Agriculture in the United States in a science- based, highly technical field that has signifi­ cant impact on society and the larger ecosys­ tem, both nationally and internationally. As new technologies and challenges continually emerge, educational and research efforts in agriculture have been and will continue to be key to the success of agronomic systems. At the same time, human labor in U.S. agriculture has decreased rapidly; less than 2% of the population is directly involved in agricultural production. Rapid technological change and declining farm populations suggest that we are becoming a nation largely illiterate in agricul­ tural and sustainable production issues.