Agriculture Today: Chapter 2 Key Concepts Quiz

Farm Definition and Criteria

• The USDA defines a farm based on income and production criteria, typically with a minimum threshold of gross sales or agricultural production.

Best Soil for Farming

• The USDA identifies regions in the Midwest, particularly the areas known as the "Corn Belt," as having the best soil for farming in the United States.

U.S. Population Engaged in Farming

• Approximately 1.5% of the U.S. population is engaged in farming.

Region with Larger Average Farm Sizes

• The Western region of the United States has farms with larger average sizes compared to other regions.

Land Area Used for Agriculture

• Agriculture occupies about 44% of the total land area in the United States.

Region with Greatest Amount of Cropland

• The Midwest region has the greatest amount of cropland in the United States.

Cropland for Mechanically Harvested Crops

• Roughly 90% of the cropland in the United States is utilized for mechanically harvested crops.

Primary Crops in the U.S.

• Wheat is listed as NOT one of the four primary crops that dominate over half of the cropland; the primary crops include corn, soybeans, and cotton.

Farming Contribution to U.S. GDP

• Farming contributes approximately 1% to the U.S. GDP.

Vertical Integration in Agriculture

• The term "vertical integration" refers to a situation where a single firm controls multiple stages of agricultural production, processing, transportation, marketing, and distribution.

Average Size of Farms

• The average size of farms in the United States is around 444 acres.

Family-Run Farms

• About 98% of farms in the United States are family-run operations.

Region with Least Number of Farms

• The Northeast region has the least number of farms in the United States.

Farm Policy Goals

• The main purpose of farm policy goals is to support agricultural stability, sustainability, and economic viability for farming practices.

Institution for Agricultural Research

• The federal institution established by the Hatch Act of 1887, focusing on agricultural research, is the Agricultural Experiment Stations.

Decrease in USDA Expenditures

• From 2007 to 2011, expenditures on conservation programs saw a decrease.

USDA and Food Safety

• The USDA Mission Area responsible for food safety and inspection is the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Cropland Dedicated to Pasture

• Approximately 25% of cropland in the United States is dedicated to pasture.

Primary Crops on Cropland

• There are four primary crops grown on more than half of the U.S. cropland.

Animals Not Fed Common Crops

• Sheep are not specifically mentioned as being fed corn, soybean, and hay in the text.

Agricultural Exports Contribution

• Agricultural exports contribute about $140 billion to the U.S. economy.

Control of Agricultural Activities

• The term "oligopoly" describes a situation where a small number of companies control a significant portion of agricultural activities.

Key Principle of Organic Agriculture

• A key principle of organic agriculture is enhancing biodiversity and ecological balance in farming practices.

Test your knowledge on key concepts from Chapter 2 of Agriculture Today, focusing on defining farms, the diversity of farmers, the importance of farming to national security and economy, and the role of federal farm policy.