Course Details

The impression that many of us non-farmers have about agriculture are not very well informed, often flavored by complaints about industrial farming. We will look at the characteristics of the US farming community, farm ownership, and farming practices from organic to use of hormones to genetically engineered crops. We will look at the USDA programs that support agriculture. We’ll examine conservation practices farmers may use and agricultural imports and exports. On the international side, we will look at internationally-sponsored agricultural research centers, and the organizations that recommend food-safety standards for countries to adopt.