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Intro to Agri-Food Systems
Flashcards for U o G AGR*1110
268
Agriculture
Undergraduate 1
11/12/2013

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Term
Food Dollar
Definition
A dollar spent on food. Only 14 cents of every food dollar goes to primary producers.
Term
Bill 2491
Definition
A bill passed in Hawaii making GMO foods and pesticides very restricted.
Term
Cronut Burger
Definition
A burger that gave 223 people food poisoning from the maple bacon jam topping.
Term
Heritage Breed
Definition
Older breeds that have better nutrition, but lower yields than conventional breeds.
Term
GMO
Definition
Genetically Modified Organism.
They have now become widespread. Controversial due to new technologies, large companies, patent laws, seed saving rules, environment, and human health and safety.
A "Band-Aid" solution to a monoculture problem. Many issues solved by GMOs could be solved by breeding programs or management practices.
There is no GMO labeling in Canada, but in other countries it is mandatory.
They are cheaper to produce. Some events have better nutrition.
Term
Pesticide Resistance
Definition
A phenomenon where pests are becoming resistant to pesticides. There are 24 weed species in Canada with resistance to pesticides, and climbing.
Possible causes:
1. Poor to no crop rotation.
2. Poor to no rotation of pest control methods.
GMO company solution: new GMOs that will most likely soon experience the same problem.
Term
Jim Brewbaker
Definition
The "Father of Tropical Corn". Came up with the idea of growing corn in Hawaii. Becan a 1400 employee industry that exports 9.7 million pounds of seed, mostly corn and half GMO from Hawaii even in the winter.
Term
Hawaii
Definition
Has over 1 million acres of farmland, mostly on the islands of Kau'i and Moloka'i. There are 7500 farms and over $5 billion in market value.
Hawaii does not experience cold winters; production can occur year-round.
Term
Fop
Definition
2,4-D herbicide group. Kills weeds that are resistant to Roundup.
Term
Golden Rice
Definition
A GMO rice with daffodil genes to improve Vitamin A content. Used in Asia to prevent against childhood blindness.
Term
Roundup Ready
Definition
A series of GMO events released by Monsanto that are resistant to Roundup herbicides.
Problem: some Roundup herbicide may still be on the food when it reaches the consumer.
Term
Percy Smizer
Definition
A Saskatchewan farmer who's canola cross-bred with GMO canola nearby. He got in trouble for storing seeds tested to contain GMO genes. In a way he "stole" Monsanto's patented genes.
Term
Agrifood System
Definition
A complex integrated supply chain important to the Canadian economy and GDP. Importance varies from province to province. Includes producers, wholesalers, transporters, government, processors, consumers, input suppliers, and exporters.
Prof. Lee's definition: Production and distribution of safe, nutritious foods to meet global human needs, protect and enhance the environment, and contribute to society's quality of life.
The system can be though of in terms of relative abundance of commodoties or as relationships between parties in a system.
Term
Agriculture
Definition
"ager" = field, "cultura" = cultivation in Latin. Field cultivation.
Includes farming, fishing, and forestry.
Before agriculture, humans were hunter-gatherers.
Term
The Path of a Head of Broccoli from California to New York.
Definition
Farm in California -> Distribution Centers -> Truck -> Supermarket -> Stocking Area -> Store Floor -> Home
All occurs in 7 to 10 days.
Farmer -> Consumer.
Term
The Path of a Loaf of Wonder Bread
Definition
The many ingredients of Wonder Bread (wheat, soy, et cetera) are shipped to a processing operation (some ingredients may be shipped from other processing operations such as sugar). Then the Wonderbread is shipped to a distribution center then the store.
Farmer -> Processor -> Consumer.
Term
The Path of a Packet of Sugar-Free Lemon Jell-O
Definition
All ingredients are artificial or very highly processed.
Processor -> Consumer.
Term
Barrow, Alaska
Definition
A town in Alaska that is 7200km from Guelph.
Population: 5000
Major industry: Oil.
Median age: 40.
Median household income: $62000
The only ways into the city are by boat (only available in summer since the water freezes over) or plane. There are only 21 square miles of city. It is impossible to grow anything on the terrain.
FOOD IS VERY EXPENSIVE HERE.
Term
Household Spending
Definition
The portion of money spent in different categories.
In Canada 11% is spent on food.
USA: 8%.
Mexico: 24%
Azerbaijan: 74%

Canadians spend most of their money on:
1. Shelter
2. Transportation/Communication
3. Miscellaneous
4. Recreation
5. Food
Term
Food Freedom Day
Definition
The day when the average Canadian has earned enough to pay their food bill for the entire year.
February 12.
The day when they have earned enough to pay the farmer is January 9.
Term
Canadians on Spending Local
Definition
Over half of Canadians say they would like to buy local products but they are not willing to pay more.
Term
"Product of Canada"
Definition
A voluntary label. Means all or virtually all ingredients, processing, and labor are Canadian.
Term
"Made in Canada"
Definition
A voluntary label. Means that the manufacturing occurred in Canada, regardless of ingredients. Must add a qualifying statement on origin of ingredients.
Term
"Below Poverty"
Definition
The Canadian definition of below poverty for a family of 4 in an urban community is a yearly income less than $3000.
Term
What foods is Canada the top producer of? (8 things)
Definition
Canary seed.
Dry peas.
Lentils.
Linseed.
Mixed grains.
Mustard seed.
Oats.
Rapeseed (canola).
Term
Top 5 USA states for Agriculture in terms of GDP.
