vue - The Geography of Agriculture

Don't hesitate to comment below if you have any questions or additional phrases The Geography of Agriculture ,The Geography of Agriculture A Brief History of Agriculture Classifying Agricultural Regions Intensity of Land Use and the Von ThÜnen Model Questioning our Agricultural ‘Success’ ,History of Agriculture Hunter-Gatherers Neolithic Revolution Domestication of Plants and Animals Diffusion of Agriculture Agricultural Industrialization The “Green Revolution” Modern Agribusiness ,Hunter-Gatherers Humanity’s only “economic” activity for at least 90% of our existence. Low population densities. Wide variety of natural foodstuffs eaten. ,Diffusion of Agriculture Cultural Hearths: Near East, East Asia, Mesoamerica Stimulus Diffusion - only idea is transferred. ,Neolithic Revolution Primary effects: Urbanization Social Stratification Occupational Specialization Increased population densities Secondary effects: Endemic diseases Famine Expansionism ,Modern Agricultural Revolutions Technology allows much greater production (surplus) with less human labor, but has high social and environmental costs. Metal plows, Reapers, Cotton Gin Tractors (Internal Combustion Engine) Combines Chemical Pesticides/Fertilizers Hybrid and genetically modified crops ,Agribusiness:The industrialization of agriculture Modern commercial farming is very dependent on inputs of chemical fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides. Oil is required to make fertilizer and pesticides. It takes 10 calories of energy to create 1 calorie of food in modern agriculture. Small farmer can’t buy needed equipment and supplies. Fewer than 2% of U.S. population works in agriculture ,Classifying Agricultural Regions Subsistence Agriculture Shifting Cultivation Pastoral Nomadism Intensive Subsistence Agriculture Subsistence Farms, China ,Subsistence Agriculture Regions ,Shifting Cultivation Vegetation “slashed” and then burned. Soil remains fertile for 2-3 years. Then people move on. where: tropical rainforests. Amazon, Central and West Africa, Southeast Asia Crops: upland rice (S.E. Asia), maize and manioc (S. America), millet and sorghum (Africa) Declining at hands of ranching and logging. ,Pastoral Nomadism The breeding and herding of domesticated animals for subsistence. where: arid and semi-arid areas of N. Africa, Middle East, Central Asia animals: Camel, Goats, Sheep, Cattle transhumance: seasonal migrations from highlands to lowlands Most nomads are being pressured into sedentary life as land is used for agriculture or mining. Bedouin Shepherd Somali Nomad and Tent ,Intensive Subsistence Agriculture Wet Rice Dominant where: S.E. Asia, E. India, S.E. China very labor intensive production of rice, including transfer to sawah, or paddies most important source of food in Asia grown on flat, or terraced land Double croppingis used in warm winter areas of S. China and Taiwan The Fields of Bali Thai Rice Farmers ,Classifying Agricultural Regions Commercial Agriculture Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming Dairy Farming Grain Farming Livestock Ranching Mediterranean Agriculture Truck Farming North Dakota Potato and Wheat Fields ,Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming Where: Ohio to Dakotas, centered on Iowa; much of Europe from France to Russia crops: corn (most common), soybeans In U.S. 80% of product fed to pigs and cattle Highly inefficient use of natural resources Pounds of grain to make 1 lb. beef: 10 Gallons of water to make 1 1b wheat: 25 Gallons of water to make 1 1b. beef: 2500 ,Dairy Farming Where: near urban areas in N.E. United States, Southeast Canada, N.W. Europe Locational Theory: butter and cheese more common than milk with increasing distance from cities and in West. milkshed: historically defined by spoilage threat; refrigerated trucks changed this. Dairy Farm, Wisconsin ,Von ThÜnen Model (Rings) ,Von Thunen is beginning of location economics and analysis (1826) ,Grain Farming Where: worldwide, but U.S. and Russia predominant Crops: wheat winter wheat: Kansas, Colorado, Ok