed.
– The gasoline tractor - general use in the ‘20s and ‘30s
• 1940 – US was importing 40% of oils & fats – WWII
• 1941 – US production doubled
• 1949 – Became net exporter
• Major component of the Marshall Plan food aid program
• Rise in ‘Value Added’ Predicate industries
– Livestock
• 1995 RR beans
Graphic from the US Soybean Association
Soybean Subsidies by year, Iowa
http://www.ewg.org
Year
Soybean Subsidies
1995
$0
1996
$0
1997
$0
1998
$96,418,323
1999
$449,128,732
2000
$558,355,713
2001
$718,334,447
2002
$94,946,532
2003
$195,358,637
2004
$154,412,851
Total
$2,266,955,234
Photos: J. Bishop
Amount of Subsidies received (1995-2004)
Over $4.2 billion over 10 years
$1.84 - $4.2 billion over 10 years
$600 million - $1.84 billion over 10 years
$100 - $600 million over 10 years
Under $100 million over 10 years
Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database.
With the steady increase in crop yields over time due to
technological advances, the relative reduction of yields per
centimeter of soil loss has declined.
General Likelihood of Soil erosion
Source: FAO
What does all this mean with regards to….?
Habitat change?
Fragmentation?
Pest/predation dynamics?
Resource use – i.e. water?
T & E species?
Path dependency?
What else?
(NAS)
The NAS is a measure of the physical
characteristics of a county area that
enhance the location as a place to live. The
scale combines measures of climate,
typography, & water area that reflect
environmental qualities most people
prefer.
Source: Mike Duffy, Leopold Center, 2005
Erosion…
Photos: ISU
Agronomy Dept
Sustainability, Agriculture & Technology
The following are all tech that sprang from the notion of
Sustainable Ag (Approaches &/or BMP’s):
• Precision Ag
• GMO’s
• Riparian buffers
• Shelterbelts and livestock odor
• Organic farming
All are direct responses to patterns of land use
– Which were largely dictated by Government Policy at various
levels (notably the Farm Bills, 1980…2002) & CES
Riparian Buffers – Water Quality Remedy
What is the Micro Environmental story?
What is the Macro Environmental story?
Integrated Wet Lands – Water Quality Remedy
What is the Micro Environmental story?
What is the Macro Environmental story?
Shelterbelts – Odor Remedy
What is the Micro Environmental story?
What is the Macro Environmental story?
Bear Creek,
The following photos: T. Schultz, ISU
The following photos: http://ortho.gis.iastate.edu/