© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. As I Enter Farming…What do we know, what are we going to study, why should we care. Agenda –Weekend Recap –This week…T/W/Th (weds for me) –Vocab Quiz –The Meatrix –KI 1 Homework: KI 1

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 10: Agriculture The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Let’s talk about farming!! What are the components…when you think of farming, what do you think of?

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Case Study/ Wheat Farmers in Kansas and Pakistan

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where Did Agriculture Originate? Origins of agriculture –Agriculture = deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through the cultivation of plants and/or rearing of animals About 10,000 years ago –Cultivate = “to care for” –Crop = any plant cultivated by people

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where Did Agriculture Originate? Origins of agriculture –Hunter-gatherers Perhaps 250,000 remaining today –Invention of agriculture When it began = unclear Diffused from many hearths

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Crop Hearths Figure 10-2

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Animal Hearths Figure 10-3

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where Did Agriculture Originate? Commercial and subsistence agriculture –Subsistence = produced mainly for the farm family’s survival Most common in LDCs –Commercial = produced mainly for sale off the farm Most common in MDCs

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Agriculture and Climate Figure 10-4

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where Did Agriculture Originate? Commercial and subsistence agriculture –Five characteristics distinguish commercial from subsistence agriculture Purpose of farming Percentage of farmers in the labor force Use of machinery Farm size Relationship of farming to other businesses

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Agricultural Workers Figure 10-5

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Area of Farmland Per Tractor Figure 10-6

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in LDCs? Shifting cultivation –Most prevalent in low-latitude, A-type climates (south America, central west Africa, southeast Asia) –Two features: Land is cleared by slashing and burning debris –Slash-and-burn agriculture Land is tended for only a few years at a time –Types of crops grown vary regionally –Traditionally, land is not owned individually

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in LDCs? Pastoral nomadism (herding domesticated animals) –Found primarily in arid and semiarid B-type climates (central Southwest Asia, North Africa) –Animals are seldom eaten The size of the herd indicates power and prestige –Type of animal depends on the region For example, camels are favored in North Africa and Southwest Asia –Transhumance practiced by some pastoral nomads

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in LDCs? Intensive subsistence –Found in areas with high population and agricultural densities Especially in East, South, and Southeast Asia To maximize production, little to no land is wasted –Intensive with wet rice dominant –Intensive with wet rice not dominant

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Rice Production Figure 10-12

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in LDCs? Plantation farming –Found in Latin America, Africa, and Asia –Products are grown in LDCs but typically are sold to MDCs –Plantations specialize in one or two cash crops Important crops = coffee, sugarcane, cotton, rubber, and tobacco –A large labor force is usually needed in sparsely settled regions

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Stop!

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in MDCs? Mixed crop and livestock farming –Most land = devoted to crops to feed animals… –Most profits = derive from the livestock Advantages – livestock supply manure, workload more evenly distributed. Dairy farming –Regional distribution: the Milkshed (near markets.) –Two primary challenges Labor-intensive Expense of winter feed

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Corn (Maize) Production Figure 10-15

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Milk Production Figure 10-17

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in MDCs? Grain farming (wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice) –The largest commercial producer of grain = the United States Livestock ranching –Practiced in marginal environments – too dry for other forms of agriculture. –If irrigation is possible ranching ends. –Many cattle shipped to feed lots for fattening. –THE MEATRIX

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Wheat Production Figure 10-19

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Meat Production Figure 10-21

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Where are Agricultural Regions in MDC’s? Mediterranean agriculture –Based on horticulture –Crops grown for human consumption –Animals/animal products less important traditionally. Commercial gardening and fruit farming –Truck farming (NOTHING TO DO WITH TRUCKS!) –Perishable produce –Grown near markets

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Agriculture and the Environment Agriculture is severely constrained by –Climate –Terrain –Soil Can have strong devastating impact on environment. –Slash and Burn –Overgrazing –Desertification –Irrigation

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Agriculture and Economics: Subsistence Agriculture Population growth –Must produce more food International Trade –Many subsistence farmers do produce cash crops Most profitable = Drugs

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Drug Trade Figure 10-27

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Challenges for commercial farmers –Access to markets is important The von Thünen model (1826) –The choice of crop to grow is related to the proximity to the market Figure 10-24

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Challenges for commercial farmers –Overproduction Agricultural efficiencies have resulted in overproduction Demand has remained relatively constant –As a consequence, incomes for farmers are low –Sustainable agriculture Sensitive land management Integrated crop and livestock

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Strategies to increase food supply –Expanding agricultural land Desertification –Increasing productivity The green revolution –Identifying new food sources Cultivating oceans, developing higher-protein cereals, and improving palatability of foods –Increasing trade

© 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