Farming Technology (Technology in Action)

by Mark Lambert (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1990

  $39.89

  The Technology in Action series explains how science and human ingenuity have been applied to create the technologies demanded in a constantly changing world. It examines the reasons why changes and developments are necessary, and shows how problems are solved to bring about these changes. Each book in the series deals with the subject matter within a thematic framework, showing how different technologies combine to create an evolving state of the art . This book gives a detailed description of the various ways in which technology has revolutionized farming. There are chapters devoted to the development of the tractor, plough, cultivating and harvesting machinery. The use of technology in the rearing of livestock is also covered extensively as are computerized milking and feeding systems, the evolution of breeding technology from early selective breeding through to modern genetic engineering of plants and animals and the use of chemical technology to increase production. A balanced view of the positive and negative aspects of farming technology is presented and problems such as overproduction in the developed world, the destruction of rainforests in tropical regions and the moral aspects of intensive pig farming and poultry farming are looked at. Topical issues, such as the Greenhouse Effect and its possible impact upon farming in the future, and the problems of switching back to organic farming are also discussed.