Ag Education I

Colorado Agriscience Curriculum

Section: / Intro to Agribusiness
Unit: / Careers in Agriculture
Lesson Title: / Understanding the Agriculture Industry
Colorado Ag Education Standards and Competencies / Standard 9.1 The student will comprehend the scope of careers in agriculture.
Competency 1-1 Understanding the agriculture industry in Colorado
Colorado Model Content Standard(s): / English Standard 2.4
Students incorporate material from a wider range of sources (for example, newspapers, magazines, interviews, technical publications, books) in their writing and speaking.
English Standard 5.5
Students are using available technology to access information, conduct research, and produce carefully documented product.
Student Learning Objectives: / Upon completion of this lesson the student will be able to:
  1. Understand the scope of agriculture in Colorado
  2. Understand how Colorado contributes to the world export market
  3. Recognize agricultural career opportunities outside of farming.

Time: / 50 Minutes
Resource(s): / http://www.ag.state.co.us/mkt/COProud/2003/facts.html
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Ag_Overview/AgOverview_CO.pdf
http://www.nass.usda.gov/co/pub/prof_qf.pdf
Leadership: Personal Development and Career Success, Rickets, 2003.
Instructions, Tools, Equipment, and Supplies: / Italicized words are instructions to the teacher, normal style text is suggested
script.
Markers
Poster or drawing paper, one per student
Projector and Whiteboard
One copy, per student, worksheet, pages 6, 7, and 8 of this lesson plan
Interest Approach: / Students are going to take five minutes and draw what comes to mind when the phrase “Colorado Proud” comes to mind when mentioned with “agriculture”. (This is the program devoted to labeling Colorado agriculture products as such.) The goal with this introduction is to get the students thinking about the broad scope of agriculture in Colorado, and how it contributes to the economy of the state. Be sure to have paper and markers handy as the students come into class.
Colorado Proud. Agriculture in Colorado. What do these words bring to mind? Do you have pictures of irrigated corn circles, or sweet Rocky Ford cantaloupe, or even the dry-land wheat fields of Washington County? Whatever your mind picture is probably correct, as Colorado agriculture is as diverse as any state in the nation. As I hand you a sheet of drawing paper and markers, you will have five minutes to convey on paper what Colorado agriculture means to you. When I say “Colorado Proud”, begin! Colorado Proud!
Allow students five minutes to draw Colorado agriculture on their posters. After completion, ask a few students to share their answers, trying to paint a broad picture overall.
Objective 1: / Understand the scope of agriculture in Colorado
Use slides 2-9 of the corresponding PowerPoint.
Students can take notes in their notebooks or use the attached worksheet to fill in the blanks.
Basic Colorado Agricultural Facts
•  Colorado has over 30,000 farms, covering 31 million acres, which is ½ of the
•  state of Colorado!
•  There are more than 105,000 agricultural jobs in Colorado, which contribute
•  $16 billion each year!
•  Colorado has lost over 2 million acres of production land in the past ten
•  years.
Top Agricultural Counties in Colorado
  1. Weld
  2. Yuma
  3. Morgan
  4. Logan
  5. Kit Carson
  6. Prowers
  7. Otero
  8. Larimer
  9. Adams
  10. Alamosa
Colorado and the Livestock Industry
•  Livestock accounts for 60% of the total agricultural cash receipts.
•  Cattle and calves produce $2.6 billion each year, and account for 2.5 million
•  head!
•  Colorado ranks fifth in the production of sheep, lamb, and wool.
•  In 2003, hogs brought in $200 million.
•  Colorado producers have diversified to raise llamas, meat goats, domestic
•  elk, emus, alpacas, and ostriches.
Colorado and Field Crop Production
•  Colorado’s production of sunflowers is fourth in the nation.
•  Colorado’s production of sugar beets ranks eighth in the nation.
•  Corn, wheat, hay, and potatoes account for 89% of all crop revenues in
•  Colorado (excluding sugar beets).
•  Colorado ranks first in the production of proso millet.
•  Colorado is in the top three states of barley produced.
Colorado and Vegetable Crop Production
•  Colorado’s top vegetable crop is onions, which accounts for 50% of total
•  veggie revenues.
•  Sweet corn in the second largest veg. crop, valued at $16 mln. /year.
•  Colorado is also known for cabbage, lettuce, and carrot production.
Colorado and Fruit Crop Production
•  Apple’s are the most common fruit grown in Colorado. Because they are
•  commonly grown at high altitudes, they are known for their outstanding
•  taste.
•  The four leading crops are apples, peaches, pears, and tart cherries.
•  Other fruits that are well-known in Colorado are watermelons, cantaloupes,
•  grapes, and apricots, depending on the area.
Colorado and Animal Products
•  In 2004, 100,000 cows produced 270 million gallons of milk.
•  Our chickens produce 1 billion eggs each year.
•  Colorado produces 2 million pounds of honey each year.
•  Aquaculture is growing in the state, where producers raise trout, bass, tilapia,
•  and even alligators!
