Chapter 10 Section 3 Where are agricultural regions in MDCs?

Agriculture in Developed Countries Mixed crop and livestock farming Dairy farming Grain farming Livestock ranching Mediterranean agriculture Commercial gardening and fruit farming Access to markets

Mixed Crop and livestock farming These farms grow crops and raise livestock Found in the US west of the Appalachians and in Europe from France to Russia Most of the crops raised are fed to the animals rather than sold for humans, manure is used to improve soil fertility, and grow more crops Most land is devoted to growing crops, but 3/4s of income comes from the sale of animals or animal products (raise corn and feed it to chickens and sell eggs) Use crop rotation systems

World Agriculture Regions Fig. 10-5b: Locations of the major types of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

World Corn Production, 2005 Fig. 10-7: The U.S. accounts for about 40% of world corn (maize) production. China is the 2nd largest producer. Much of the corn in both countries is used for animal feed.

Dairy farming This is where people raise animals to produce dairy products- milk, butter, yogurt, cream, cheese, etc… Most important on farms in the Northeastern US, Southeast Canada, Northwest Europe, also in South and East Asia Demand for milk has increased in the past two centuries Has to be refrigerated- becoming easier, particularly in MDCs More in LDCs today- 21 % in 1970 to 44% in India is the largest today

Dairy farming Used to only be located outside urban areas- milkshed, the ring surrounding a city from which milk can be supplied without spoiling Refrigeration has changed this some, but tradition is still there It can be shipped more than 300 miles today easily Different products allow it to go further

World Milk Production, 2005 Fig 10-8: Milk production reflects wealth, culture, and environment. It is usually high in MDCs, especially production per capita, and varies considerably in LDCs.

World Agriculture Regions Fig. 10-5b: Locations of the major types of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

Milk Production in MDCs & LDCs Milk production has grown more rapidly in LDCs than in MDCs since the 1960s.

U.S. Dairy Production 2005 Fig. 10-9: Milk production is widely dispersed because of its perishability, but cheese production is far more concentrated.

U.S. Milk Production, 2005

U.S. Cheese Production, 2005

Grain Farming Grain farming is using the seed from various grasses to grow grains for consumption Includes wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, millet, and others Most farms raise some type of grain This is different from mixed crop and livestock farming because these crops are grown for human consumption primarily Great output in MDCs US is largest commercial producer of grain Found in North America’s prairies- the breadbasket, some in Canada, Argentina, Australia, France, and the UK Use of machinery has increased production bigtime

World Agriculture Regions Fig. 10-5b: Locations of the major types of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

World Wheat Production, 2005 Fig : China is the world’s leading wheat producer, but the U.S. is the largest producer of wheat for sale and the largest exporter.

U.S. Wheat Farmer A U.S. wheat farmer in Idaho is selling wheat to Asian buyers.

Livestock Ranching Ranching is the commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive areas It is adapted to semiarid or arid land It is practiced in MDCs where vegetation is too sparse and the soil too poor for crops Big in US in late 1800s- open range, long horns, transporting to market, cowboys Today- fixed location ranching- barbwire and settlement of the plains ended open range Takes a lot of land, still done today on private land and ranches

The Chisholm Trail Fig : The Chisholm Trail became famous as the main route for cattle drives from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.

Cattle Drive on the Chisholm Trail

Cattle ranching Done in the US, a little in Spain and Portugal, little in the rest of Europe, in South America- the pampas of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, interior of Australia for cattle In the Middle East, New Zealand, and South Africa ranches have sheep or goats

World Agriculture Regions Fig. 10-5b: Locations of the major types of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

Meat Production on Ranches Fig 10-12: Cattle, sheep and goats are the main meat animals raised on ranches.

Mediterranean Agriculture It is a type of farming found in Mediterranean climate regions that focuses on horticulture- the growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and tree crops for human consumption It is found around the Mediterranean Sea bordering states, California, central Chile, southwestern part of South Africa, and southwestern Australia Olives and grapes are particularly important

World Agriculture Regions Fig. 10-5b: Locations of the major types of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

Vineyard in Portugal Grapes loaded in vineyards on slopes above the Douro River in northern Portugal.

Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming This is the predominant farming in the US southeast where the growing season is long and there is a humid climate This is where many fruits and vegetables are grown for human consumption It is often called truck farming because “truck” was a Middle English word for bartering Truck farms grow many fruits and vegetables and sell some fresh to consumers or to large processors for canning or freezing They are highly efficient, large-scale operations that take advantage of machines

World Agriculture Regions Fig. 10-5b: Locations of the major types of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

Access to markets The purpose of commercial farming is to sell products It is important to look at distance from the farm to the market for farms- helps determine what to plant Dairy was the best example Johann Heinrich von Thunen was a geographer who proposed a model in 1826 that explains the importance of proximity to market in choice of crops on commercial farms

Von Thünen Model Fig : Von Thünen’s model shows how distance from a city or market affects the choice of agricultural activity in (a) a uniform landscape and (b) one with a river.