Abstract This paper explains that, although the United States provides proportionally less support for its farmers overall than the E.U., it is the second largest supporter of agriculture in the developed world; some commodities, such as sugar, have overall support at E.U. levels. The author points out that evidence suggests that the current U.S. barriers hit the very poorest countries hardest. The paper relates that direct support given to U.S. farmers and the presence of significant trade barriers for certain products means that the United States agricultural production is higher than it would be otherwise, which lowers world prices; moreover, U.S. direct export subsidies, export credits and food aid are likely to have a further depressing effect on world prices.
From the Paper "This evidence also suggests that the United States Generalized System of Preferences, U.S. GSP, program is not particularly generous with respect to agricultural products, a point supported by some WTO calculations. The estimated gap between the average agricultural tariff faced by middle-income countries, who will largely have GSP terms, and OECD ones, who will mainly face MFN rates, in the United States is only 1.5 percent. A wide range of agricultural products are indeed excluded from coverage under the U.S. GDP, and even the U.S. Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, excludes many significant agricultural products."
Abstract This paper examines the extent to which manure is a threat to groundwater supplies (which are a source of much of the nation's drinking water), looking at what farm practices lead to the current levels of pollution and how those methods might be changed so that the groundwater supply can be kept safe in the future.
From the Paper "This paper examines the extent to which manure is a threat to groundwater supplies which are a source of much of the nation's drinking water looking at what farm practices lead to the current levels of pollution and how those methods ..."
Abstract This paper examines the history of federal support for farming and analyzes how effective it has been. The historical and economic background of the current crisis in American farming is also examined. The paper looks at the impact of the Grange movement, the Dust Bowl catastrophe, poor farming and land management methods and federal subsidies to farmers.
From the Paper "We tend to think of the current crisis faced by American farmers in which each year farmers are forced to leave a profession and a calling that their families have often practiced for generations sometimes ..."
Abstract This paper looks at potential experiments for broiler chicks and why high fat diets should be given in their first few days of life. It reviews some previous experiments in the field as a guide to what experiments could be performed at present and in the future.
From the Paper "Poultry need high quality feed because it passes quickly through their digestive system. When the feed is balanced for energy and essential nutrients the amount consumed will determine the growth rate. Much of the energy is obtained from the grain and ..."
Abstract This paper about artificial flavors gives examples of different chemicals and the flavors they produce. The author also relates how McDonald's got their french fries to have a distinctive taste. The paper includes the dangerous side effects of some of the chemicals used in artificial flavors.
From the Paper "Artificial flavors are added to manufactured foods to change or augment its taste. Flavouring Nature-identical flavorings are the chemical equivalent of the natural flavor but, instead of being extracted from the source, they are synthesized chemically."
Abstract This paper looks at potatoes - specifically red, blue and purple potatoes. The paper looks at anthocyanin concentrations in some fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, blueberries, carrots and potatoes. The paper also examined the health benefits of anthocyanins, and the effects of storage temperature on anthocyanin concentration in colored fruits and vegetables, especially colored potatoes.
From the Paper "Potatoes are nutritious and versatile, providing an energy source from carbohydrates and providing protein and important vitamins B and C and minerals including potassium, copper and manganese.
Potatoes-Why eating the potatoes with the skin provides a substantial helping of fiber. The average American consumes many pounds of potatoes per year, and they are consumed in higher quantities than any other vegetable making them the leading source of vitamin C in the American diet. The only drawback is that most of them are not sold fresh..."
Abstract This paper provides a discussion of landscape gardening from an art history perspective.
From the Paper "Landscape gardening is an art form that is often used to compliment the architecture of buildings and to provide outdoor spaces for individual and public benefit and pleasure. Andrew Jackson Downing helped pave the way for landscape gardening in American society when he established a number of nurseries and began designing landscape gardens along the Hudson River above New York City. As one historian notes, no American has built for himself a more permanent monument than Downing the landscape gardener (Elliott)."
Tags: Cornish Colony, A. J. Downing, Charles Platt, nature, wealth, New York, Italian Renaissance, color, education, learning
Abstract In this article, the writer studies the farm policies in America during the Eisenhower and Kennedy years. The writer places primary focus on the specific moves of President Kennedy in this field. The writer discusses President Kennedy's actions, including raising farmer income, improving supply management and using farm surpluses to augment other programs.
From the Paper "...... American agricultural production grew dramatically while the number of farm workers declined by nearly one-third. What some historians have described as nearly miraculous agricultural productivity was achieved. This was accomplished as a consequence of greater crop specialization, intensive use of fertilizers and increased mechanization of farm work itself. The decline of the family farm and the growth of what came to be called agri-business changed the environment in which agricultural production in the United States took place. Larger farmers benefited ... "
Tags: John F. Kennedy, farm policy, Benson, farm surpluses, Eisenhower
Abstract This paper explains the significance the arrival of horses had on Canadian society prior to and during the 1800s and even through modern times. The paper relates that the introduction of horses in Canada impacted multiple aspects of Canadian culture aside from farming and shows how rural and urban dwellers gained significantly. The writer also examines what factors have shaped the modern day Canadian horse breed.
Content:
Introduction
Background to the Problem
Significance of Study
Discussion/Conclusions
From the Paper "The Canadian Horse today is often considered a utilitarian animal. The breed, a general purposes horse of sorts, offers a perfect solution for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers needing a utilitarian breed (Hambleton & Lanctot, 1963). The horse is often considered part of Canada's heritage. Specifically the researcher intends to determine what factors contributed to the arrival of horses in Canada and how the unusually well proportioned breed and docile animal emerged from the masses in the early 17th and 18th century (Putnam, 1952).