Definition
1. California
2. Iowa
3. Texas
4. Nebraska
5. Illinois
Term
GDP
Definition
Gross Domestic Product
Term
Agricultural Subsidies in Canada, USA, and UK
Definition
Canada has $5.5 billion.
USA has $23.3 billion.
UK has $150.4 billion.
Term
Industry
Definition
Includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction.
Term
Services
Definition
Includes government, communication, transportation, finance, and anything that doesn't produce a material good.
Term
Canadian Agriculture
Definition
8.1% of Canada's GDP is from agriculture. Most of this comes from retail/wholesale of food.
Provinces differ in what kinds of food they produce.
Wheat is the most produced thing, but beef earns the most money.
Term
UK Agriculture
Definition
Dairy is the most produced thing and also earns the most.
Term
USA Agriculture
Definition
Corn is the most produced thing, but beef earns the most money.
Term
International Dollars
Definition
A method of comparing different currencies. The US dollar is usually used. Not accurate since a US dollar doesn't have equal PPP in all countries.
Term
Burgernomics
Definition
The amount of time one needs to spend working minimum wage in order to earn enough to buy one McDonald's Big Mac. A more accurate way of comparing currency as it also takes into account PPP.
Toronto: 15 minutes.
Budapest: 1 hour.
Mexico City: 2 hours.
Nairobi: 2 and a half hours.
Term
PPP
Definition
Purchasing-Power Parity.
The ability to buy things with money. In some countries one thing is more expensive than in another country, even taking into account currency conversion.
Term
Canadian Exports
Definition
Canada contributes 3.3% of world total exports.
Most Canadian exports go to USA. Around $35.5 billion dollars in 2010.
Mostly grains, oilseed, and red meats.
Term
Canadian Imports
Definition
Canada contributed to 2.6% of world total imports.
Most Canadian imports come from USA.
Term
Top Dairy Countries
Definition
1. USA
2. India
3. China
4. Brazil.
Important to note: New Zealand produces a lot of dairy.
Term
Top Egg Countries
Definition
1. China
2. USA
3. India
4. Japan
5. Mexio
Important to note: Mexio and USA produce a lot of dairy.
Term
Subsidy
Definition
A government grant that targets an activity that benefits the public. In Canada wind, energy, and agriculture are subsidized.
Can sometimes be bad if an industry becomes dependent on subsidies.
Term
Supply Management
Definition
Also called Quota.
An amount of money that must be invested in order to be able to sell certain products.
Keeps domestic demand and domestic supply in concert with one another. Causes high tariffs.
Around $1.6 million per farm in quota is average for a dairy.
$1 million for poultry.
Quota represents 46-53% of total farm assets.
Layers: $162 each.
Turkeys: $2.50 per pound.
Pullets: $8.00 each.
Breeders: $152.00 (for chick sales)
Broiler: $64.00 each.
Term
First Order Thinking
Definition
Emotional or spontaneous thinking.
Term
Critical Thinking
Definition
Also called Second Order Thinking.
Analyze, synthesize, and search for assumptions. Point of view, listening to others. Complex notions, connections. Analyze the arguments of others, question assumptions. Weigh pros and cons. Implicit and explicit ideas.
Term
Clarity
Definition
Statement is clear and relevant
Term
Accuracy
Definition
Statement is true.
Term
Precision
Definition
Statement has details such as numbers.
Term
Relevance
Definition
Statement pertains to what is at hand.
Term
Breadth
Definition
Statement looks at the whole issue.
Term
Depth
Definition
Statement looks at all variables.
Term
Logic
Definition
Statement follows logic.
Term
Point of View
Definition
Can be biased based on the person's profession or background.
Term
Evidence
Definition
Real data from the world used to support points.
Term
Purpose
Definition
Statements stay on task.
Term
Assumtion
Definition
Extrapolations from existing evidence. Can be good or bad in quality.
Term
Logical Fallacies
Definition
Composition
Starting with the Answer
Hasty Generalization
False Choice: Either/Or Situations
Appeal to Deference
Ad Hominem: "at the person"
Repetition
Appealing to Tradition
Appealing to Pity
Appealing to Popularity
Confusing Co-incidence with Causality
Rigid Rules
Irrelevant Conclusion
Term
Plant Domestication
Definition
Occurred 6000 - 9000 BC in Iraq. Natural selection selected grains that have seeds that do not fall to the ground.
Food evolved to be bigger and easier to cultivate by humans.
Term
Genetic Modification
Definition
Methods:
-Breeding programs or natural selection.
-Use "gene makers" to insert new genes via bacteria.
-Mutagenisis
Can be used to make domestic species pest resistant, disease resistant, or other beneficial traits.
Term
Mutagenisis
Definition
Radiating a plant to cause mutations. Many plants die, but sometimes beneficial traits occur.
Term
Robert Blackwell
Definition
Developed ways to breed animals to much bigger sizes.
Sheep went from 28lbs to 80 lbs.
Cattle went from 370lbs to 800lbs.
Term
Traits of Domestic Animals
Definition
-Herbivore
-Grows quickly
-Breeds in captivity
-Nice around humans
-Doesn't panic or run away
-Lives in herds
-Respects humans
-Can share its territory
Term
Animal Domestication
Definition
Occurred shortly after plant domestication in Eurasia. Europeans then caught crowd disease that they developed immunity to. This is why when Europeans invaded North America they spread smallpox.
Term
Crowd Diseases
Definition
Caught from domestic animals.
