Agriculture

Agriculture is the purposeful production of plant- or animal products on a working surface for this purpose. The agricultural area is 48,827,330 km2, these are 9.6% of the Earth's surface. Thus, about one third of the Earth's land is used for agriculture.

The cultivation of crops and livestock management is primarily used in food production, and secondarily the production of raw materials for the manufacture of clothing. Before the production of synthetic fibers, the people created their entire clothing from animal products leather, fur and wool and fiber plants such as cotton, linen and hemp. In addition, other forms of exploitation play a role, in particularly strong increasingly as fuels or renewable raw material for other industrial products. Agriculture is part of economic activities of a larger system with upstream and downstream sectors. A person who operates agriculture is referred to as a farmer. In addition to practical vocational training consist own agricultural departments at many universities and colleges. The taught there and explored agricultural science prepares both the management of farms, as well as activities in related sectors.

• 4.1 The importance of agriculture in the world
• 4.2 Germany
• 4.3 Austria
• 4.4 Switzerland
• 4.5 USA

• 6.1 Economic and social problems
• 6.2 Ecological problems

Areas

Crop and livestock production

In general, agriculture can be divided into two types of production:

• Plant production with emphasis agriculture and the further directions of production horticulture (including orchards and ornamental plants ) and viticulture, and bioenergy from renewable resources.
• Animal production with different orientations depending on the animal species, eg swine production, cattle production, poultry production, sheep production, fish farming etc.

Which outweighs these forms locally, depends on location: On light soils (lower floor ) is the livestock competition stronger, while crop production is more economical on better soils.

Extensive and intensive agriculture

Extensive agriculture is characterized by a relatively high utilization of the production factor land and a relatively weak use of other factors of production per unit of product produced. Intensive agriculture is its opposite. Accordingly, a distinction is made between extensive and intensive animal husbandry. Global and regional vary the demarcation.

Typical forms of extensive agriculture are remote pasture, shifting cultivation and collection culture. Extensive agriculture and nomadism (also seasonal) are historically the most closely connected. Typical examples that mark the transition to intensive use, are irrigation, drainage, clearing, terraced fields, and targeted fertilization: make already significant interventions in the natural conditions dar. however, can still extensive use of shapes representing the long term serious intervention in the ecosystem: So are typical landscape forms of extensive land use in Central Europe, such as the heathlands or the pastures of the Alps, anthropogenic landscapes.

Extensive and intensive agriculture are also - less precise - used for the definition of organic farming and conventional.

Operating Systems

The classification of farms is differentiated with the classification by operating system on. Depending on which branch of production mainly contributes to operating income, to distinguish, for example:

• Feed Baubetriebe: more than half of the operating income comes from dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep or horses;
• Horticulture;
• Mixed farms: none of the branches of production contributes to more than 50% of operating income;
• Combination operators: the shares of agriculture, horticulture or forestry are less than 75 %, one of these types of production to over 50% comes
• Cash crop farms: the operational focus is on the cultivation of food crops such as wheat, barley, sugar beets, potatoes, oil seeds, tobacco or field vegetables;
• Special crops: the focus is on wine, hops and fruit-growing, and the like, as well as pharmaceutical farming
• Livestock farmers: focus on livestock or animal products Husbandry farms operate mainly pig and poultry farming.

Main and sideline

A further distinction of farms depends on the share that has the operating income on the income of a family of full-time operation is an agricultural family, in which the holding is operated full time and more than 80 percent of the income is obtained from agricultural work. When Zuerwerbsbetrieb there are more than 50 % and for part-time holding less than 50 % of income from agricultural activity.

Special shapes

As vertical farming (English, German literally vertical farming ) is called a conceptual way of farming in skyscrapers urban areas.

Agricultural community farms are groups of consumers with a partner - farmer.

Occupations

The professions of agriculture are summarized in Austria in the professional field of the AMS Garden, Agriculture, Forestry or in the occupational group Agriculture and Forestry / Animals / Plants / utility or the field of work, the green thumb in the vocational guidance system of the BIC. In Switzerland, is a new educational Regulation ( BiVo ), which is set on 1 January 2009, a professional field agriculture and agricultural specialty occupations are created, currently (August 2008 ) the relevant professions in the professional fields nature and food are distributed.

