Intro to Farming & Conventional Agriculture

Soil

A complex mixture of rock pieces, mineral nutrients, decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms that support plant and animal life.

Permeability

The ability of soil to transmit water, which can be high in sand and low in clay.

Loam

A soil texture well-suited for plant growth, consisting of 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay.

Soil profile

The sequence of horizontal layers in soil, including organic layer, topsoil, subsoil, parent material, and bedrock.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants capture sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.

Respiration

The process by which organisms convert oxygen and glucose into energy, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process through which nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is captured by plants via lightning strikes and soil bacteria.

Phosphorous Cycle

The movement of phosphate ions from phosphate rocks into plants, which is critical for plant growth.

Eutrophication

The excess of nutrients running off into water bodies, significantly altering freshwater ecosystems.

Soil erosion

The removal of topsoil due to water, wind, and human activity, often leading to reduced agricultural productivity.

Dust Bowl

A period during the 1930s when severe drought and poor agricultural practices led to massive dust storms in the United States.

Soil Conservation Service (SCS)

An agency that was founded to combat soil erosion, now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Biotechnology

The use of living organisms to develop or create products, including genetically modified crops.

Patents in agriculture

Legal protections that allow companies to control the rights and distribution of specific agricultural seeds.

Guano

A fertilizer containing the accumulated excrement of seabirds, historically mined for its high phosphorous content.

Soil salinization

A process where accumulated salts in the upper soil layers can negatively impact crop production.

Roundup Ready crops

Genetically modified crops that are tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate, leading to increased herbicide application.

Neonicotinoids

A class of neuro-active insecticides modeled after nicotine, which are harmful to bee populations.

Food sovereignty

The right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods.

Agrochemicals

Chemicals used in agriculture, including fertilizers and pesticides, that can have environmental and health impacts.

Farm consolidation

The trend of fewer companies controlling a larger percentage of agricultural resources, leading to losses for small-scale farmers.

Organic farming

An agricultural method that excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, focusing on natural processes.

Invasive species

Non-native species that can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.

Agricultural machinery market

Industry segment involving companies that produce equipment used for farming, now largely controlled by a few entities.

Consumer awareness

The degree to which consumers are informed about the products they buy, including environmental and ethical concerns.