Measles, tuberculosis, and smallpox is from cattle.
Flu is from pigs and ducks.
Malaria is from chickens.
Term
Confined Livestock Production Facilities
Definition
Large facilities that raise a large number of livestock. To prevent disease from spreading, the animals are treated with antibiotics that keep existing bacteria in control (doesn't kill bacteria).
If the bacteria develop a way to be resistant to the antibiotics, an outbreak could occur.
Term
PK Cycle
Definition
Phosphorus and Potassium cycle.
PK from the soil is absorbed by a plant. Plant is eaten and enters the food chain. PK is returned to soil by feces or corpses of animals, or by dead plants.
Term
Nitrogen Cycle
Definition
Nitrogen is in the air. It is fixated into the soil by nitrogen-fixating bacteria. It is absorbed by the plant. The plant is eaten and enters the food chain. Nitrogen is returned to soil by feces or corpses.
Term
Industrial Fertilizers
Definition
P and K are mined. Non-renewable resource.
Nitrogen is derived from the air using natural gas. Non-renewable resource.
Makes the land very fertile. However, it increases leaching and runoff.
Term
Eutrophication
Definition
Caused by leaching and runoff from industrial fertilizers or too much fertilizer. Nutrients go into surface water where they are used by bacteria, causing algal blooms that use up all the oxygen, suffocating fish and other pond life.
Term
BMP
Definition
Best Management Practice
A practice such as planting vegetation around a field to reduce nutrient runoff. Doesn't benefit farmer, but it benefits the community and environment.
Usually needs government intervention.
Term
Agriculture in Mythology
Definition
Some cultures belive agriculture to be a divine gift given to us by the gods.
Term
Propinquity Theory
Definition
The theory that agriculture first came about because animals and humans came into close proximity due to environmental factors (drought, flooding, et cetera).
Term
Happy Accident Theory
Definition
The theory that agriculture first came about by a happy accident. Someone noticed that plants grew from seeds, and after experimentation, took it from there.
Term
Top 20 Crops in the World
Definition
1. Wheat
2. Rice
3. Corn
4. Potato
5. Barley
6. Sweet Potato
7. Cassava
8. Grapes
9. Soy beans
10. Oats
11. Sorghum
12. Sugar Cane
13. Millet
14. Banana
15. Tomato
16. Sugar beet
17. Rye
18. Oranges
19. Coconut
20. Cotton
Term
Top 8 Wheat Producing Countries
Definition
1. Russia
2. USA
3. China
4. India
5. France
6. Canada
7. Turkey
8. Pakistan
Term
Top 10 Rice Producing Countries
Definition
1. China
2. India
3. Indonesia
4. Bangladesh
5. Japan
6. Sri Lanka
7. Thailand
8. Italy
9. Brazil
10. South Korea
11. USA
Term
Top 10 Corn Producing Countries
Definition
1. USA
2. China
3. Brazil
4. Russia
5. Mexico
6. South Africa
7. France
8. Argentina
9. Yugoslavia
10. Romania
Term
Drying Oil
Definition
Very unsaturated inedible plant oils.
Flax, tung, and safflower.
Term
Semidrying Oil
Definition
Unsaturated edible plant oils.
Soybean, corn, rapeseed, sunflower, and cottonseed.
Term
Nondrying Oil
Definition
Saturated edible plant oils.
Sesame, peanut, castor bean, coconut, olive, palm, and palm kernel.
Term
Cotton
Definition
Fibre from the seed of the plant. There is Asiatic Cotton, Egyptian Cotton, and Upland Cotton.
Term
Bast Fibre
Definition
Also called Soft Fibre. Fibre from the bark of the plant. Flax, hemp, jute, and kenaf.
Term
Vegetable Fibre
Definition
Also called Hard Fibre. Fibre from the leaf of the plant. Sisal, henquen, and manila hemp.
Term
Forage Crop
Definition
Crops for animal feed only.
Alfalfa, clover, lespedeza, timothy, sudangrass, johnsongrass.
Term
Eras of Agriculture
Definition
Mechanical Era 1930-1950
Chemical Era 1950-1970
Biotechnology/Information Era 1970-present.
Term
Expert System
Definition
A knowledge-based decision aid.
Term
Agronomy
Definition
"agros" = field, "nomos" = to manage in Greek.
Term
Finding the Origins of Crops
Definition
Crops tend to originate from where they have the most genetic diversity.
Term
Crops that Originated in North America
Definition
Plums, grapes, blueberries, cranberries, pecans, sunflower, tepary beans.
Term
Crops that Originated in Meso-America
Definition
Corn, tomatoes, sieva beans, scarlet runner beans, cotton, avocados, papayas, cacao, cassava, sweet potatoes, beans.
Term
Crops that Originated in Highland South America
Definition
Potato, peanuts, lima beans, beans, cotton.
Term
Crops that Originated in Lowland South America
Definition
Yam, pineapple, cassava, sweet potato, cotton.
Term
Crops that Originated in Europe
Definition
Oats, sugar beet, rye, cabbage, grape, olives.
Term
Crops that Originated in Africa
Definition
Agrican rice, sorghum, millet, yam, watermelon, cow peas, coffee, cotton, sesame.
Term
Crops that Originated in Near East
Definition
Wheat, barley, onions, peas, lentils, chickpeas, figs, dates, flax, pears, pomegranates, grapes,olives, apples, plums.
Term
Crops that Originated in India
Definition
Pigeon peas, eggplants, cucumbers, cotton, sesame.