The general agricultural Occupation is a farmer, colloquially Bauer - as a state- recognized profession he then transmits various special, state, and country-specific designations, such as farmer / EFZ, farmer ( Switzerland ), Higher Education: Agricultural Engineers ( Austria ), master farmer / in, Dipl. Agro-Techniker/in HF ( Switzerland ), Agricultural skilled workers ( Austria, apprenticeship ), or an organic farmer ( Austria, with approval) or specialist / clerk of biodynamic agriculture ( Switzerland ).

Other occupations related to agriculture:

• Fundamental research biologist, zoologist, botanist, paleontologist, environmental engineer, environmental scientist ( Switzerland )
• Economy: agronomist, scientist in Forest and Landscape Management ( Switzerland ); Housekeeper ( Germany ), Agro Kaufmann ( Switzerland )
• Crop production, feed Mittelbau: Field vegetable skilled workers ( Austria ), vegetable gardeners, an industry specialist fruit / vegetables ( Switzerland )
• Process systems for the grain industry: grain Müller ( Austria ), Müllereitechnologe ( Switzerland )
• Finishing: microbiologist, biotechnologist, biochemist, biotechnologist; Saatbautechniker ( Austria ), Seed Analysts ( Austria )
• Warehousing: Silomeister ( Switzerland ), skilled worker of agricultural storage ( Austria )

• Fruit growing skilled workers ( Austria ), fruit growers, fruit gardener ( Switzerland )
• Winzer ( Germany, Switzerland ), wine growers, wine- cellar and skilled workers, viticulture technician ( Austria ), winemaker / cellar technician ( wine ), wine technologist ( Switzerland )
• Brenner ( Germany ), distillers ( Switzerland )

• Veterinarians, veterinarian; Ordination help veterinarians ( Austria )
• Poultry ( Switzerland )
• Hirt ( Austria )
• Fish host ( Germany ), fisheries skilled workers ( Austria ), fish farmers, commercial fishermen ( Switzerland )
• Pferdewirt ( Germany, Austria ), Grooms ( Austria, Switzerland ), equine industry skilled workers ( Austria ), heaters, jockey ( Switzerland )
• Of Dairy Lab Worker ( Germany ), dairy specialist ( Austria ), dairy and cheese skilled workers ( Austria ), dairy technologist ( Switzerland )
• Beekeepers ( Switzerland ), bee-keeping skilled workers ( Austria )
• Inseminator ( Switzerland )

Professions in the environment:

• Gardening: Gardener ( with several specializations ), nurseries List ( Switzerland )
• Forestry: Forester ( Austria, Switzerland ), Forstwart ( Germany, Austria, Switzerland ), forestry ( Austria ), forestry skilled workers ( Austria ), forestry, horticulture and forestry nursing workers ( Austria ), forestry machine operators ( Switzerland ), forest engineer ( Higher Education, Switzerland )

• Hunting: Hunter ( Austria ), gamekeeper ( Germany ), gamekeeper, gamekeepers ( Switzerland )
• Engineering and technology: agricultural machinery mechanic ( Germany, Switzerland ), blacksmith ( Austria, Switzerland )
• Agricultural contractors: Expert for Agricultural Service ( Germany )
• Consulting, education and training :: Agricultural Consultants, Hofberater, Agricultural Household Consultants, Agricultural Engineers ( Austria ), Rural - domestic consultant ( Switzerland ) Forest educator ( Austria ), teacher of agriculture and forestry schools ( Austria )
• Trade and Transport: Garden Center Kaufmann ( Austria ), florist, animal dealers ( Austria ), cattle dealer ( Austria ), cattle buyers, chauffeur / in carriage of animals ( Switzerland )
• Landscaping: Landscape planners, technicians Culture ( Austria ), garden and green space design ( Austria ), landscape draftsman ( Switzerland )
• Livestock with special areas, Zoowesen, pet breeding, and the like: zookeeper ( Austria ), pet shop ( Austria ), dog trainers ( Austria ), animal healers / pet psychological counselor, animal physiotherapist ( Switzerland )

History

The systematic cultivation of plants probably began around 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. It is likely that the development began in America, China and the Middle East almost simultaneously. The change of climate by the end of the ice age, population growth and the beginnings of settled life are considered to beneficial factors.

In the 8th century agriculture on the three-field system was changed in Europe. The oxen used until then were replaced by horses, resulting in severe iron plows were used.

Due to the European discovery of America in 1492, a lively, worldwide exchange of agricultural products, the major changes brought about for nearly all peoples ( Columbian Exchange) developed.

