Agriculture In Florida

According to Oxford University agriculture is the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products (“oxforddictionaries.com”). Agriculture, natural resources, and related food industries have been important to Florida’s history and remain a significant force in the economy of Florida to this day. Agriculture is an important part of Florida’s economy, and still is today because it was an important source of nourishment in the beginning years of civilization for Florida, created a basis for the economy of Florida, and has since evolved to suit the needs of the Florida people.
To begin, White Brese stated in his book titled “Agriculture”
Florida’s economy is also reliant upon the exportation of beef, cattle, and milk. Florida farms also export poultry, eggs, and thoroughbred horses. Agriculture by definition includes the cultivation of soil, and the raising of animals. Animals provide multiple economic benefits. For example, cows provide milk and beef, and chickens produce eggs. Additionally, animals could benefit the economy through sheer force for example using a horse for transportation, or using an ox to transport materials. On the other hand, soil has always been used by farmers to plant plants, but soil has come a long way in that farmers have found new ways to cultivate soil. Soil is cultivated because naturally soil becomes compact making it difficult for water and nutrients to flow through to the roots of
While not as imperative to farming some of the more agricultural based inventions have shown to be extremely advanced. An example of the new farming technologies is the GPS guided tractors. This technology allows the user to map out a path on a GPS and program their tractors to follow that path accurately without and further guidance. Another piece of technology that has been recently invented allows farming equipment to communicate with each other. For example a grain cart and combine harvester could electronically communicate such that the grain cart pulls up next to the combine harvester so than it can unload its storage of grain and continue to harvest. These two pieces of technology allow farmers to use minimal effort when harvesting crops and managing fields. RFID Tags are collars that farmers place on cattle that allow them to monitor the location of their cattle. Additionally, RFID Tags can monitor a cow’s nutrition so that it is known whether or not they need to be fed. The last application of this device would be to alert the farm if cattle were to face distress. (“12most.com”) Furthermore, new technology increases efficiency of farming. A new water recycling system invented by Ray Prock prevents run off, and recycles manure to the crops, and filters the water to provide a water supply for the cattle. One of the most recent agricultural technologies is a crop sensor. Basically what it does is detects