When many people think of agriculture, they think of big fields, tractors, cows, and maybe some horses. They think of places that are devoid of human life, where people are miles and miles away from the nearest town or city. They think of idyllic surroundings, with sheep and pigs and chickens running around freely. Agriculture is truly what makes us human. It has enabled our species to become the dominant species on the planet. Through agriculture we have been able to breed different kinds of plants and animals into existence. We have bread grain and corn into what it is today, we have bread sheep and pigs into different species depending on what we want from them. Humans have bred cows to produce gallons upon gallons of milk, and also to provide us with tons and tons of meat. And while we were doing this, we changed the physical landscape of the planet as well. Where once there were forests are now grassland, used as pastures for grazing animals.
Countries such as Scotland were at one time completely covered in forests. However, with the advent of agriculture and the need to feed sheep, pigs, goats, and cows, the trees were cut down, and the animals eat anything – tree, shrub, or grass – before it has a chance to truly grow to its full potential. With the farms came a huge rise in the overall human population, a rise which eventually led to the establishment of cities. Within these cities, commerce started, medicine was perfected, and art was truly born. And yet, none of this would have happened without the food which the farmers were able to provide to the growing population. Interestingly, the last decade has marked a change in how we humans live. Due to automation, we are able to produce more food using less people than ever before. This has marked the first time that there are now more people living in cities than there are in the countryside. However, one young Scottish farmer has decided to buck the trend. He still wants to be connected to the land of his forefathers and continue to raise cattle for consumption, exactly like his ancestors undoubtedly did for generations before him. However, one day, all of that was threatened by one of mankind’s greatest adversaries; a tiger. Would this young Scot be able to defend his cattle, or would they be taken like chattel unto slaughter?
[post_page_title]A new farmer[/post_page_title]
The world of farming may be getting smaller as more and more people move to the cities, but thankfully, there are still those who want to stay close to the land and raise the food that we all need to survive. One of these new farmers is Bruce Grubb. Grubb had just gotten a new house on a farm and was getting ready to start his life of animal husbandry and cattle ranching. But that night, his life would be changed.