Many considered horses a source of power and social activity, as well as pride and prestige within Canada (Hedley, 1988). Horses enabled mechanization of many agrarian tasks and changed the way many farmers and other rural citizens underwent daily living. Researchers have continually explored the ways horses have transformed society both from a cultural and environmental standpoint."
Abstract This paper explains that sustainability refers to a practice of farming that depends primarily or completely on practices, such as proper planting and rotation of the land without applying materials trucked in from afar to remediate what should never have been damaged in the first place. The author points out that Smit believed that urban food security in the relatively near future could rest partly on locally grown and sold food, with production based on renewable local resources, such as composting in the backyard rather than on fossil fuels. The paper argues that sustainable urban agriculture may become a national defense because even under siege for a very long time, residents of cities would not starve to death.
Table of Contents
"Traditional" Agriculture
"Sustainable" Agriculture
What's Best for the Future?
From the Paper "Tilman et. al. suggest that sustainable agriculture must be accompanied by advances in energy use, transportation and so on. In short, they do not so much lobby for a scaled-down, friendly, homegrown sort of urban farming Smit outlined; rather, they seem to suggest that more attention should be paid to improving 'big ag.' Still, what they desire for big ag is not entirely without sustainability merit. They suggest multiple cropping systems with crop rotation and intercropping, with two crops grown side by side and simultaneously. That, they note, may improve pest control and water and nutrient efficiency."
Abstract The paper gives a detailed breakdown of Qatar's history and current demography. The paper includes details of the country's political and legal system. The paper further examines Qatar's economy and how it has been impacted by global events. The writer also examines Qatar's business relationships with the international community and how Qatar's gender bias effects this.
Table of Contents:
Page
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper "According to Tom Owen, the years since Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed this leadership role have been good ones; during his tenure, Qatar emerged from relative obscurity to play an increasingly important role in the Persian Gulf region (Owen, 2000). The new emir has committed to easing press censorship and pushing for more transparency of government procedures, and he has made major progress in both of these areas; however while such pluralistic initiatives have pleased Qataris, these same initiatives have caused Qatar's neighbors some major concerns (Owen, 2000)."
Abstract This paper describes precision agriculture. The author feels that precision agriculture may be the greatest development since the agricultural revolution. The paper then discusses how precision agriculture became possible and the technologies behind it. The author concludes that precision agriculture enables small farmers to survive in a market dominated by huge corporate farms.
From the Paper "Precision agriculture became possible through the development of Global positioning systems technology and as such technology has increased in accuracy and decreased in cost, as technology tends to do there has been a far-reaching effect. Though the price tag may still seem high the promise of precision agriculture far outweighs the initial output. "Normal civilian GPS receivers have a precision of about 100 yards. A system called differential GPS, which requires a local base station, can provide meter-level accuracy. At these accuracy levels, the technology has found widespread use in the nation's farmland, as part of a movement called precision agriculture. ("Satellite System Can Control")"
Abstract This paper explains that the most important ingredients in spring rolls are Chinese transparent noodles, crab meat, small onion, lean ground pork, shrimp paste and egg roll skins. The author points out that these ingredients were originally produced in China, recent trends in globalization have meant that it is possible if not more common to obtain these ingredients from all over the world. The paper relates the difficulty of obtaining food origin information and the need to use websites instead of academic sources.
From the Paper "The most important ingredients in spring rolls are Chinese transparent noodles, crab meat, small onion, lean ground pork, shrimp paste and egg roll skins. Although all of these ingredients were originally produced in China, recent trends in globalization have meant that it is possible if not more common to obtain these ingredients from all over the world. Globalization greatly clouds the picture when ingredient origins are being studied."
Abstract This essay discusses whether the Enclosure of open fields in eighteenth century England led to the agricultural revolution. The writer maintains that the answer is that it both did and did not, depending on how one defines the terms. The writer points out that it did not necessarily lead to greater efficiency - at least not right away. However, the writer concludes that Enclosure did change farming, and this change eventually led to the agricultural revolution.
From the Paper "In popular usage, when we say that something is an 'academic question', the term is vaguely critical. We are implying that the answer to the question depends entirely on how we choose to label certain concepts, and whether the answer is negative or affirmative based on these terms makes little practical difference. It seems as though the question of whether Enclosure in Britain led to the agricultural revolution is an academic question in this sense. We can find evidence for both points of view, and neither significantly changes the facts. That is, the efficiency of agricultural output did or did not increase sharply following enclosure depending on how we define 'efficiency'. Output in other countries also increased."
Abstract This paper examines the article "Playing God in the Garden" by Michael Pollan. The writer discusses the examination of the wisdom of growing and eating bio-engineered foods. The writer identifies in particular, Monsanto potatoes with genetically inserted Bt, that is a natural and usually safe pesticide used in organic farming. The paper focuses on three logical fallacies in the article and argues that Pollan does not support his conclusion.
From the Paper "In his essay "Playing God in the Garden," Michael Pollan's main argument is not very clearly stated, but it can be inferred that it is that because we don't know whether or not Monsanto's bio-engineered New Leaf potatoes with genetically inserted Bt are safe or not, it is preferable not to eat them given the choice. This conclusion is supported with a series of related concepts that are also equally understated. These arguments contain several fallacies, which will be examined below. The first fallacy that Pollan commits is the emotional appeal to the fear of the unknown."