As you can see, Colorado shares a deep history that varies from region to region across our state. Production agriculture in Colorado can be very difficult, as we battle with water issues, high altitudes, high winds, hail, and urban sprawl, but throughout it all, our farmers and ranchers have continued to produce extremely high quality products for the consumers, not only in the US, but also around the world.
Objective 2: / Understand how Colorado contributes to the world export market
Use slide number 10 of the corresponding PowerPoint
·  Agriculture in Colorado provides nearly $1 billion in exports annually with Mexico, Japan, Canada, and Korea receiving the largest share of Colorado products.
People around the world have come to depend on Colorado beef, corn, and wheat to feed their families. Some of the countries listed above, especially Japan, lack the necessary land to produce their own food, and thus rely on American farmers. However, even those not directly involved in production agriculture play a part in the marketing, sales, processing, science, education, and service of agriculture. Maybe you will find a career in one of these areas!
Objective 3: / Recognize agricultural career opportunities outside of farming.
Consider this scenario:
•  The “average” farm operator in Colorado is a 54-year-old male with a farm spanning 991 acres and worth $757,613. An average farmer has farm machinery and equipment valued at $87,871, raises crop’s worth $41,442 annually and sells livestock, poultry, and their products valued at $117,951. This farmer grossed $159,393 in 2003.
•  In 2003, this farmer paid:
•  $42,437 for livestock and poultry
•  $22,093 for feed
•  $4,463 for seed
•  $3,570 for fertilizer and lime
•  $2,295 for pesticides
•  $4,144 for petroleum
•  $5,961 for repairs and maintenance
•  $3,794 for marketing, storage, and transportation
•  After this farmer deducted his expenses from his income and added in an average government payment of $4,009, his net farm income was $13,228 for 2003.
•  Obviously, farming is not for everyone! In fact, only 2.2% of all Americans are directly related with production agriculture. However, over 10% of the U.S. population is involved in agriculture. Where are these jobs?
•  Food Products and Processing Systems
•  Plant Systems
•  Animal Systems
•  Power, Structure and Technical Systems
•  Natural Resource Systems
•  Environmental Service Systems and
•  Agribusiness Systems
• 
As we have seen, Colorado agriculture is extremely important to our state’s economy and to its citizens as well. Whether you are a farmer or an agronomist, a welder or a game warden, an extension agent or a horse trainer, you are contributing to the business of agriculture in Colorado!
Review/Summary: / ·  Use a hieroglyphics e-moment to summarize the products grown in Colorado through the use of simple drawings. This should include more items than were drawn in the introduction.
Application--Extended Classroom Activity: / If you are uncomfortable with this idea, come up with your own!
·  It would be neat if all the students in the class were given a Colorado product. With that product, they are going to select a recipe that features, not just contains, that product. From that point, the students could publish their own “Colorado Proud Cookbook,” featuring Colorado products and distribute it to the class. This would be a great opportunity for students to work with their parents and grandparents. If time permits throughout the year, students could cook one recipe a week until finished. This would also encourage public speaking skills as they demonstrate and present their dish to the class. Selected products could include: BEEF, LAMB, PORK, EGGS, CHICKEN, LETTUCE, SWEET CORN, CABBAGE, BARLEY, WHEAT, SUNFLOWERS, MILK, GRAPES, ONIONS, APPLES, PEACHES, WATERMELONS, CANTLOUPE, TART CHERRIES, AND PEARS.
Application--FFA Activity: / ·  Encourage students to participate in the quiz-bowl competition, as this activity often contains basic questions about Colorado agriculture.
·  Students could also use this information to create a lesson for the PALS program, thus teaching younger students about Colorado ag.
Application--SAE Activity: / ·  For those students with little space to start their own animal production SAE, they could grow a small family garden, experimenting with different types of seeds and plants that will successfully grow in their area, considering the factors of altitude, sunlight, wind, and water. This could also be done on school grounds if space permits.
Evaluation: / Use the following questions as a verbal review.
1.  What are the top two agriculture revenue counties in the state?
2.  What product yields more money than any other agricultural product in the state?
3.  What does Colorado rank in the nation in terms of wool, sheep, and lambs?
4.  What are the four top countries that Colorado exports its agricultural products to?
5.  What percent of the US population is directly involved in production agriculture?
6.  How many jobs are related to agriculture in CO each year?
7.  For which crop does Colorado rank first in the nation in terms of production?
Evaluation Answer Key: / 1.  Weld and Yuma
2.  beef cattle and calves
3.  Fifth highest in the nation
4.  Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Korea
5.  2.2%
6.  105,000 jobs
7.  proso millet


