Commercial Agriculture: Subregions

Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming Most Common Form in the US east of Appalachians Farmers grow crops and raise livestock on the same land Most money comes from the sale of animal products. Most practice Crop Rotation

Dairy Farming Produce Milk, Butter Cheese Located in areas outside of urban locations. Produce Milk, Butter Cheese Labor Intensive and Expensive

What is a milkshed?

A Milkshed is the ring of milk production that surrounds a major city.

Cincinnati Milkshed

Grain Farming Production is largely mechanized US produces the most grain in the world. Labor is concentrated in planting and harvesting times.

Grain Farming Locations Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma Planted in the Autumn, Ripens in the Summer The United States: Winter Wheat Palouse Region of Washington, the Dakotas and Montana Winters too severe for Winter Wheat The United States: Spring Wheat Canada, Australia, Argentina, France, and the United Kingdom Other Countries

Livestock Ranching Def: The commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area. Often practiced in arid or semi-arid regions Includes much of the Western US, and the Pampas (prairie) of Argentina

Mediterranean Agriculture Def: Agriculture located on Western coasts, with mild winters and dry summers. Grown through horticulture (growing of fruits, vegetables and flowers) Olives, Grapes, Fruits, Vegetables

Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming Def: Agriculture that relies on heavy equipment to grow bulk amounts of fruit and vegetables Also known as “truck farming” because truck means to barter. Located in Southeast US Apples, Asparagus, Cherries, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, etc.

Plantation Farming Def: Large farms that specialize in one or two crops. Found in Latin America, Africa, and Asia Called “Cash Crops” because they make money for their owners. Cotton, Sugarcane, Tobacco, Coffee, Rubber

Rural Land Use and Settlement Patterns

What is a land-use model?

A Land Use Model shows the different ways that people use the land that is available to them.

What is Von Thunen’s Model?

Von Thunen’s Model demonstrated the way that rural land use changed as a person moved outward from the center of a city area.

Central City 1. Market Gardening and Dairy 2. Forest 3. Field Crops 4. Animal Grazing

Nearest the town, farmers raised perishable products such as garden vegetables and milk. Market Gardening and Dairy Towns from Von Thunen’s Day were surrounded by a ring of trees used for construction. Forest Crops that are less perishable. Field Crops Required a lot of space. Animal Grazing Transportation costs became too high for profitability. Outside of these rings:

Thunen’s Model Assumed Flat Terrain Uniform Soil No significant barriers to transportation

Long Term Observations of Thunen’s Model His model is still applicable to Organic Food Growth. His model is applicable for understanding Broad Patterns of rural land use. Farmers in areas away from major markets are less likely to grow perishable items.