A Definition And Concepts Of Agricultural Literacy

The virtues of education about agriculture have gained considerable attention since the release of the National Academy of Science (NAS) agricultural education report entitled, “Understanding Agriculture New Directions for Education” (1988). The Committee of Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools felt that “agriculture was too important a topic to be taught to only a relatively small percentage of students considering careers in agriculture and pursuing vocational agriculture studies” (1988, p. v). The publication recommended that agricultural education go beyond the scope and content of traditional programs. Thus, the committee developed the idea of “agricultural literacy” -the goal of education about agriculture.