Term
Crops that Originated in Central Asia
Definition
Common millet, buckwheat, alfalfa hemp, grape, broadbean, foxtail millet.
Term
Crops that Originated in China
Definition
Soybean, cabbage, onion, peach, foxtail millet.
Term
Crops that Originated in South-east Asia
Definition
Rice, bananas, citrus, yam, mango, sugarcane, taro, tea.
Term
Crops that Originated in South Pacific
Definition
Noble sugarcane, coconut, breadfruit.
Term
Crops that Originated in Australia
Definition
Macadamia nuts.
Term
Factors in Grower's Control
Definition
-Site of Farm
-Techniques
-Cultivar
-Timing
-Amount Plante
Term
Factors that can by Manipulated by Grower
Definition
-Soil amendments
-Greenhouses
Term
Factors that are out of Grower's Control
Definition
-Input costs
-Demand
-Government
-Natural Disasters
-Weather
-Competition.
Term
Era of Resource Exploitation
Definition
Pre-1900
Soil nutrients are used up and not replaced.
Term
Era of Resource Conservation
Definition
Early 1900s
Crop rotation, legumes used, manure application.
Term
Era of Resource Substitution
Definition
Mid 1900s
Machines replace draft animals. Irrigation. Chemical fertilizers. Pesticides. Agriculture suffered during the Great Depression (1940s).
Term
Era of Information
Definition
2000-present
Technologies advance, biotechnology, GMOs, breeding techniques.
Term
Types of Farms
Definition
Small family farm: yearly sales less than $250,000
Limited-resource farm:yearly sales less than $100,000.
Retirement: Operators are retired.
Occupation: Operators have another occupation other than farming.
Large family: $250,000-$499,999
Very Large: Greater than $500,000
Non family: Owned by a corporation or company.

The size of the farm is based on technical, institutional, and economic factors.
Most farms are low-producing or retirement farms or hobby farms.
Term
USA Landuse.
Definition
Less than 25% of USA's land is cropland.
Other uses: Idled cropland, pastured cropland, pasture grassland, grazed forest, non-grazed forest, urban, transportation, recreation, national defense, miscellaneous.
Term
Green Revolution
Definition
A project to increase wheat yields in Mexico, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. Dwarf cultivars were bred.
Problem: monoculture farming is adopted. Farmers are now able to buy technology that replaces employees. Women are the first to be fired.
Term
Norman Borlaug
Definition
The man who worked on wheat breeding in the Green Revolution.
Term
Regions of the USA
Definition
Atlantic Coast-Great Plains: Deciduous forests and prairie grassland. Corn, wheat, cotton.
Great Plains: Dry. Wheat, cotton, sorghum.
Pacific Coast: Fruits, vegetables.
Term
US farm statistics
Definition
Most farms produce animals.
Half of people who own farms do not operate them.
Farm labor is mostly unpaid family workers.
Agriculture is in sinking debt.
Term
Farmer Occupation
Definition
Most farmers supplement income from other jobs.Only 44% of farmers list agriculture as their primary occupation. 50% of farmers list it as part-time only.
Term
Farmer Age
Definition
The average age for farmers is rather high. Younger farmers use technology more than older ones.
Term
Farmer Education
Definition
Many farmers have less than high school education. Higher education leads to higher profits from the farm.
Term
Farmer Income
Definition
Larger farms have more portion of the income coming from farming.
Term
Farmer Technology
Definition
Computers, communication, decision aids. It is on the rise. Younger farmers tend to use it more.
Term
Food Industry
Definition
All firms engaged in production, processing, or distribution of food or other agricultural products.
Term
Farm Service Sector
Definition
Accounts for 12 cents of every food dollar. Provides farm inputs: seed, fertilizer, fuel, equipment, chemicals. Also includes legal, financial, and consulting services. Can by large companies or small local businesses.
Term
Producer Sector
Definition
Accounts for 7 cents of every food dollar. Where actual food production takes place: farms.
Term
Processor Sector
Definition
Firms that process raw agricultural products. Includes commodities processors and food product processors. Some can be both. Sells to distributors. For items with short shelf live, the processor is also the distributor.
Term
Commodity Processor
Definition
Part of the processing sector. Produce commodities such as flour, sugar, or corn syrup from raw agricultural products.
Term
Food Product Processor
Definition
Part of the processing sector. Produce food products from raw agricultural products and/or commodities.
Term
Food Service Distributor
Definition
Processing firms that cater specifically to out-of-home dining/drinking facilities.
Term
Marketer Sector
Definition
Changes the time and place of foods.
Term
Farm Structure
Definition
The study of factors such as number of farms, farm ownership, and farm types.
Term
Number of Farms
Definition
In the US the number of farms is decreasing along with the number of farmers.
Term
Farm Ownership
Definition
Most farms are under private ownership. 90% are sole proprietors, 10% are owned by corporations or groups.
Term
Concentration
Definition
The domination of a certain industry by a few companies, controlling prices.
Term
Globalization
Definition
The spread of companies across international borders. Processed foods are booming in developing countries.
A solution for capitalization problems: close off borders to all imports.
Term
Co-Ordination
Definition
The communication of prices from consumer to producer. Either from ebb and flow or from internet/telephone technology. Helped by vertical integration.
Term
Vertical Integration
Definition
One company partaking in several steps of the food production system. Makes co-ordination efficient, and produces cheap products.
Term
Biofuel
Definition
Fuel made from agricultural products. Has been in use for years, just now becoming popular. Includes ethanol.
