Agriculture
Lesson 25
What is agriculture? Growing crops and raising animals to provide food, wool and other products. “An easy way to remember what agriculture is: The Five Fs (Food, Fiber, Forests, Flowers, Fuel). Farmers and ranchers grow many different kinds of food - everything from the strawberries growing in fields to the hamburger on your dinner plate. Cotton from plants and wool from animals are types of textile fiber. Many products that we use every day are made from fiber. Trees from forests are used to make more than 5,000 products that we use everyday. Flowers are a big part of California agriculture. Cut flowers, fruit trees, nursery plants, and houseplants are all a part of agriculture. Fuel can be used to make energy. There are many uses for energy on the farm. Cow manure can be made into fuel that can heat or cool buildings, or provide lighting and electricity. Corn can be made into ethanol, which is used to fuel cars, trucks and tractors.
California was described as the richest, most beautiful, healthiest region in the world. Farming soon surpassed ranching and mining. Today California is the leading agricultural state in our country.
Sheep-raising became important as did raising dairy cows. The first crops grown in California were wheat and some cotton.
The farmers faced many problems. California has two seasons - wet and dry. They had to raise crops that would stand the high transportation costs to markets. It was hard to get land from the railroad company. And irrigation for crops was needed.
Today the San Joaquin Valley is one of the greatest agricultural regions, but at first it was considered a desert. It was in need of irrigation. Irrigation is the delivery of water to arid, dry land. When water was brought to the dry land the land became farmable. By 1890 one-fourth of all California farms were being irrigated. An old man told his son: “Plant your lands; these be your best gold fields, for all must eat while they live.”
California became a leading producer of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plums and prunes. Today the state produces more than half of the world’s supply of raisins. Oranges have become an important crop in California as well as lemons. California grows more lemons than all the other states put together. Walnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts, grow well in California as well as olives, dates, figs and avocados.
Besides farming, there are also important minerals found in California. Besides gold, miners also have mined silver and borax. Borax is found in Death Valley. It is used for cleaning things, as a water softener and as a preservative. The Indians had used a black, sticky substance to line their baskets which allowed them to carry water without them leaking. This turned out to be petroleum - oil. The petroleum industry soon became a leading industry in California.
The lumber industry quickly grew in California. Crates were needed to ship oranges and lemons. Lumber was needed for mining, housing, railroad construction and shipbuilding. Other industries that grew are meatpacking, milling, processing of fruits and vegetables, manufacture of leather goods and textiles, blacksmithing and the processing of steel.
Activities
California became a leading producer of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plums and prunes. Today the state produces more than half of the world’s supply of raisins. Oranges have become an important crop in California as well as lemons. California grows more lemons than all the other states put together. Walnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts, grow well in California as well as olives, dates, figs and avocados.
Besides farming, there are also important minerals found in California. Besides gold, miners also have mined silver and borax. Borax is found in Death Valley. It is used for cleaning things, as a water softener and as a preservative. The Indians had used a black, sticky substance to line their baskets which allowed them to carry water without them leaking. This turned out to be petroleum - oil. The petroleum industry soon became a leading industry in California.
The lumber industry quickly grew in California. Crates were needed to ship oranges and lemons. Lumber was needed for mining, housing, railroad construction and shipbuilding. Other industries that grew are meatpacking, milling, processing of fruits and vegetables, manufacture of leather goods and textiles, blacksmithing and the processing of steel.
Activities
1. “There’s a Farm in my Pizza?” Discuss all the agriculture needed to make a pizza using p. 10 of California Agriculture: Farming is Everywhere Coloring Book. (Link)
2. Using “California Agriculture Production Regions” worksheet, match Production Areas with Major Commodities. Then color the map to match the color of the production area on the worksheet.
3. The Five Fs activity (p. 9 of California Agriculture: Farming is Everywhere Coloring Book)
4. On the “Farming is Everywhere” map (p. 12 of California Agriculture: Farming is Everywhere Coloring Book), circle county you live in and name top crops
5. Fruit craft (Watermelon is easiest!)
4. On the “Farming is Everywhere” map (p. 12 of California Agriculture: Farming is Everywhere Coloring Book), circle county you live in and name top crops
5. Fruit craft (Watermelon is easiest!)
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