Name:

Date:

Enterprise: Careers in Agriculture

Job: Understanding the Agriculture Industry in Colorado

Student Worksheet

Use notes from the attached PowerPoint to properly fill in the blanks.

Basic Colorado Agricultural Facts

·  Colorado has over ______farms, covering __ million acres,

which is ½ of the state of Colorado!

·  There are more than ______agricultural jobs in Colorado, which contribute ______each year!

·  Colorado has lost over ______acres of production land in the past ten years.

Top Agricultural Counties in Colorado

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Colorado and the Livestock Industry

·  ______accounts for 60% of the total agricultural cash receipts.

·  Cattle and calves produce ______each year, and account for 2.5 million head!

·  Colorado ranks ____ in the production of sheep, lamb, and wool.

·  In 2003, _____ brought in $200 million.

·  Colorado producers have diversified to raise ______.

Colorado and Field Crop Production

·  Colorado’s production of sunflowers is ______in the nation.

·  Colorado’s production of ______ranks eighth in the nation.

·  Corn, wheat, hay, and potatoes account for _____ of all crop revenues in Colorado.

·  Colorado ranks first in the production of ______.

·  Colorado is in the top three states of ______produced.

Colorado and Vegetable Crop Production

·  Colorado’s top vegetable crop is ______, which accounts for 50% of total veggie revenues.

·  ______in the second largest veg. crop, valued at $16 mln. /year.

·  Colorado is also known for ______.

Colorado and Fruit Crop Production

·  ______are the most common fruit grown in Colorado. Because they are commonly grown at ______, they are known for their outstanding taste.

·  The four leading crops are ______, ______, ______, and ______.

·  Other fruits that are well-known in Colorado are watermelons, cantaloupes, grapes, and apricots, depending on the area.

Colorado and Animal Products

·  In 2004, ______cows produced _____ million gallons of milk.

·  Our chickens produce 1 billion ____ each year.

·  Colorado produces 2 million pounds of ______each year.

·  Aquaculture is growing in the state, where producers raise _____, ______, ______, and even alligators!

Colorado Agriculture and the World Export Market

Agriculture in Colorado provides nearly $1 billion in exports annually with ______, ______, ______and ______receiving the largest share of Colorado products.

Other Areas for Careers in Agriculture

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Unit 1, Lesson 1: Understanding the Agriculture Industry 1