READ THE INFORMATION ABOUT LIVESTOCK.
FILL IN THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND
WHY ABOUT RAISING LIVESTOCK.
A SLICE OF SOIL
WHY SHOULD WE CARE
STEWARDSHIP IN NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE
WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE!!
Draw a line from each item on the list into the outline of Nebraska if it is
an agriculture product grown in our state.
Think about everything you have done today. The food you eat, clothes you’re wearing and the fuel that got you to
school are all a part of your life because of agriculture. Farmers and ranchers provide each of these to you by taking
care of natural resources. Some resources are non-renewable: limited and not easily replenished; and some are
renewable: replenished by the environment over short periods of time.
It is necessary for all people – farmers, ranchers, and each of us- to protect and take care of our resources now so
we make sure that people 100 years from now also enjoy safe and plentiful food, fuel, and ber in their daily lives.
1. Imagine the earth as a pie. Draw a circle (pie) in the space to the
left. Using your pen, “cut” the pie into four equal parts. Color 3 of
the quarters blue—these represent all the water on the earth. The
remaining “piece” represents the total land area in the world.
2. Cut the land piece in half, making two 1/8 pieces. Color one of
these pieces black—this is inhospitable to people (polar areas,
deserts, swamps, mountains, etc). The other 1/8 piece is suitable
for living, but not necessarily where crops are grown.
3. Cut that 1/8 piece into four sections, making four 1/32 pieces.
Color three of these brown—they are too rocky, wet, cold, steep
or infertile to produce food or are areas of land that could
produce food, but are national parks, cities, highways, etc.
4. This leaves 1/32 slice of earth. Divide a small piece of this
section. This tiny section represents surface or top soil, used for
food production to feed the world.
Farmers and ranchers raise livestock: dened as animals used for meat production; accessory production (like wool
from sheep), or by-products used for human consumption (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.). Examples of livestock include: beef
and dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry.
WHO _________________________________________________________
WHAT _______________________________________________________
WHERE _____________________________________________________
WHEN _______________________________________________________
WHY _________________________________________________________
CATTLE
SHEEP
DRY EDIBLE BEANS
SOYBEANS
ORANGES
DAIRY (MILK)
POPCORN
POULTRY & EGGS
PIGS
SUGARCANE
ALFALFA HAY
ALMONDS
SUGAR
BEETS
WHEAT
GRAPEFRUIT
POTATOES
SUNFLOWERS
LETTUCE
An aquifer
is an underground
bo
dy of saturated
rock through which
w
a
ter can easily
move.
THE OGALLALA
AQUIFER:
One of the world’s largest aquifers
covers about 174,000 miles.
Stretches across 8 states. A major
portion lies in Nebraska.
The primary source of water for
irrigation purposes in Nebraska.
Provides drinking water.
Having an abundant, safe, and clean
water supply is critical for agriculture.
Water for plants comes in two forms:
rainfall and irrigation. The state of
Nebraska averages more than
30 inches of rain per year. In
areas of the state that don’t
get enough rainfall, farmers
need to irrigate their crops.
Irrigation is providing
water for plant growth,
most often through a
center pivot sprinkler
system.
Where does the water
come from? It starts
with the Ogallala Aquifer!
WHAT IS AN
AQUIFER?
Think about a time you were outside playing or working and it was HOT! You couldn’t wait to drink an ice cold
glass of water! Not only did it taste good, it also provided much needed hydration for you. Did you know plants
drink water just like we do? Animals, too! Plant roots absorb water from the soil and animals need plenty of clean,
fresh water to grow and stay healthy.
LEARN ABOUT LIVESTOCK
Livestock is raised all over the world and in all 50 states
in the U.S. Livestock is raised and produced 365 days
of the year. There is a big demand for animal-sourced
foods (think hamburger, chevon (goat meat), and bacon)
because of population growth and
increased wealth in much of
the world. Environment and
culture also inuence
where livestock is
produced. There
is competition for
limited land and
water available for
growing livestock
throughout the world.
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