Be Aware of New York Agriculture 2005 Winners
Grade 5
Essay: “Why I Need New York Agriculture”
Maximum length: 500 words
The essay can be general or specific, about how agriculture in New York impacts the student's life every day.
1st Place - Casey MacClaren, Homeschool, Holley
Why I Need New York Agriculture
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Snacks. New York State agriculture is important to me because it provides the food that I eat everyday. But agriculture does more for me than just give me crispy apples and sweet corn to eat. I live in Orleans County, which is a rural county. Agriculture provides jobs on the farms, at the farm markets, at cold storage plants, and throughout my community.
In New York State about 25 % of the land is used for farming. There are more than 37,000 farms. In my county farming is the biggest industry. The farms grow onions, potatoes, cherries, cabbage, sweet corn, tomatoes, wheat, grapes and apples. They also raise dairy cows and meat cows. My Dad works in a plant that makes products to help farmers raise healthy crops. My friend’s Mom works in a plant that stores fruits and vegetables for the winter months. Right near my house there is a maple syrup business, two farm markets, a cornfield, and sonic muck farming. Without the business of agriculture many people in my neighborhood would be out of a job and my whole neighborhood would change.
The money the farmers raise helps to support the economy of my county and all of New York State. In 2003 New York farms gave over 3 billion dollars to the economy. Also, the produce grown and raised in my county and in all of New York State is more than we can use so the food also helps to feed people across our country and in other countries too. I am proud to be part of a farming community. If there wasn’t agriculture in New York, it would be a major problem for my family and for all of us.
New York agriculture is important to me because it provides me with good food, it supports my community, and it helps people everywhere. I couldn’t live without agriculture and neither could you!
2nd Place - Courtney Luckman, Barker Central School, Barker
New York Agriculture
It is very important that we have the things we need in our ecosystem. Agriculture helps us by giving us things that we need. Agriculture is another word for farming. If we did not have agriculture, our life would become critical and we would not be able to do the things we are able to do. Without animals to feed us, for example hogs, beef cattle, chicken and other animals, we would have to hunt for animals in order to eat their meat to survive. If we don’t have Agriculture in New York, other countries will also have to hunt and could easily become starved.
Farming is also very important because of crops. Many farmers grow corn, wheat, vegetables and other crops in New York State. We have miles and miles of fertile soil in New York for planting. It is important to use the fertile soil to produce food. With so much agriculture, we are able to stay healthy. Staying healthy is very vital for our life. Growing crops on New York State soil also prevents erosion. This is good for our environment and helps wildlife.
When farmers plant crops to grow, it is good for wildlife. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, deer and other wild animals depend on the crops that farmers plant for food. When farmers harvest the food in the fall, the kernels of corn that spill can feed many wild animals. Many hunters depend on healthy deer to feed their families in the winter.
Agriculture can be recreational for some people. Horseback riding is an example of how people can take advantage of agriculture to enjoy the outdoors. Snowmobile riders also depend on farmer’s fields to ride in during the winter.
Agriculture supports programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America. It is very important to educate young people in New York State about agriculture. People should know where the food they are eating comes from. Kids in 4-H and other agricultural programs learn responsibility by caring for animals, raising them, training them and showing them at the fair. Kids also learn to work hard and become good citizens for New York State.
Some farmers in New York State grow grapes and make different kinds of wine from the grapes. They sell the wine in a winery. This promotes tourism for New York State because people travel from around the world to visit wineries and taste their delicious wines. New York State needs money to survive and farmers can help by raising animals, crops and other products.
One of the most important reasons to have agriculture in New York State is because it makes New York beautiful. When visitors come to New York, it is nice to have bright colored fields, flowers, barns and animals for them to look at while traveling on the road. My family has lived in New York State for a long time and we are proud to produce show pigs for 4-Hers and pork for the citizens of New York.
3rd Place - Amanda Rusek, St. Vincent de Paul School, Springbrook
Many of us don’t know what agriculture is, but we should.
Agriculture is farming or the growth of crops and livestock. But without agriculture we would have nothing. Nothing to eat, nothing to drink, and nothing to do or grow. Without the farmers working day and night we would go hungry because most-of our food comes from farms. Basically the farms are our life savers. Some of the food that farmers grow and keep us alive are potatoes, onions, cabbage, corn, grapes, apples, strawberries, pears, hay, oats, wheat, beans, dairy products, cattle, and poultry. These foods are mostly fruits and vegetables because those are the foods that keep us healthy, alive, a-pumping. But if the food suddenly stopped coming then what would happen??? But we don’t care or appreciate what the farmers do for us, we should really think what the world would be like if all the farms stopped processing food. In order to live we would have to save every last bit of food. But slowly each: day we would get weaker and weaker, without our healthy food. So without our agriculture providing food for us, there would be no us unfortunately. So next time you throw out your food that you don’t like Then always think about what would happen if suddenly one day disappeared?????
Honorable Mention - Brooke Davenport, Enfield Elementary School, Ithaca
WHY AGRICULTURE IS IMPORTANT IN NEW YORK
In this essay you will discover why agriculture is important in New York. Most important reason is that our economy depends on it. Agriculture is usually crops, animals, and soil. All of these things come from farmland. Most of the products that you see on store shelves come from agriculture. Agriculture is very important to the United States, because we depend on it for trade with other countries.
Agriculture is also very important to farmers, because farmers make a living off crops and livestock. Some major crops include apples and grapes. Vegetables include cabbage, sweet corn, potatoes, and onions. Field crops include corn, oats, and wheat.
New York’s most leading crop is milk. It is produced all over the state, and even down the road from where I live. Dairy farmers are slowly going out of business due to the increases of feed, machinery, fertilizer, and overhead costs.
Farmland is being taken over by residential use de to increase of populations. Therefore overhead costs for farmers is high.
In conclusion, the agriculture industry in the United States is a very important part of out economy.
Honorable Mention - Jordan Collins, Sharon Springs Central School, Sharon Springs
New York State agriculture is very important. It supplies us with food, jobs, and products.
New York agriculture gives us vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, and potatoes. Also the delicious meats of cows and chickens and pigs. We get dairy products from New York agriculture. Some dairy products are milk, cheese, and yogurt. Oh we get eggs from the chickens too. Fruit, wine, and wheat are a big part of agriculture.
In New York agriculture wool plays a role. We use wool for coats. Also we use chicken feathers for pillows. Animal hides can be used for clothing, leather, and many other materials.
Farmers need agriculture so they can make money by working on the farms. Also, by taking care of the animals. They sell animals on their farm for money.
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