Global Crop Production Increases Threefold Over The Past 50 Years;
* Global crop production has expanded threefold over the past 50 years, largely through higher yields per unit of land and crop intensification.
* Global per capita food supply rose from about 2 200 kcal/day in the early 1960s to over 2 800 kcal/day by 2009
* Buoyed by high commodity prices, agriculture has demonstrated astonishing resilience during global economic turmoil. In 2010, agricultural value-added at the world level rose by 4 percent, in contrast to a 1 percent increase in overall GDP.
Related: Eric Anderson on Combining potash in Saskatchewan.
Unfortunately, a lot of that high yield wheat may be one of the key causes of obesity in the West. The jury is out but…
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/02/wheat-is-not-genetically-modified/
The Official Seal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture states: “Agriculture is the foundation of manufacturing and commerce”. This seal, which used to be everywhere in the department is now reserved exclusively for the Secretary of Agriculture. Their new logo (very modern looking) for everyday use leaves this very important concept out. Has a lot to do with mission creep (i.e., food stamps, organic foods, etc). Sad …….
Yeah well, sometime mid 1942, the Interior Department (contains agriculture) realized with military draft and defence industry employing former farm workers, the US wheat crop lacked the manpower to get it harvested.
The solution was proposed to authorize strategic material to Massey Harris to manufacture X#s of their prototype self propelled combine.
In cabinet this diversion of steel, rubber etc was rejected….George Marshall calmly ordered 1/2X# of the combines and formed the “Harvest Brigade” to deal with the crisis. Marshall appreciated the startegic importance and also had control of fuel, trucks and the railways.
This formation(headed by a Brigadier General) harvested wheat from Texas up into Canada in 42,43,44……maybe 45. Records are now scarce….agriculture and military ain’t glamourous in academia/media etc.
I thought I had “wheat belly” then it occurred to me that it were “the drink”,(beer,irresistible on a HOT Okanagan day) not the bread that ruined my once fabulous figure. 😉
Three cheers for MonSanto, Massey Harris and all the seed producers (Dekalb, Pioneer, et al) and the other tractor and implement manufacturers.
sasquatch, you mean this? I don’t see any mention of George Marshall, it seems to have been a civilian operation through and through.
//www.farmcollector.com/Tractors/Harvest-Brigade.aspx#axzz2ZnZEjZ7A
But………But……but, how can this be true, what will the liberals and the left do to control our lives if we are well fed and prosperous and the earth is not over heating. In the last 30 years the amount and quality of grain on my farm has tripled, I am much better off financially and I consider all of the agrifood and equipment companies to be excellent to work with. I will keep an eye over my shoulder to see it May, Trudeau or any of the other nuts are sneaking up to hit me with a frying pan.
I love wheat.
I love almost everything that comes from wheat.
Wheat is good, but Scotch whiskey is made from barley, therefore barley is king of grains.
Aye, indeed. But Alberta Springs Whisky is made from rye – and there’s not a damned thing wrong with that stuff, either!
Not surprised no mention of George Marshall.
I had occasion to read of this back in the day at War College.
Draftees who went 4F on the physicals but had farm or mechanical experience were sent to Texas and taught to operate and maintain the combines “the army way”. It was not civilian but headed by an Army Brigadier.
Successful military ventures into domestic matters is not politically welcome history, doncha know.
Yeah well, back in the 70’s the USSR was busy buying american corn to make up for Soviet crop failures/drought.
The american buyers enquired why the Soviets were interested in potatoes OR so much feed quality corn/wheat/barley. Then offered and sold the Soviets several ship/tankers of pure grain alcohol to make vodka.
So much for potatoes being the feedstock for Russian vodka….and the Reds depended on booze to keep the masses from gettin’ restless.