AGN 115 MSU COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE REVIEW SET
◉ Sufficient, consistent, sustainable food production is important
because food, like water and energy, is a foundational need, and
disruptions in supply or price can quickly lead to civil unrest,
violence, and political conflict. (Lec 5)
Answer: true
◉ Avoiding the use of farrowing crates and allowing chickens to
range outdoors are practices considered by many to be more
humane alternatives to conventional practice and may also result in
lower mortality rates of piglets and chickens. (Fresh Lec.)
Answer: false
◉ When using Burton's (5 dimensional) system for comparing weed
management tactics, planting a cover crop would be considered
more sustainable (higher score) in terms of energetics than flame
weeding. (Lec. 2)
Answer: true
◉ Although it is imperfect, the peer-review process of scientific
literature is intended to hold researchers accountable to the data
,and to minimize speculation and bias in reporting results of
scientific study. (Lec 3)
Answer: true
◉ Thomas Malthus, an Anglican rector with a good mind for
mathematics, became concerned about the inevitability of
widespread human misery. In a 1798 essay, he forecast that
widespread starvation and conflict would be the result of food
production increasing ________ while human reproduction increased
________. (Lec. 3)
Answer: Linearly, exponentially
◉ Traditional agroecosystems normally depend (i.e. rely) on
externally purchased inputs. (Ch. 23)
Answer: false
◉ The decreased yield of a crop caused by an insect crop pest is best
explained by the ecological concept of ______
Answer: herbivory
◉ Word choice and selection of sources of information are
important indicators of potential bias in a publication, such as Dr.
Gliessman's use of the terms "industrial agriculture" and "pesticide
treadmill", and his heavy reliance on the publications of Dr. Pimentel
as sources of data. (Lec 5)
,Answer: true
◉ All of the following have contributed to decreasing local control
over agriculture, EXCEPT ______. (Ch. 1)
Answer: the diminished share of the food dollar going to farmers
relative to distributors and marketers
◉ The biomass of dead organisms and fecal matter is broken down
by ___ and decomposers. (Ch. 2)
Answer: Detritivores
◉ Which of the following are management practices employed by
Joel Salatin at Polyface Farms in Swoope Virginia that make his
operation more sustainable. (Fresh Film) [Select all correct
answers.]
Answer: Multifaceted grazing techniques passing numerous species
over the same area at staggered intervals.
◉ "Almost all plant residues buried soon after crop harvest." Would
normally be associated with:
Answer: poor soil health
◉ Traditional agroecosystems make extensive use of locally
available and renewable resources.
, Answer: True
◉ Due to federal policy mandating increased levels of blended fuels,
the percentage of total corn production for ethanol increased from
less than ___% in 1993 to about ___% in 2013 (despite the fact that
the production of ethanol requires as much energy as that ethanol
can provide as fuel). (Lec 4)
Answer: 15;40
◉ The __% of agricultural land worldwide that is irrigated produces
about __% of the world's food supply. (Ch.1)
Answer: 20%, 40%
◉ Which of the following management practices did Will Allen
employ at Growing Power in Milwaukee, WI, in order to make his
operation more sustainable? (Select ALL that apply.)
Answer: Allen produces vermicompost--the nutrient rich product of
allowing worms, bacteria, and fungi to consume tons of food waste
donated by local restaurants and grocers--that serves as soil rich in
nutrients and beneficial organisms.
Allen raises tilapia and then irrigates his plants with the water rich
in nitrates excreted by the fish.
2026 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE REVIEW SET
◉ Sufficient, consistent, sustainable food production is important
because food, like water and energy, is a foundational need, and
disruptions in supply or price can quickly lead to civil unrest,
violence, and political conflict. (Lec 5)
Answer: true
◉ Avoiding the use of farrowing crates and allowing chickens to
range outdoors are practices considered by many to be more
humane alternatives to conventional practice and may also result in
lower mortality rates of piglets and chickens. (Fresh Lec.)
Answer: false
◉ When using Burton's (5 dimensional) system for comparing weed
management tactics, planting a cover crop would be considered
more sustainable (higher score) in terms of energetics than flame
weeding. (Lec. 2)
Answer: true
◉ Although it is imperfect, the peer-review process of scientific
literature is intended to hold researchers accountable to the data
,and to minimize speculation and bias in reporting results of
scientific study. (Lec 3)
Answer: true
◉ Thomas Malthus, an Anglican rector with a good mind for
mathematics, became concerned about the inevitability of
widespread human misery. In a 1798 essay, he forecast that
widespread starvation and conflict would be the result of food
production increasing ________ while human reproduction increased
________. (Lec. 3)
Answer: Linearly, exponentially
◉ Traditional agroecosystems normally depend (i.e. rely) on
externally purchased inputs. (Ch. 23)
Answer: false
◉ The decreased yield of a crop caused by an insect crop pest is best
explained by the ecological concept of ______
Answer: herbivory
◉ Word choice and selection of sources of information are
important indicators of potential bias in a publication, such as Dr.
Gliessman's use of the terms "industrial agriculture" and "pesticide
treadmill", and his heavy reliance on the publications of Dr. Pimentel
as sources of data. (Lec 5)
,Answer: true
◉ All of the following have contributed to decreasing local control
over agriculture, EXCEPT ______. (Ch. 1)
Answer: the diminished share of the food dollar going to farmers
relative to distributors and marketers
◉ The biomass of dead organisms and fecal matter is broken down
by ___ and decomposers. (Ch. 2)
Answer: Detritivores
◉ Which of the following are management practices employed by
Joel Salatin at Polyface Farms in Swoope Virginia that make his
operation more sustainable. (Fresh Film) [Select all correct
answers.]
Answer: Multifaceted grazing techniques passing numerous species
over the same area at staggered intervals.
◉ "Almost all plant residues buried soon after crop harvest." Would
normally be associated with:
Answer: poor soil health
◉ Traditional agroecosystems make extensive use of locally
available and renewable resources.
, Answer: True
◉ Due to federal policy mandating increased levels of blended fuels,
the percentage of total corn production for ethanol increased from
less than ___% in 1993 to about ___% in 2013 (despite the fact that
the production of ethanol requires as much energy as that ethanol
can provide as fuel). (Lec 4)
Answer: 15;40
◉ The __% of agricultural land worldwide that is irrigated produces
about __% of the world's food supply. (Ch.1)
Answer: 20%, 40%
◉ Which of the following management practices did Will Allen
employ at Growing Power in Milwaukee, WI, in order to make his
operation more sustainable? (Select ALL that apply.)
Answer: Allen produces vermicompost--the nutrient rich product of
allowing worms, bacteria, and fungi to consume tons of food waste
donated by local restaurants and grocers--that serves as soil rich in
nutrients and beneficial organisms.
Allen raises tilapia and then irrigates his plants with the water rich
in nitrates excreted by the fish.