Term
Ethanol
Definition
Also called alcohol. Can be used as a fuel. Made from plants, commonly corn. Ethanol production is good if you are a corn producer, but bad if you are a corn consumer. Ethanol is corrosive. It cannot be transported by existing infrastructure made for petroleum (trucks, pipes). Has less miles to the gallon tan gasoline. Less emissions in a car, but more emissions during production. Lower gas prices, raises corn prices.
Term
Wind Energy
Definition
Great, except for the noise pollution, and the fact that it is impossible to transport the energy far distances.
Term
Food Marketing
Definition
Adding utilities to food to increase customer utility and therefor price and profit. Utilities: form, time, place, and possession.
Term
Time Utility
Definition
The time of food. Food produced in the summer and consumed in the winter.
Term
Place Utility
Definition
The place of food. Food produced in the country and consumed in the city
Term
Form Utility
Definition
The processing of food to become a different form.
Example: wheat to bread.
Term
Possession Utility
Definition
The exchange of things. Each time an item changes possession, the consumer ultimately pays.
Term
Average US Food Bill
Definition
Average American spends around $4000 a year on food. 12% of this is on alcoholic beverages. 50% of this is at away-from-home facilities.
Term
Food Marketing Bill
Definition
The total food bill minus what the raw materials costed. Around 81% of the food bill. Varies from food to food. Processed foods are higher, but eggs and beef are low. Frozen orange juice is lower than oranges because oranges don't keep well.
Term
Farm Service Marketing Bill
Definition
Out of the amount of the food bill that goes towards raw materials (19%), the amount that goes towards farm inputs (12%).
The remaining 7% is what goes to the farmer.
Term
Assembler
Definition
Operations that buy small quantities from farmers and sell large quantities to processors.
Example: grain elevators.
Term
Distributor
Definition
Buys large quantities from processors and sells them to retailers. For items with short shelf life, the processor is also the distributor. Some large retail chains are also their own distributors.
Term
Retailer
Definition
Buys from distributors and sells to consumers. Some large retailers are their own distributors.
In order to snag customers, retailers add other things to their store such as pharmacies, banks, flower shops, photo processing labs, restaurants, kid play areas, and deli counters.
Some have online ordering and delivery options.
Term
Industrialization
Definition
Companies making contracts that benefit both companies without competition.
Example: McDonalds making a contract with a salad company to make McDonald's salads.
Term
Grades and Standards
Definition
Specifically defined grades and standards for size, type, and quality of foods. Makes it possible to compare prices effectively even from far away.
Term
Physical Risk
Definition
The risk that products will be harmed or lost by elements out of your control such as fire or accidents. Made up for by insurance companies.
Term
Price Risk
Definition
The risk that prices for a product will drop while you are in possession. Dealt with by hedging bets.
Term
Adaptation
Definition
An animals evolutionary way of dealing with environmental stresses including climate, nutritional, internal, geographical or social.
Changes can be morphological, physiological, or behavioral.
Term
Climatic Stress
Definition
Stress from temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind, or humidity.
Term
Nutritional Stress
Definition
Stress from inadequate or low quality food supply.
Term
Internal Stress
Definition
Stress from toxins, diseases, or parasites.
Term
Geographical Stress
Definition
Stress from high altitudes, ice, sand, swamps, steep areas, or rocky areas.
Term
Social Stress
Definition
Stress caused by other animals, same species or different, sometimes by humans.
Term
Artificial Environment
Definition
An environment created for animals by humans. Elements depend on socioeconomic factors like religion, money, and culture)
Term
Morphological Changes
Definition
Also called anatomical changes. Adaptive change in physical outer appearance. Horns, appendages, fur colour, length, and texture.
Term
Physiological Changes
Definition
Adaptive changes in chemical, internal processes.
Term
Behavioral Changes
Definition
Adaptive Changes in behaviour. Can be learn or genetic. Self-protection, food seeking, responsiveness to changes.
Term
Tropical Climate
Definition
Very wet wet season, very dry dry season. Transhumance and nomadism practiced. Animals experience heat, humidity, and disease stress.
Term
Desert Climate
Definition
Very little rainfall. Animals experience water, nutritional, heat, wind, and radiation stress.
Term
Cold Climate
Definition
Very cold temperatures. Animals experience cold and nutrition stress. Caribou only are able to be produced.
Term
Temperate Climate
Definition
Where most agriculture is practiced. Stresses on animals are minimal.
Term
Swine
Definition
Islam and Judaism forbid consumption. In mostly Muslim or Jewish countries, swine production is not to be found.
Term
Beef
Definition
Hinduism forbids consumption, however, dairy is OK. In mostly Hindu countries, cattle populations are high.
In EU it is tied closely to the dairy industry, since veal is popular.
Term
Fish
Definition
Seventh-Day Adventists and some branches of Hinduism forbid consumption.
Term
First World Country
Definition
A developed country with a market economy.
Term
Second World Country
Definition
A country with a centrally-planned economy, whether developed or not.
Term
Third World Country
Definition
A developing country with a market economy.
Term
Developed Agriculture
Definition
Where a small portion of the population works in agriculture. Farms are specialized and mechanized. Population has a high per capita income and high literacy rates.
Term
Subsistence Agriculture
Definition
Where around half the population works in agriculture. Families produce enough to support themselves with only a small surplus. Little mechanization. Population has low income per capita and low literacy rates.
