land preparation technology. Now, laser guided 

 machinery is used to level land to exacting tolerances. 



Another mechanical innovation under development 

 is a system for mechanically transplanting crops A 

 commercial system is available tor several vegetable 

 row crops, and research and development is under- 

 way to create a system tor the ornamental and tor- 

 estry markets. 



The core of the system is a plant growing medium 

 which allows the first fully-automatic transplanting of a 

 seedling into the field. The entire system includes a 

 planting plug (composed basically of peat moss held 

 together by "glue"), a special tray in which the plug is 

 formed and handled, a new tray seeding machine, a 

 new greenhouse growing system, and a new, 

 fully-automatic transplanter 



INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 



Instead of relying solely on chemicals to eliminate 

 insects, advanced pest management programs employ 

 many approaches. Integrated pest management sys- 

 tems using a range of cultural, biological, mechanical 

 and chemical measures have been developed for cot- 

 ton, rice, apples, alfalfa, potatoes, pears and wheat in 

 the West. 



LIVESTOCK FEEDING AND PROCESSING 



The Western states have developed the foremost 

 cattle feeding systems in the United States. Feed 

 ratios have improved significantly due to better feed 

 formulations, improved management, new veterinary 

 systems, better design of teedlots, and the location of 

 slaughtering plants near the teedlots 



The new slaughtering plants have provided such 

 innovations as circular pens to cut carcass damage, 

 and single floor operations to improve processing effi- 

 ciencies. As a result, the terminal markets in urban 

 areas are now part of American folklore. 



POST-HARVEST HANDLING AND PROCESSING 



Innovation has been the hallmark of post-harvest 

 handling systems, particularly for high value fruits and 

 vegetables Deterioration of fruits and vegetables 

 begins immediately after harvest and to slow this 

 process, field cooling systems have been developed. 

 Fruits and vegetables are put into field coolers with 

 temperatures around 50 degrees where "field heat" 

 can be significantly diminished. 



The major logistical problems faced by Western 

 agriculture in reaching the populous markets of the 

 East have resulted in the evolution of an intricate, 

 technologically sophisticated complex of farm assem- 

 bly and marketing systems involving such diverse 

 methods of food preserving as refrigeration, drying, 

 fermentation, freezing and canning This tremendous 

 superstructure adds value to the on-farm income at a 

 multiplier rate estimated to be at least three to one. 



''The major logistical problems faced 

 by Western agriculture in reaching the 

 populous markets of the East have 

 resulted in the evolution of an intri- 

 cate, technologically sophisticated 



complex . . ." 



SEED VARIETY DEVELOPMENT 



The resources of the western agricultural experi- 

 ment stations and private agribusiness firms have led 

 to a large and growing pool of seed varieties This 

 has resulted in increased yields not only in the West 

 by all around the world from seed exports. Whether it 

 IS tomatoes for processing in the San Joaquin Valley, 

 grass seed from Oregon's Willamette Valley, or alfalfa 

 from North Platte, Nebraska, the constant improve- 

 ment of seed has kept Western agriculture improving. 



CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE 



Due to the high cost of water, a number of compa- 

 nies have been developed in the western United 

 States to advance controlled environment agriculture, 

 often referred to as hydroponics. Water savings are 

 tremendous with this type of operation. For example, 

 one company uses just 5.8 gallons of water per 

 pound of lettuce produced, compared to 50.4 gallons 

 in a more traditional farming setting in the Imperial 

 Valley. 



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