Country comparisons

Importance of agriculture in the world

3% of world gross domestic product created in 2008 in agriculture. In poor countries, the share of agriculture in gross domestic product, with average 26% is significantly higher than in rich countries ( 1%). In the course of long-term economic development, there is a structural change in the agriculture loses its relative importance. This also relates to the proportion of the workforce. Thus, the proportion of workers in Tanzania was in agriculture in 2006 and 75% in the Netherlands 1%.

Germany

In 1900 produced a farmer in the German Empire food for 4 other people; In comparison, he fed 1950 in the Federal Republic of Germany of 10 people. Beginning of the 21st century (2004) there were already 143 Despite this increase in productivity Germany remained a net importer of agricultural and food goods. In 2008, the imports exceeded the German agricultural exports by 9 billion euros.

In 2007 there were in Germany 374,500 farms. In this area, about 1.25 million people were employed full-time or part-time, which corresponded to 530,000 full-time jobs. A total of 16.9 million hectares of land were used for agriculture ( representing about 47.4 percent of Germany's total ). Accounted for crop production around 11.8 million hectares and permanent pasture around 5 million hectares. In 2009, canola (1.5 million hectares) and sugar beets ( 0.4 million hectares) in Germany were mainly cereals ( 6.5 million hectares ), maize ( 2.1 million hectares), terraced. In comparison, orchards, nurseries and Christmas tree plantations do not play a major role in terms of land use.

Increasingly, agriculture plays a role in energy production, especially through the cultivation of bioenergy and the use of biogas and PV and as lessor of land for wind energy. Agricultural businesses in Germany invested from 2009 to 2012 around 18.2 billion euros in renewable energy systems, as is apparent from the data of the German Farmers' Association. Meanwhile, farmers are considered " essential drivers of the energy revolution ."

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2005, achieved a production value of 45 billion euros, equivalent to a notional value of 1.0% of gross value added at a level of 2.2 % of the workforce. Calculation is based on producer prices, however, are sometimes considerably below retail prices. Through production progress and increasing industrialization and development of the service sector in the employment share declined in the last 100 years in agriculture from 38% to 2%.

Austria

The main features of agriculture in Austria are in the EU compared to the high proportion of grassland, the small-scale structure and the large number of organic farms.

It can be used about 44 % of the total federal surface for agriculture, but only 5 % of the workforce are in the garden, agriculture and forestry - which is regarded as a common economic sector in Austria - worked. The agricultural activities are mostly carried out by the farm families themselves. The share of small firms decreases, while the proportion of larger farms increases, the proportion of employees decreases in total, with an increasing proportion of non-family labor.

But be positively evaluated the service-related border areas, and in organic farming incomes are higher by about 30 % than in conventionally -run areas.

Switzerland

The natural spatial structure of Switzerland with 70% mountainous and hilly regions (Alps, Alps and Jura) limited size of the holding, use, mechanization and industrialization of Swiss agriculture. The agricultural land is 23.9 %, the Alpine farming 13% of Switzerland (1997) of the total area. 55 % of the farms are located in the Berg-/Hügel- and 45 % in the valley region. The average farm size has increased 1905-2008 from 4.7 to 17.4 ha. The small- membered structures, partly unfavorable terrain, the high wage level and the strict regulations ( animal husbandry, landscape protection ) have a negative effect on international competitiveness. The management of mountain areas also serves the important for tourism protection of the cultural landscape and the mitigation of natural disasters ( landslides, avalanches, floods, erosion). These additional services are paid for by the federal government to the farmers with direct payments. Around 30% of farms are managed sideline.

Swiss agriculture is in a strong change. From 1990 to 2008, the farms of 93,000 to 60,900 and the workers have declined in agriculture from 254,000 to 168,500. At the same time the incomes have declined in this period by around 30 %, while only 14% of consumers had to pay higher prices. 40 % of managers lack a future perspective. 11 % of the total cultivated area will be managed as ecological compensation area. There are 30% less pesticide and 68 % less chemical fertilizer than 15 years ago used. 6,000 farms are certified (Bio- Bud Label) organic farms (2008). On average, each Swiss franc buys for nearly 160 organic products per year, which means according to Bio Suisse world record.

Due to the agricultural policy (AP ) 2011, a further reduction of agricultural production is sought. The WTO negotiations and a free trade agreement with the United States are not yet foreseeable in its effects on agriculture.

