Agriculture (a term which encompasses farming) is the art, science or practice of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. Agri is from Latin ager ("a field"), and culture is from Latin cultura, meaning "cultivation" in the strict sense of tillage of the soil. Thus a literal reading of the English word yields tillage of the soil of a field. In actual usage, Agriculture denotes a broad array of activities essential to food and material production, including all techniques for raising and processing livestock (see Animal husbandry) no less than those essential to crop planting and harvesting.

Continual improvement in agricultural methods from pre-history to the present has been the key factor in the extreme specialization of human activity during the historical epoch. Many of these specializations have nothing to do with food production, but when specialists such as scientists, inventors and mechanical and chemical engineers devote their efforts to the improvement of farming methods, resources and implements they too, along with those who work the fields and pens, are said to be "in agriculture".

42% (2002 estimate) of the world's population is employed in agriculture, making it by far the most common occupation, yet it accounts for only 4.4% (2005 estimate) of the Gross World Product (an aggregate of all Gross Domestic Products).^*

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Party-hearty rye – let the celebrations begin!: To: The United States Department of Agriculture. From: America’... http://bit.ly/8CcEI7
recipes4u (Recipes for you) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:19:17 -0000
Party-hearty rye – let the celebrations begin!: To: The United States Department of Agriculture. From: America’... http://bit.ly/8CcEI7
Obama is allowing bad things with our foods. Agriculture will suffer more. We must stop this to protect our health and future generations
HELPSAVEourFOOD (Jo George) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:16:16 -0000
Obama is allowing bad things with our foods. Agriculture will suffer more. We must stop this to protect our health and future generations
Organic agricultre: is it going to stay?: Last spring, the organic agriculture major was among a number of "low-enr... http://bit.ly/7HQ9je
inoutgarden (DeanJenkens) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:10:32 -0000
Organic agricultre: is it going to stay?: Last spring, the organic agriculture major was among a number of "low-enr... http://bit.ly/7HQ9je
#Urban #Agriculture: local employment ... minimize 'Cost-to-Earn', thereby Maximize 'Real (net) Earnings'
davidnock (David Nock) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:04:47 -0000
#Urban #Agriculture: local employment ... minimize 'Cost-to-Earn', thereby Maximize 'Real (net) Earnings'
#Urban #Agriculture provides breadth/depth of integrated #solutions to #eco & #social issues
davidnock (David Nock) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:04:36 -0000
#Urban #Agriculture provides breadth/depth of integrated #solutions to #eco & #social issues
CSA . Organic Farm . Atlantic County . South Jersey: Joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is the very be... http://bit.ly/4VK0qQ
bestofnj (Best of New Jersey) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:01:02 -0000
CSA . Organic Farm . Atlantic County . South Jersey: Joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is the very be... http://bit.ly/4VK0qQ

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