The world's population in 2050 is expected to reach nine billion and agricultural demand is expected to double. With a current population of over seven billion people, hunger problems exist all over the world (“New” par. 1). How will we deal with food shortages in the future? With less land to farm, stressed soils and a lack of water, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the world's farmers to provide for our growing population. These complications make it more difficult for farmers to produce quality, affordable food. To help crops grow better, farmers use chemical fertilizers and sprays to improve growth and control weeds. Agriculture in the United States is an important business because it provides people with food, gives them jobs to maintain old equipment since new equipment is much more expensive, and it allows for more efficient ways to feed the world. world. has evolved from providing food just to your family to providing food to your entire community. This aspect really took off in Europe in the Middle Ages, when a new crop rotation plan came into being. Crop rotation is necessary. If the same crop is grown on the same soil every year, the plants will continue to consume the same nutrients necessary for their survival. Previously, farmers used the Roman system, which consists of a rotation of two crops. With this system, the soil never had a break, there was always a crop going on (“Food” par. 8). The new crop rotation plan was a three-crop rotation. This system is very different from the Roman system. Every three years the field will be fallowed and used as pasture. When the field is used as pasture, the animals' droppings are spread all over the field as they graze...... middle of paper ....... " Current Science. December 19, 2003: 9. Ebscohost . Internet. October 17, 2013. Logsdon, Gene. “What if for-profit farming really wasn't possible.” Prairie Writers. The city of carrots. Alternatives Journal. 2009: 5. Internet October 15, 2013. “Why. maintenance is important." Ocha. Np, and Web. October 15, 2013. Sayers, Ian. “New approaches to feeding the world's population." International Business Forum. July-September 2011: 30. Global issues in context. Internet . October 15, 2013. Sparger, John Adam “Is the share of agricultural maintenance research increasing in the United States? Food policy. Washington DC: USDA, February 2013. Ebscohost. Internet. October 18, 2013. “The new vision of agriculture”. World Economic Forum. Np, Sd Web. October 7. 2013.