Term
Primitive Agriculture
Definition
Where nearly all the population works in agriculture. Nearly no surpluses. No mechanization, small use of draft animals. Very low income per capita and very low literacy rates.
Term
Agricultural Systems
Definition
The type of system employed depends on many factors including climate, topography, soil, socioeconomics, demand, politics, and religion. Rainfall and temperature are the most restricting.
Term
Livestock
Definition
Some reasons to raise livestock instead of crops: too dry, land to rough, too high up, too short of a growing season, to cold, or too far away from markets.
Term
Nomadism
Definition
Moving around without a permanent base. Movements follow availability of feed for livestock. A dying lifestyle. Good use of dry lands.
Term
Transhumance
Definition
Similar to nomadism, but there is a permanent base. Move to avoid seasonal problems such as dryness or pests (tsetse flies).
Term
Slash-and-Burn Agriculture
Definition
Trees and shrubbery are cut down and burned. The fertile ashes are cultivated for a while until nutrients are depleted, at which point the farmers move, sometimes with animals, to another piece of land and repeat, allowing the used land to regenerate. A form of long-term crop rotation.
Does not work if land is not left to farrow long enough.
Term
Paddy Rice Farming
Definition
In some climates, rice is the highest yielding crop. Fields are flooded to control weeds. Rice production is very labor-intensive. Draft animals are used. Aquaculture and production of cash crops such as tea are also practiced.
Term
Peasant Farming
Definition
A form of subsistence farming. Grains, tubers, and livestock are produced for self-subsistence.
Term
Ranching
Definition
Cattle or sheep are raised extensively for profit. A good use of dry lands with less than 20 inches of yearly rainfall. Some animal feed may also be produced for winter months.
Term
Commercial Livestock Finishing
Definition
A large number of meat animals are bought and fed before slaughter. Good for areas with 25 to 30 inches of yearly rainfall.
Term
Commmercial Dairy Farming
Definition
Usually near consumer markets, since milk spoils quickly. If far from markets, must specialize in milk products such as cheese or butter. Can be a pasture or drylot system. Good for areas with 25 to 30 inches of yearly rainfall.
Term
Commercial Grain Farming
Definition
Good for areas with 20 to 30 inches of yearly rainfall. Livestock may be used to graze grains or clean up crop residues.
Term
Mediterranean Agriculture
Definition
A form of market gardening with animals raised in the mountains. Mainly citrus or grapes. Labor intensive, mostly seasonal labor.
Term
Market Gardening
Definition
Practiced in Mediterranean and urban agriculture. Fruits, vegetables, vine crops,
Term
Commercial Plantation
Definition
The for-profit labor-intensive production of a single cash crop. Draft animals not usually used.
Term
Urban Agriculutre
Definition
Vegetables, fruits, herbs, ornamental plants, meat, eggs, or milk produced in backyards, roadsides, waterways, rooftops, or public spaces.
Term
Aquaculture
Definition
Raising fish for consumption. Becoming large-scale.
Term
Developed Country
Definition
Small number of large animal operations.
Most animal operations are mid-sized, use limited land area, are family-operated, and make little money due to small size and bad marketing. Animal production not the farmers primary occupation. No desire to expand --livestock is more of a hobby.
Term
Developing Country
Definition
Most animal operations are small, and are the primary source of income for the farmer. Poor markets for animals, productivity is low because of low nutrition, diseases, and parasites. All income is for subsistence. Would expand if they could but cannot.
Term
EU
Definition
European Union.
Unemployment is high, up to 10% in some places. Unemployment payments are higher than in US. Employee taxes are higher for businesses, layoff rules are stricter.
Agriculture is not as big a deal as in US, more people per square km. Leading commodity is milk. Grain yields are higher in EU than in US because of the climate and high land prices. Winters are warmer and wetter.
Land prices are higher leading to more efficient use.
Compensatory payments are given to cereal farmers. This allows farmers to stay in business, giving Europe its quaint feel. Also due to feudal systems and Napoleonic law.
Term
France
Definition
Second highest GDP in EU. A "northern" EU country. Leading exporter of EU. Cereals, livestock, and high-value crops . Processing tends to be traditional and doesn't have strict food safety standards.
Term
Netherlands
Definition
Third highest GDP of EU. Technological leader of EU. Has the latest science in livestock and nursery techniques. Dairy, horticulture. More vertically integrated than other countries. They have too much livestock.
Term
Germany
Definition
Largest GDP in EU. A "northern" EU country. Has 15.5% of EU's arable land. Big exporter of processed foods. Large importer. Germans like to keep their countryside well-manicured and pristine.
Term
United Kingdom
Definition
A "northern" EU country. Has the largest average farm sizes in EU. The most reform-minded country in EU. Imports lots of materials.
Term
Denmark
Definition
Exports a lot of pork.
Term
Italy
Definition
A "southern" EU country. Has 11.9% of EU's arable land. One of the least agriculturally developed countries in EU. Grapes, olives, vegetables. Competition from North Africa.
Term
Spain
Definition
A "southern" EU country. Has 19.6% of EU's arable land. One of the least agriculturally developed countries in EU. Grapes, olives, vegetables. Competition from North Africa.
Term
Feudal System
Definition
A historical use of land in which peasants were allowed to run small tracts of land for themselves. This lead to modern European farms being small.
Term
Napoleonic Law
Definition
Historical laws in which when someone died, their land was split equally among the heirs. Lead to modern European farms being small.
Term
CAP
Definition
Common Agricultural Policy.
