Animal Husbandry and Fishing

Fromthe mid-eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century, American whalers dominated the seas.

As technological improvements in the ability to process poultry have increased and as health concerns about the consumption of beef have come to the fore, the poultry industry has increased its share of the market for meat and meat products, especially in the latter half of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Pork, ham, bacon, and other pork products have been consistent parts of the American diet through most of the nation’s history, particularly among lower-income groups, for which they represent affordable sources of protein.

Until the early twentieth century, horses were Americans’ primary means of transport for goods and services and enabled commerce to take place over a wider geographical area.

The techniques of genetic engineering are at the heart of biotechnology.

The American fishing industry expanded in response to the growing popularity of seafood, but many of the areas rich in seafood have become overfished.

The Farm Credit Administration is the federal agency that regulates all other government entities providing credit facilities for farmers, other rural landholders, and ruralbased businesses.

Because of the importance of milk products in American diets, the dairy industry occupies a special place in the national economy.

The Department of Agriculture was created to boost national agricultural production, but it later acquired responsibility for ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply as well.

First coined in 1955, the term “agribusiness” denoted an increasing consolidation of American agricultural resources that was driven by considerations of efficiency.