Does anyone know any good controversial Agriculture subjects?
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Question by Meyna: Does anyone know any good controversial Agriculture subjects?
I have to do a six to eight minute speech in my Ag class and I am going to use the same speech for my section’s FFA speech contest.(FFA members will understand that last part. . .)
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4 Responses to Does anyone know any good controversial Agriculture subjects?
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I’m sorry I’m not from the states so don’t know about the FFA speeches, but here are some thoughts on contiversial issues that could be discusses
Role of biotechnology (genetic modification) in developing future crops and crops with better efficiencies
The use of water resources for irrigation etc? the impact that agricultural farming systems have on groundwater and surface water quality through contamination with nitrates, phosphates and microbiols (eg E. Coli).
Impact of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions (Methane from enteric fermentation from ruminant animals and nitrous oxide from nitification and denitrification processes in the soil).
Potential to combine the above to discuss the potential role that nitrification inhibitors may have to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching from pastoral agriculture.
The sustainability of biofuels? Their use? How to sustain the expanding world population if more agricultural land is used for biofuel production? Will these be sustainable if subsidies were removed? Is there potential to combine them with mixed enterprise – eg using waste products such as sewage and corn stover to product bioenergy
Embryo transfer use and potential?
Pasture management future tools? eg research in New Zealand attempting to guage pasture covers from satellite images
Sexed semen? The imact this technology will have on dairy production systems
The impact that the green revolution had on agriculture – and where is the next green revolution coming from?
The potential for expansion of more pastoral based dairy farming systems in the US
Xenotransplantation – the use of animal parts (eg pigs) in human health. Is this effective? Does it raise welfare issues?
Don’t know if thats the sort of thing your looking for, but hope it helps
nooneracing
March 30, 2013 at 10:22 pm
National Animal Identification System
Country of Origin Labeling for meat products
Regulatory load and expense
Conservation easements
Endangered Species act and how it trumps private property rights.
Reintroduction and protection of large predators like wolves, lions, bears
Any of those ought to get you in a shouting match. If you want detailed info, I’ve written articles on all of them for magazines and if you choose the predators one, I’ll send you pictures and quotes and statistics that’ll make your listeners sick. Just contact me.
SLA
March 30, 2013 at 11:07 pm
how about PMU barns
http://socyberty.com/activism/preventing-horse-slaughter-a-look-at-the-pmu-industry/
or factory farming vs the traditional family farm
or free range hens vs battery hens – talk about cruelty and how free range hens make healthier eggs
http://www.socyberty.com/Activism/A-Case-for-Free-Range-Eggs.209753
or how mismanaged agricture destroyed the ARAL sea.
http://socyberty.com/activism/how-to-make-an-entire-sea-disappear/
CF_
March 30, 2013 at 11:52 pm
How about growing hemp for fiber and fuel instead of the “other” more popular uses?
Should make for a pretty good debate.
sparrows_ink
March 31, 2013 at 12:16 am