Chapter 13 The Spatial Organization of Agriculture Introduction Historical Geography of the Farm in America Historical Geography of Farming in the World Agriculture in Modern Societies Introduction to the Agricultural Production Process Von Thünen’s Location Theory Empirical Applications of Thünian Location Theory Dynamic Agricultural Location Theory: Thünian Analysis in Time-Space Thünian Location Theory in the Late-Twentieth- Century World Summary

Historical Geography of the Farm in America & Farming in the World In the U.S.- Clearly long-run decrease in share of employment in agriculture, proportion of population on farms, and share of population located in rural places Regional differences in role of agriculture— leading and lagging regions Globally, the shift from hunting & gathering in “wild” environments to cultivation and domestication, increases in yields, but with most production still destined for local consumption A thin layer of trade in exotic commodities – spices, salt, …

Historical Pattern of Local Self- Sufficient Agricultural Settlements Urban Center Producing Goods & Services (Trading foodstuffs & raw materials) Rural Hinterlands – Producing Food and Raw Materials

Agriculture in Modern Societies Contrast to manufacturing and services: agriculture is distributed extensively across the landscape. Due to (1) variations in productivity by crop/product, (2) competition with other land uses, (3) spatially dispersed markets for some agricultural products Implies more sensitivity to transport (and storage costs) Has led to R&D to enhance agricultural productivity (ag extension; computerization of farm activity: crop planting & timing, harvesting, storage, etc.

Agricultural Patterns in the U.S. Current patterns of specialization (Fig 13.4) versus earlier patterns (prior to interregional trade made possible by rail and trucks) Farmer’s experimentation leads to realization of yield potentials for crops/products in subregion –Northwest examples – wool, wheat, hops, apples, grapes, potatoes

Imagine a Search Process: Producers Seeking Places Like the Yellow zone SOIL RAINFALL TEMPERATURE PHYSICAL OPTIMUM

Spatial Variations in the Quality of Agricultural Resources Impact of temperature & precipitation on yield & cost Temperature Precipitation Too Cold Too Hot Too Dry Too Wet OPTIMUM Zero  and Rent

Spatial Variations in the Quality of Agricultural Resources, cont. Limits for particular crops / animals Locational Rent vs. economic rent Defined relative to a market location Defined across all competing uses Crop A Crop B Crop C Crop D

Von Thünen’s Location Theory Developed in 18 th Century Germany, but a wealthy landowner, to optimize the pattern of uses of his land Based on the notion of opportunity cost – producers seek maximum return VERSUS possible return Example: If land is rented to someone at $1000/acre, and someone else is willing to pay $2000, the land owner would be incurring an opportunity cost of $1000 In the agricultural land market: contracts, and other institutions that lead to “imperfections” in land uses vs. optimal land use (but true for all land uses)

Von Thünen’s Location Theory Assumptions in modern rendering of this theory The isotropic plain again Rent: Economic Rent as envisaged in Von Thünen’s model, versus rent like you and I pay to landlords or banks Von Thünen’s model versus what is in the text in Figure 13.8: The role of wood historically

Historic U.S. Energy Consumption

Spatial Organization of Land Use Agricultural Production – Sold in central places – Rent Theory Model for one good – Rent Theory Model for multiple goods – Evidence Spatial Organization in Urban Centers – Theory – Evidence: concentric rings; sectors; multiple-nuclei

Basic Land-Rent Model Land Rent = Yield (Market Price minus Production Cost) - Yield *transport rate*distance) LR = Y(m-c)-y*d*t If: Y = 4, m = 5, c = 2, t =.1, d = 10, LR = 4 (5 - 2) - 4*.1*10 = = 8 Rent.xls

Multiple Centers & Ag. Land Use Single Crops or Combinations The agricultural trade system A B A Crop 1 Crop 2 Crop 3

Empirical Evidence for Agricultural Production Von Th ü nen’s famous studies Bauria, India; Addis Ababa Farm Land Use Values - Washington counties Sinclair’s Reversal of von Th ü nen’s Analysis Rent Distance from urban center Limit of expected urban growth

Location Rents in Urban Areas Distance from Center Location Rent Commercial Industrial Residential Agricultural

Urban Land Rents: Evidence The monocentric city model vs. reality Harris & Ullman: alternative structures: (1) concentric zone model - monocentric vs. multiple hierarchical center(figure 1.36), (2) sector model (Seattle; Calgary) (3) Multiple - nuclei (merger over time OR evolution due to shifts in locational preference & transportation system (Edge Cities)

Empirical Applications of Thünian Location Theory The view in this text: dominated by an Eastern U.S. view of production systems –narrative, Fig Fig 13.15, Fig Fig & Figure – I think is far too simple, and fails to capture the microclimatic organization of modern agriculture in the U.S. Fig – Also too simple, in my view of the organization of production systems. **The rise of localized market systems in recent years

Dynamic Agricultural Location Theory (OR) Dynamic Industry! The Jannelle model Presented here for agriculture, but I think that it is relevant across the economy Please think of industries in your communities that resonate with this framework.

Spatial Impact of Transport Improvements 1. Demand for Accessibility 2. Technological Development 3. Transport Innovation 4. Time-space convergence 5. Spatial adaptation to changes in time- space organization (centralization and specialization 6. Increased Interaction Search

Key Consequences of Janelle Model Long-run decrease in friction of distance Distance Interaction t1t1 t2t2 t3t3 Due to innovations in transportation methods and improvements in media themselves Result: Lowered average ton-mile costs of transportation and decreased importance of transport costs as a factor cost  AND other costs rise in importance

Consequences of Janelle Model, Cont. The spatial pattern of production moves from dispersed…….. C1C1 C2C2 C3C3 M1M1 M2M2 M1M1 M1M1 L1L1 L2L2 L3L3

Consequences of Janelle Model, Cont. To concentrated, taking advantage of the intrinsic comparative advantages of resource supplies C1C1 C2C2 C3C3 M1M1 M2M2 M1M1 M1M1 L1L1 L2L2 L3L3 L*L* M1M1 Resulting in (1) geographic specialization, (2) increased spatial extent of production, (3) greater interaction (consider this model operating across many industries)

Examples of Janelle Model Steam-powered railroads versus waterborne sailing vessels & canal era or overland by horse-drawn wagons. Development of Interstate Highway System Development of intermodal cargo- container system (ship/rail) ? What about in the services? Clearly impact in business/tourist services. But what about the Internet?