A policy in EU that increases productivity, ensures proper standards of living for farmers, stabilizes markets, and ensures food supply. No particular product is promoted over others. 60% of EU budget goes towards farmer payments! Causes major surpluses and high food prices.
Term
CAP Reform
Definition
Enforced milk quotas and maximum guarantee quantities, if a farmer over-produces there is a penalty. US pressured EU to remove export subsidies because US exports were being lowered. Caused the US-EU Oilseeed Dispute.
15% of acreage needed to be set aside to qualify for compensatory payments.
Price supports lowered.Happened at the same time as GATT and Uruguay Round agreements. This forced maximums on tariffs. EU still has surpluses.
Term
US-EU Oilseed Dispute
Definition
US soybeans entered EU duty-free for animal feed. Farmers switched to cereal due to mounting surplus of cereal. EU raised internal rapeseed prices and subsidized mills. US complained that that violated the GATT agreement. US put tariffs on EU white wine, rapeseed oil, and wheat gluten.
Term
Economics
Definition
A social science. Studies laws of human behavior, which are not solid laws. The allocations of scarce resources among unlimited competing uses.
Term
Scarcity
Definition
One of the bases of economics. Without scarcity, there would be no need for an allocation system.
Term
Choice
Definition
One of the bases of economics. Without choice, no economic decisions need to be made.
Term
Self-Interest
Definition
One of the bases of economics. Self-interest is what drives consumers to get more for less, and drives producers to produce more efficiently.
Term
5 Economic Decisions
Definition
1. What to produce?
2. How to produce it?
3. How much of it to produce?
4. When to produce it?
5. Who to produce it for?
Term
Price System
Definition
A system where all economic decisions are made by individuals. Decision 5 "for whom?" is determined by the consumer. This system is very efficient and it gives consumers freedom. However, it is not very egalitarian and the rich tend to get richer and the poor poorer. Not very good at distributing public goods such as public safety and education, et cetera.
Term
Command System
Definition
A system where all economic decisions are made by a central planning agency or person. Very good at distributing public goods such as public safety and education, but also very inefficient, and doesn't give consumers freedom.
Term
Microeconomics of Production
Definition
Looks at the economic decisions made by individual producers.
Term
Microeconomics of Consumers
Definition
Looks at the economic decisions made by consumers. Scarcity, choice, and self-interest are all involved. Consumer spending tends to be either impulsive or habitual.
Term
Market Economics
Definition
Looks at the economic decisions made by price takers (potential buyers or sellers) in a free market. Includes marketing.
Term
Macroecomonics
Definition
Looks at the economics of the whole system. Unemployment, inflation, federal deficit, exports/imports.
Communication makes it possible to look at Earth as a whole.
Term
Economic Model
Definition
A model used to show an expected way for people to behave economically.
Example: the Perfectly Competitive Firm
Term
The Perfectly Competitive Firm
Definition
An economic model that assumes a firm is so small it doesn't effect the market, and that it will always maximize profits.
Term
Ceteris Paribus
Definition
"Everything else being equal"
Term
Opportunity Cost
Definition
Costs for resources that are not be bought. Found by looking at the earnings of these things in their highest earning alternative use. Cannot be measured perfectly. Examples: land, labor.
Term
Price
Definition
A per-unit concept.
Term
Cost
Definition
The total price of a certain amount of units.
Term
Diminishing Returns
Definition
As inputs increase, marginal utility or output increases at a decreasing rate until it is negative.
Term
Marginality
Definition
Additional or incremental units. Economics occurs on the margin.
Term
Correlation-Causation Fallacy
Definition
Correlation is when two events have similar patterns. Causation is when one event is caused by the other. Cannot have causation without correlation, however, some things have correlation without causation because of a third event.
Term
Fallacy of Composition
Definition
Assuming that what is good for one person or group is for everyone on the whole.
Term
Post Hoc Fallacy
Definition
"post hoc, ergo hoc". Means "After this, therefor because of this".
Term
Zero-Sum Game Fallacy
Definition
The suspicion that if someone gains, someone loses. In reality, in every transaction without coercion, both parties are better off in the end.
Term
Fact
Definition
Something that is known to be the case.
Term
Belief
Definition
Something that is thought to be the case.
Term
Value
Definition
Something that is thought to should be the case.
Term
Income Instability for Farmers
Definition
The average farmer's income is 70% of average non-farmer's income.
Farmer's resources like land and livestock stay constant, making a constant supply.
There is no alternative to food, so demand stays constant.
Raw agricultural product prices vary much more than other things at farm level. Because demand and supply are always constant, there are huge fluctuations in price when small hiccups occur. Agriculture is at the mercy of weather, disease, and other factors. In a completely free market, farmers' income fluctuates accordingly.
Supply and demand co-ordination is delayed since it takes an entire season to grow crops. This causes more fluctuations in price.
Term
Agricultural Treadmill
Definition
When new technological inventions come out, the farmers that do not adopt it fall out of business, since it lowers production costs so much.
Term
Importance of Food
Definition
Without food, you die.
Hungry populations tend to revolt, as history has shown us.
Term
Poverty in US
Definition
1 in 10 households in the US don't have enough to eat. Food programs are in place to lessen hunger. Policies required for this.
Term
Environment
Definition
There are policies in place to force farmers to respect the environment; less nutrient run-off, et cetera.
Term
Animal Welfare
Definition
People want animals to be treated well.
Term
Organic Food
Definition
People want food made without pesticides, for fear the pesticides are harmful to humans, and to care for the local ecosystem and environment.
