© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. T4/2/13; M3/26/12 Problems in Agriculture (Ch – pp )

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. I. Challenges for Commercial Farmers A. Market Accessibility –Access to markets is important –Johann Heinrich von Thünen’s Model (1826) –choice of crop to grow related to the proximity to the market –More perishable the item, closer it is to city/market –Less perishable, farther from market von Thunen based ideas on own experience –Based on own estate Ideas still applicable today on nat’l & int’l scale failed to account for social customs & gov’t policy

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Von Thunen’s Model

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. I. Challenges for Commercial Farmers B. Overproduction Agricultural efficiencies have resulted in overproduction Demand has remained relatively constant –Grow more food than people can eat –As a consequence, incomes for farmers are low U.S. Gov’t Policies to help farmers –1. discouraged from growing crops in excess supply –2. pays farmers subsidy for certain commodities when prices are low –3. buys surplus production and sells/donates to other countries –about $16B/year in agric. Subsidies Europe subsidizes even more –encourage local farming –avoid dependence on foreign foods

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. I. Challenges for Commercial Farmers C. Sustainable Agriculture –Still relatively small – only 0.24% of farm land organic food often expensive –Three principal practices: 1. Sensitive land management –ridge tillage –lower production costs, not as efficient 2. Limited use of chemicals 3. Integrated crop and livestock –return to traditional mixed method –free-range animals

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. II. Challenges for Subsistence Farmers –1. Population growth Ester Boserup – 2 major changes in subsistence farming A. Greater mechanization - plows replace axes –Requires new labor –More farmland, same productivity B. Land left fallow for shorter time –With more people to feed, must grow more crops –Lands must be used more frequently –Possible problems?

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. II. Challenges for Subsistence Farmers –2. International trade To raise production farmers need –higher-yield seeds –fertilizer –pesticides –machinery New supplies cost money LDCs must produce more manufactured goods & more crops –Specialize on certain goods: coffee, tea, specialty produce –Sale of export crops brings in foreign currency –Used to buy agricultural supplies Often have to import crops - ironic

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. II. Challenges for Subsistence Farmers –3. Drug crops 3 major drug crops –Cannabis sativa (marijuana) – worldwide –Opium poppy (heroin) – Asia, esp. Afghanistan, Myanmar –Coca leaf (cocaine) – Latin America (Colombian processing) Most consumption is in MDCs Many opium/heroin users in central Asia

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. World Drug Trade

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. III. Strategies to Increase Food Supply 4 major strategies –A. Expanding agricultural land Desertification common problem –Land becomes dry & unusable –More land shifted into unusable land b/c of population growth Land converted to urban use –B. Increasing productivity The green revolution –higher-yield seeds & expanded use of fertilizers –Fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium Productivity increased dramatically worldwide Fertilizers not spread evenly due to resources

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. III. Strategies to Increase Food Supply –C. Identifying new food sources Cultivating oceans –Decreasing fish stocks esp. w/ certain fish – tuna & swordfish developing higher-protein cereals –Source of protein in LDCs improving palatability of foods - soybean, krill –D. Increasing trade Export more food esp. grains –3 major grains: wheat, rice, corn (maize) U.S. still major exporter of foods South Asia & SE Asia becoming net exporters Sub-Saharan Africa still major importer

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Agricultural Land and Population Figure 10-28

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Grain Imports and Exports Figure 10-32

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The End. Up next: Industry