Figure 1. An endless field of canola shows the beautiful North Dakota landscape. (David Paukert)
Agriculture• Farming and ranching
• Includes production of crops and raising of livestock is another word for farming and ranching. It includes the production of crops and the raising of livestock.Farm animals
The word “agriculture” comes from the Latin roots agri (land) plus cultūra (cultivation). CultivationPreparing land for growing crops (kul-tah-VAY-shun) means preparing land for growing crops. CropsPlants that are grown in large amounts for human or livestock food, or for use in industry are plants that are grown in large amounts for human or livestock food, or for use in industry.
Agriculture provides almost everything that people eat and wear. For this reason, it is probably the most important industry in the world. An industryA business that produces and sells goods is a business that produces (makes) and sells goods.
What is the number one industry in North Dakota? You guessed it! Agriculture! North Dakota’s economy is based on agriculture. An economyThe money or possessions created by managing the goods and resources of a region (ee-KON-ah-me) refers to the money or possessions created by managing the goods and resources of a region.
The area now called North Dakota has not always had that name. North Dakota did not become a state until 1889. For this text, we will use “North Dakota” to describe the area even before it became a state.