GEORGIA AGRICULTURE: The Science of Life

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GEORGIA AGRICULTUREThe Science of Life

• By Donald Gilman
• Worth County Middle School
• Sylvester, GA
• Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
• May 2004

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What makes Georgia Agriculture unique?

• When you look outside of the traditional role of
  agriculture (farming),you will find that Georgia
  Agriculture impacts our daily activities in a
  large way thru

• Economics
• Careers
• Environment
• Technology
• Science

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Economics

• Agriculture is the 1 industry in the state of
  Georgia.
• The total annual contribution to our states
  economy is 57 billion.
• About 16 of the states total economic output is
  from agriculture.
• According to the most current Census,______
• County had_____ sales of agriculture products.

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Careers

• One in six Georgians works in agriculture,forestry
  ,or an ag related field.
• Almost half of the states manufacturing jobs are
  in agribusiness.
• Farm and Forestry production sectors represent
  over 85,000jobs and contributes 7 billon in
  output.

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Careers Continued

• Food Service industry is responsible for 212,000
  jobs and 6.1 billon of output.
• Food and fiber processing sector provides 170,000
  jobs for Georgians and contributes 31 billion of
  economic output.
• THE BOTTOM LINE IS AGRICULTURE IS TO
  GEORGIA !

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Environment

• Farmers were the first environmentalist.
• Protecting natural resources are foremost in
  agricultural community.
• Agricultural researchers are constantly working
  to find ways to conserve and protect water.
• In the political and legal issues concerning
  river water usage, agricultural groups are
  leading the way in conserving this resource.

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Environment continued

• Agriculture researchers continually work on
  developing plants that require less assistance
  from herbicides and pesticides.
• Improvements in production methods have greatly
  reduced erosion and have helped to protect our
  top soil.
• All of these factors in combination have put the
  agricultural sector at the fore front of
  protecting our environment.

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Technology

• Georgia is the place where technology and
  resources converge to create a climate conducive
  to new ideas and innovations.
• Through our land grant universities and
  vocational training facilities, agricultural
  research has helped develop new technologies.

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Technology continued

• Present experiments with global positioning
  satellites and on-board computers are proving
  beneficial as to providing the right amount of
  materials being applied to crops such as water
  and fertilizers.
• This same technology can be applied to chemical
  applications to reduce run off.

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Science

• Biotechnology research and development in
  Georgia continues to lead the nation.
• Agriculture RD in Georgia has become nationally
  known for developing more productive crops
  better grasses for grazing, golf courses and
  athletic fields environmental protection
  measures animal cloning techniques and superior
  food products.

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Science continued

• For every 1 spent on Agricultural RD in the
  past 50 years, it has paid back 8 in terms of a
  more safer affordable food supply.
• Georgians and Americans enjoy the the most
  affordable food supply of the entire world
  community spending just 10.9 of their income on
  food.

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Summary

• Georgia Agriculture is the science of lifeIt
  touches many aspects of our lives.
• Agriculture in Georgia has a rich heritage in
  research and development.
• Georgians can enjoy many of the benefits that our
  agricultural base provides such as a strong
  economic contribution,plentiful careers,good
  environment,technological and scientific
  advancements that gives us a daily connection to
  the science of life.