About Crop Farming
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, crop farming is a common means of food production all over the world and its importance is not expected to decrease in the future. Crop farming techniques allow food to be grown and harvested en mass, while decreasing the risks associated with plant disease, insect damage and inadequate soil hydration. Fruits, vegetables, grains, soy, nuts, tobacco and cotton are all important foods and agricultural products produced nearly exclusively through crop farming. Recent technological advancements have led to improvements in crop farming, resulting in less damage to the environment and better crop yields.
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History
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During the Mesolithic period, crop farming was developed, allowing greater production of fruits and vegetables that were larger than previous varieties. Initially, crop farming focused on increasing the yield of foods that grew naturally in the wild. Areas that successfully produced large quantities of crops were able to transport those foods to other regions of the world. From those imported crops, different regions increased their assortment of crops by seeding the fruits and vegetables, planting them and harvesting them for use by local inhabitants. Modern-style crop farming first began around the world to feed the growing populations of civilized areas.
Geography
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Crop farming is done in all areas of the world, but certain foods are grown in different geographical locations due to climate and soil type. Grain crops, which are the most important food source for approximately 75 percent of the world's population, are grown mainly in temperate zones with moderate to low rainfall. Rice is a major yield in Asia, and corn is heavily produced in certain areas of the United States. Fruit crops are scattered across temperate, subtropical and tropical areas of the world, with most nut crops cultivated in temperate and tropical climates. Crop farming of vegetables takes place in nearly all regions of the world, but vegetable farms are generally more concentrated in the U.S., Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Crops such as tobacco and cotton are grown worldwide.
Function
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MSN's Encarta Encyclopedia states that crop farming allows for cultivation of various plants, typically grains, fruits and vegetables, to produce food for humans, feed for animals or industrial or medicinal ingredients. Crop farming is also a popular method for developing and growing ornamental plants and other products. The plants grown in crop farms vary depending on size of the farm, location, and demand. Some crop farms are thousands of acres in size, while other farms are small plots of land no larger than standard back yards.
Benefits
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Crop farming produces the bulk of energy-sources consumed by humans and animals. When cultivation is precise and focused on one type of crop, yield is typically higher and quality is generally improved. Crop farming is responsible for the large varieties of food available in local stores and markets, which makes a significant impact on overall nutrition and health. Moreover, advances in technology have paved the way for conservation tillage, which offers a number of important environmental benefits, including reduced erosion of soil, reduced fuel consumption when operating equipment, decreased flooding risk, less air pollution, lower carbon dioxide emissions and the return of beneficial insects and wildlife.
Potential
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Crop farming is heavily influenced by advancements in technology. Precision farming uses technological devices like geographic information and global positioning systems to collect and share information related to planting, fertilizing and harvesting. Harvesting equipment with scales linked to these devices measure crop yield, enabling farmers to adjust fertilizer and seeding application rates to improve their production. Biotechnology allows farmers to increase the productivity of their farms by producing hardy hybrids that are disease-resistant and require less frequent fertilizing. As advancements in technology increase, the yields of crop farms are expected to increase in turn.
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