www.richagriculture.com

Agriculture (a term which encompasses farming) is the art, science or practice of producing food, feed, fiber and many other goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. Agri is from Latin ager ("a field"), and culture is from Latin cultura, meaning "cultivation" in the strict sense of tillage of the soil. A literal reading of the English word yields tillage of the soil of a field. In actual usage, Agriculture denotes activities essential to food and material production, including all techniques for raising and processing livestock (see Animal husbandry) no less than those essential to crop planting and harvesting. Continual improvement in agricultural methods from pre-history to the present has been the key factor in the extreme specialization of human activity during the historical epoch. Many of these specializations have nothing to do with food production, but when specialists such as scientists, inventors and mechanical and chemical engineers devote their efforts to the improvement of farming methods, resources and implements they too, along with those who work the fields and pens, are said to be "in agriculture". 42% (2002 estimate) of the world's population is employed in agriculture, making it by far the most common occupation, yet it accounts for only 4.4% (2005 estimate) of the Gross World Product (an aggregate of all Gross Domestic Products).

An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs maintained for food production. Most orchards comprise either fruit or nut-producing trees (see fruit trees), for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive purpose. Most temperate-zone orchards are laid out in a regular grid, with a grazed or mown grass or bare soil base that makes maintenance and fruit gathering easy. Orchards are often concentrated near bodies of water, where climactic extremes are moderated and blossom time is retarded until frost danger is past. The forest garden is a food production system that is closely related to the orchard. A move towards more ecologically-friendly coffee production has led to forest-garden production of coffee. Brazil Nuts and Rubber are being produced in such a method in some areas. Often, mixed orchards are planted. In Europe Quince is sometimes planted along with apples.

In agriculture, harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the harvesting of grain crops. The harvest marks the end of the growing season, or the growing cycle for a particular crop. Harvesting in general usage includes the immediate post-harvest handling, all of the actions taken immediately after physically removing the crop?cooling, sorting, cleaning, packing?up to the point of further on-farm processing, or shipping to the wholesale or consumer market. Harvest timing is a critical decision, that balances the likely weather conditions with the degree of crop maturity. Weather conditions such as frost, and unseasonably warm or cold periods, can affect yield and quality. An earlier harvest date may avoid damaging conditions, but result in poorer yield and quality. Delaying harvest may result in a better harvest, but increases the risk of weather problems. Timing of the harvest often involves a significant degree of gambling. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-intensive activity of the growing season. On large, mechanized farms, harvesting utilizes the most expensive and sophisticated farm machinery, like the combine harvester. Harvesting a large field in Great Britain Enlarge Harvesting a large field in Great Britain Harvest commonly refers to grain and produce, but is used in reference to fish and timber. The term harvest is also used within the context of irrigation where water harvesting is referred to as the collection and run-off of rainwater for agricultural or domestic uses.