Agriculture

Agriculture deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through the cultivation of plants and/or rearing of animals Cultivate = “to care for” Crop = any plant cultivated by people

Agriculture (terms to know) Subsistence: production of food primarily for the family (in LDCs). Commercial: production of food primarily for sale off of the farm (MDCs and growing in LDCs). Intensive requires lots of labor or is focused on a small plot of land or both. High agricultural density. Extensive requires limited input of labor or is spread across a large area of land or both. Low agricultural density

Commercial Farming ALL farming in MDCs Increasing in LDCs began w/2nd Agricultural Rev. and Industrial Rev. Aided by (see guided reading) mechanization transportation scientific advances electronics Consolidation largest 5% = 75% of output fewer farms and farmers 60% less farms, 85% less farmers Integration with “agribusiness” System of farming where the farm is no longer isolated but part of a larger food-processing industry. Commercial Farming

MDC Farmers Face Economic Difficulties Green Revolution, machines, tech. science, etc. Overproduction leads to lower prices demand remains relatively constant in MDCs (stage 4/5) consequence: incomes for farmers are low susceptible to acquisition (Industrial farms) ECONOMIES OF SCALE govt policies (subsidies) to support agriculture suburbanization “Urban sprawl” vs. prime agricultural land Both want land that is flat and well-drained (near markets)

Loss of Productive Farmland danger of being “suburbanized” as cities expand

Subsistence Farming Difficulties Have we reached a point where food production is unable to match population growth? Why? Land often held in common, individual success at expense of group frowned upon Low incentive to increase production

Subsistence Farming Difficulties Is agricultural land in LDCs maxed out? desertification from overgrazing, soil erosion, excessive farming, etc. decreases arable land

Agricultural Land and Population

Subsistence Farming Difficulties Have we reached a point where food production is unable to match population growth? Why? Agricultural land maxed out? Desertification decreases arable land LDC dilemma? Achieve development with w/switch to cash crops International trade model of development deforestation from switch to ranching, logging etc. food must be purchased most lucrative cash crop? drugs See “Opposition to Green Revolution” under History of Agriculture (later in this powerpoint).

Strategies to increase food supply Expanding agricultural land better irrigation to reduce stress on water supplies drip irrigation Identifying new food sources cultivating oceans But 3/4ths of fish stocks are overfished or fully utitlized developing higher-protein cereals Ineffective in areas that don’t rely on processed foods improving palatability of foods Krill is now abundant due to whale overfishing and the collapse of the USSR, but nasty tasting! Increasing trade Ship global overproduction to areas in need Where most food is produced is not where it is most needed (unbalanced production/consumption)

Origins of agriculture Hunter-gatherers Perhaps 250,000 remaining today San in Southern Africa, Aborigine in Australia Invention of agriculture When it began = unclear, diffused from many hearths

The First Agricultural Revolution Southeast Asia: Root crops, up to 14,000 years ago (Sauer) Southwest Asia (the Fertile Crescent): Seed crops, about 10,000 years ago → Neolithic Revolution = “1st Agricultural Revolution”

The Fertile Crescent

The Fertile Crescent 1st cultivation of seed crops Enlargement of plants from seed selection Generated a surplus of wheat and barley Leads to? CIVILIZATION!!!! Animal domestication Began in Fertile Crescent (c. 8000 years ago) pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, cattle Relatively few domesticated animals Continuing efforts not very successful 1st integration of plant growing and animal raising Crops used to feed livestock Use fallow fields to graze Livestock to help crops Dung is fertilizer, clear stalks etc. Used for milk, hides, beasts of burden

Animal Hearths

Second Agricultural Revolution series of innovations, improvements, and techniques used to improve the output of agricultural surpluses 17th and 18th centuries (linked to Scientific Rev.) Enclosure Act = larger farms Somewhat changes English landscape from clustered to dispersed Allows experimentation New tools (seed drill, water wheel, etc.) Advances in livestock breeding (selective) New fertilizers (non-chemical) More efficient crop rotation Closely connected to the Industrial Revolution displaced farmers → factory workers Urbanization (so also connected to the 2nd Urban Revolution) increased food supply Feeds urban factory workers, lowers CDR help move UK into stage 2

Agricultural density Calculated as: High density = ? # of farmers/arable land High density = ? LDCs, Why? Low farming efficiency Farming done by hand

High Agricultural Density

Agricultural density Low density = ? Advanced technology and finance MDCs, Why? Advanced technology and finance Corporate or large scale farming Farms are getting bigger!

Low Agricultural Density

Green Revolution (3rd Agriculture Rev.) Began in U.S. Midwest (1930s → ) Norman Borlaug “the man who saved a billion lives” diffusion to LDCs (1960s → ) shift from subsistence to commercial methods in LDCs adoption of a western farming model Use of chemical fertilizers/pesticides & machinery invention of high-yield grains (hybridization, crossbreeding) with goal of reducing hunger increased production of rice Impact on hunger greatest where rice is produced new varieties of wheat and corn GMOs = genetically modified organisms (4th Rev. ???) “biotechnology” Famines reduced! Most famines today are due to political problems

Average Daily Calorie Consumption per Capita

Has the Green Revolution run its course?

Opposition to Green Revolution Environmental concerns (overuse) soil erosion and water shortages dependency on chemicals for production pollution, dangerous to ingest, bee colony collapse growth of “monocultures” lessens biodiversity “superpests” could develop resistance are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) safe? probably, but???? health problems???? (antibiotics, allergens) EU strictly regulates (has approved only 48 organisms) labelling required, why labelling resistance in the US? Economic dependence on transnational corps $$$$$$ → Western agribusiness (Monsanto) life becomes “intellectual property” = “terminator seeds” loss of control over seeds → wind → → contamination

Von Thünen’s Model Produce only what’s profitable Products vary by distance from the market (town). Factors: Cost of land (bid-rent theory) Use of land governed by cost/ease of transport to market Perishability and weight First effort to analyze the spatial character of economic activity Modified for physical features

FIGURE 10-24

$ rent (land cost) someone is willing to pay is based on their business realities For example, per von Thunen’s dairy farmers/vegetable growers (X) would be willing to pay more for land in order to be close to market, Why? Transportation costs are high perishability. per von Thunen, lumber (Y) would then outbid grains etc. Why? Trans. costs are high due to weight. Pattern continues outward forming concentric rings. Until you get to extensive activities like grazing. Why? Need to pay less for land because their activity is extensive (uses a lot of land) Bid-rent Theory

Application of Von Thünen Model Wealthy countries Underlying principles on larger scale (NYC/Megalopolis = center) dairy farming, vegetables located close to population centers/markets Market gardening in SE milkshed in NE Wisconsin cheese b/c it is further away Extensive activities (grain, ranching) located farther west.

von Thunen and the USA

Application of Von Thünen Model Wealthy countries Underlying principles on larger scale (NYC/Megalopolis = center) dairy farming, vegetables located close to population centers/markets Market gardening in SE milkshed in NE Wisconsin cheese b/c it is further away Extensive activities (grain, ranching) located farther west. But modernity breaks model down multiple markets, expanded trade Not a single market in a small region Use of faster, higher capacity, refrigerated transportation