Term
Economic Freedom
Definition
One of the basis of capitalism. People are allowed to profit and fail at profiting as they will. This prevents government intervention in some things.
Term
Conservatism
Definition
Farmers tend to be conservatives, but still want the government payments and safety nets.
Term
Government Budget
Definition
Government cuts its spending when it has deficits; sometimes from agricultural payments.
Term
Capitilization
Definition
When farmer payments make them worse off in the economy: land prices go up, competition. One solution is to close off borders to all imports.
Term
Policy Goals
Definition
Reducing risks for farmers, opening international markets, sustaining the land for long term, public food safety, lower obesity, meet energy needs.
Term
Scientific Approach to Policy Making
Definition
Define the problem. Look at existing literature. Make a hypotheses. Perform repeatable tests. Come to a conclusion. When the criteria used is based on the scientist's values, it is called a value judgement.
Term
Analytic Approach to Policy Making
Definition
Look at the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, and the costs and benefits. The conclusion will differ depending on the person's background (job, home, family, et cetera).
Term
Evangelistic Approach to Policy Making
Definition
Rooting heavily for one solution, forcing others to provide the other side of the argument.
Term
Educational Approach to Policy Making
Definition
Go through all the options and their respective consequences and benefits. Mae no decision and stay neutral; allow the student to make the decision.
Term
Goals of a Policy Economists
Definition
1. Be clear about what economics can and cannot tell us.
2. Fully state consequences of policies.
3. Find ways to lessen the blow to the "losers" of a deal. Make the policy work in real life.
Term
University Writing
Definition
Different among different disciplines. Critical, less descriptive. Uses evidence, is organized and writing is clear and without grammar or spelling mistakes. Non necessarily in the 5 paragraph essay format.
Tips: Use the time given, the course outline, the assignment description, resources, people, and your "spidey senses".
Term
Points (in writing)
Definition
The claim being made. Topic sentence.
Term
Proof
Definition
The evidence to support a point. Research, primary documents, secondary literature, examples.
Term
Explanation (in writing)
Definition
"So what?" Make the connection between evidence and claim.
Term
Plaigiarism
Definition
Use or paraphrasing of the work, ideas, concepts, or expressions of others and misrepresenting it as your own. Avoid this by citing everything!
Term
Paraphrasing
Definition
Phrases or clauses using no more than 20% of the original source, not including proper nouns or technical words. Never copies more than 3 to 4 words in a row. Avoid this by rearranging words and sentence structure. If you need to use exact phrases, use quotations.
Always cite paraphrases or quotations!
Term
Aboriginal
Definition
There are 1.1 million aboriginal people in Canada. Not homogeneous in culture, language, history, lifestyle, or tradition. Includes First Nations, Inuit, and Metis.
Term
Metis
Definition
A group within aboriginal people. 390,000 people in Canada. People of mixed First Nation and European background. Criteria differs a lot. Homes are called settlements, not reserves.
Term
Inuit
Definition
A group within aboriginal people. 45,000 people in Canada. From Arctic Canada. The term "Eskimo" is no longer used.
Term
First Nations
Definition
A group within aboriginal people. 700,000 people in Canada. Can be non-status or status. 630 communities, 50 nations in Canada.
Term
Indeigenous
Definition
UN definition:
-Existed pre-colonial invasion.
-Consider themselves to be separate from colonial societies.
-Non-dominant population in the area.
-Determined to preserve culture and way of life, passing it on to their children.
Term
Indian Act of 1876
Definition
An act that held First Nations people as wards of the crown. Residential schools were built. First Nations traditions were outlawed. First Nation status and land were controlled by the government. Couldn't vote until 1960. Could not sell agricultural products off-reserve. Need approval from wards for wills and on-reserve bylaws or elections.
Definition of "civilized"
-Male
-Over 21 years of age
-Able to speak, read, and write in English or French
-Free from debt
-Done either military service, university degree, or become a priest.
If you became "civilized" status was stripped and you could not live with your family on reserve. Women could become civilized by marrying a civilized man.
Term
Residential Schools
Definition
After the Indian Act of 1876 the government the First Nation people's request to provide their children with education. 132 schools. 150,000 children. They were stripped from their families, neglected and given inadequate housing, clothing, and nourishment. They were emotionally and physically abused. They were isolated from their traditions and cultures, which were believed to be inferior. After their education was finished, they were kicked out with only their clothes and with no home to go back to.
Term
UoG Hospitality Services
Definition
A non-funded,break-even operation. Been running for 10 years, serving 60,000 transactions a day. 20,000 students, 3,000 staff and faculty. All food is from a 200 km radius when possible. 775 local farms via EPAC, 50 farms via distributors. $7 million is spent a year on food. 45% of fruits and veggies is local when in season. 19 franchises on campus, 28 off-campus meal plan locations. Ecologically, socially, and financially responsible front and back.
Term
Sustainability
Definition
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
Term
100 Mile Grill
Definition
A restaurant in Guelph that uses only food from a 100 mile radius. Can their own food for the winter months.
Term
Food Waste
Definition
A third of all food produced is wasted. The third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after China and the US. Most waste occurs at harvest or in processing.
Term
Mad Cow Disease of 2003
Definition
In 2003 Canadian cattle farms were quarantined due to an outbreak of Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). After that, Canadian exports to the US were restricted.
Term
Barriers to Trade
Definition
Diseases, insects, production practices (such as growth hormones, et cetera)
Term
Egg Production
Definition
50% of USs eggs are produced in 5 states: Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and California
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