Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Ch. 10 Agriculture Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries?

More Developed Countries 6 main types of commercial agriculture in MDC’s Mixed Crop & Livestock Dairy Farming Grain Farming Livestock Ranching Mediterranean Agriculture Commercial gardening & fruit farming Climate is main determinant as in LDC’s

1) Mixed Crop & Livestock Common in Eastern Parts of USA, & much of Europe Integration of crops & livestock Most of the crops are fed to animals instead of humans Most of land devoted to crops, but most of income (75%) comes from animal products Beef, eggs, etc. Reduces fluctuations in income (seasonal) Crop rotation USA- corn* belt (Ohio-Dakotas), soybeans

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

2) Dairy Farming Most important near urban areas of NE USA, SE Canada, NW Europe Transportation factor + location “milkshed” Why you traditionally find dairy farms close to the city Advancements in modes of transportation have increased the radius of milksheds to 500 km # of dairy farmers decline (expense) but production up

Dairy Production in the U.S. Fig. 10-9: Milk production is widely dispersed because of its perishability, but cheese production is far more concentrated.

3) Grain Farming Distinguished from mixed crop and livestock farming, because crops are grown primarily for human consumption. Farms sell their output to manufacturers of food products, such as breakfast cereals and bread. Characteristics of a Typical Grain Farm Heavily mechanized Oriented to consumer preferences

Grain Farming Where: worldwide, but U.S. and Russia predominant Winter wheat: Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma Spring wheat: Dakotas, Montana, southern Canada (“bread basket”) .

4) Livestock Ranching Commercial grazing of livestock over extensive area in semi-arid or arid land US Popular culture (Texas) Declined in importance in 1880s; range wars Other ranching occurs in Spain/Portugal, Argentina, S Brazil & Uruguay Sheep over cattle in Middle East, N.Z. & South Africa

Environmental Impacts Deforestation in South America One of the largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions Loss of biodiversity Water pollution

FIGURE 10-44 MEAT PRODUCTION China is now the world’s largest meat producer.

5) Mediterranean Agriculture Every site practicing this form of agriculture borders a sea, and most are on west coasts of continents. Prevailing sea winds provide moisture and moderate the winter temperatures. Farmers derive a smaller percentage of income from animal products. Most crops are grown for human consumption. Horticulture, which is the growing of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and tree crops form the commercial base. Along the Mediterranean Sea, olives and grapes are two most important cash crops. Approximately half of the land here is used to grow cereals.

Cont’d…. Where: areas surrounding the Mediterranean, California, Oregon, Chile, South Africa, Australia Climate has summer dry season. Landscape is mountainous. Crops: olives, grapes, nuts, fruits and vegetables; winter wheat California: high quality land is being lost to suburbanization; initially offset by irrigation

6) Commercial Gardening & Fruit Farming (Truck farming) Dominates US Southeast (high humidity) Most sold to processors (canning/freezing) Highly efficient, large scale operations, low labour costs (migrant workers) High use of machinery Apples, Asparagus, Cherries, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Mushrooms (high profit) Specialization

What is a “cash crop” A cash crop is an agricultural crop which is grown in LDCs for sale to return a profit Usually crops which attract demand in MDCs, and hence have some export value A “Bad” thing?!?!

Guess the Cash Crop?? Cocoa/chocolate

Coffee

Cotton

Opium

Rubber

Sugar cane

Tea

Tobacco

Plantation Farming Form of commercial agriculture found in in Tropics & Sub-tropics Found in LDC’s, but owned & operated by Europeans or N. Americans + sold there Large farms that specialize in 1 or 2 crops Cotton, sugarcane, coffee, rubber, tobacco, cocoa, jute, bananas, tea, coconuts, palm oil Import workers & provide them with necessities Civil war; significance to US South

Focus on Coffee Considered one of the ‘luxury crops’ 1st domesticated in present day Ethiopia, today thrives in Middle & South America (70%) US buys more than ½ of all coffee sold, Western Europe imports most of rest One of best examples of colonial legacy’s impact on present-day agricultural practices Early 18th century- virtually unknown, now 2nd most valuable traded commodity in world There are approximately 25 million farmers and coffee workers Foreign owned plantations, low wages

Illegal Cash Crops Important cash crops, not easily mapped High demand; particularly in core Periphery farmers find it more profitable to cultivate poppy, coca, marijuana Increased through the 1980s & 1990s Coca- *Columbia, Peru, Bolivia Poppy- SE & SW Asia (+90% Afghanistan & Myanmar) USA – Role of Mexico