USA

In the early days farmers embodied ( there called Farmer ) the virtues of hard work, initiative and independence. In the 20th century, agriculture became an important industrial factor, particularly through its importance as a supplier of raw materials for the processing industries. In 1940 there were 6 million farms, around the year 2000, only about 2 million. At the same time tripling the average farm size. Main producers are today 150 000 agricultural entrepreneurs, and there are an estimated 2 million part-time farms.

Policy

To supply the population with food at stable prices have come further secondary objectives of agricultural policy over time:

• Conservation of natural resources of soil, water and air,
• Infrastructural, economic, social, and cultural revitalization of rural areas,
• Production of renewable energies,
• Availability of industrial and energy materials

Problems

Agriculture in Europe is located since the 1950s in a constant process of change to larger operating units. Rising costs for equipment with increasing price pressure on the products forced many farmers to decide "grow or soft ."

The reasons for this development are:

• The average increasing agricultural productivity by 2% per year
• Significantly increased labor productivity through technological progress in agricultural technology
• The only slight increase in the population and thus the demand for food
• The strong concentration of the supply side of production accessories agriculture
• The strong emphasis on the customer side of agriculture with high price pressure (in Europe, for example, are around 3 million farms about 100 shopping centers across the street)
• Elimination of guaranteed prices for agricultural products
• Administrative regulations and tightening of environmental regulations in the production or " EU subsidies " for agriculture

Economic and social problems

Centuries remained the agriculture of Europe firmly established structures that are far resulted in a farmer's work and life with the goal of food self- knowledge from generation to generation. With the onset of industrialization in the late 19th century began a change that is still not complete. Were still employs 80 % of the population in the beginning of the 20th century in agriculture, these are less than 5 %. In the same extent, the importance of this population for political parties was lost, although always a minimum was aimed at food self-sufficiency in order to remain politically independent in this area. This is done since the 1960s, with market economies, which initially foresaw minimum prices for agricultural products and later direct payments to farmers. The policy works in the 21st century by the structure of the support measures in sustainable agriculture a. Since 1994, exceed in some agricultural types of Europe of the income transfer from the common fund its own value; next economies finishing holdings with dairy and effective competition in far below the cost recovery.

Since the mid-1950s, there is a trend towards technological modernization and enlargement of farms, where the concentration in some countries faster ( UK, USA), ran in other slower ( Germany, France, Switzerland ). In the course of this development, production changed towards specialization in a few branches of production.

After the previous price guarantees for agricultural products have been largely abolished, the companies are under the pressure of global markets with rising prices for agricultural inputs with uncertain output prices. The number of farms with direct marketing, bioproduction and holiday offers on the farm takes in Germany, by the energy crisis, a new field of energy industry has had time yet thus the income problems can be solved only to a limited extent. In many cases, farmers only have the possibility to abandon the operation in the next generation sequence or to zoom.

The global agricultural crisis was exacerbated by rising energy prices. On the global markets, there is a surplus of food, the prices for them, however, are closely linked to the price of energy; Cereal is now marketed as fuel. Also, corn and sugar cane are popular as energy crops. Even developing countries that rely on food aid are considering entry into the energy market with appropriate plantings. Limited fertile soil and the threatening decline in water availability, are reasons for the 800 million hungry people in the world.

Ecological problems

The topics discussed at the public feed, eggs and meat scandals or the BSE crisis are the result of increasing farm sizes and concentrating on resource providers as well as product supply and demand side. From this structural change are numerous environmental impacts of agriculture, the transport industry and the industry arise.

In connection with the environmental impact factors of soil, water and air are discussed:

• Eutrophication of waters by nutrients (eg nitrogen, phosphate)
• The accumulation of pesticides in soil and groundwater
• The compaction of the soil ( heavy machinery) and disturbance of the soil microfauna
• The risk of soil erosion
• The risk of humus decomposition through narrow crop rotations
• The vulnerability of crops to diseases and pests
• The resistance of pathogens to antibiotics and resistance of pests to pesticides
• The reduction of biodiversity in crops and livestock as well as wild species
• The possible impact of plant and animal products with value-reducing substances ( eg pesticides, nitrate, antibiotics, hormones, tranquilizers )
• The possible reduction in durability of food
• Pesticide poisoning among farmers (according to WHO estimates, end of 1980 20,000 cases worldwide resulting in death )
• Increased energy consumption and thus CO2 emissions

• Increase in methane emissions into the atmosphere