© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 5.4What are the agricultural agricultural characteristics of characteristics of irrigation farming in irrigation farming in southern California? southern California? Part A

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Where is California? What comes to your mind when you think of California? Oranges Windsurfing Hollywood Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco California is famous for gold mining, golden fields and sunshine. It is known as the Golden State.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Where is California? California has the largest agricultural output among the 50 states. It is the leading producer of fruits, nuts and vegetables in the USA. California’s percentage share of gross cash income by farm products, 2006 Source: California Agricultural Resource Directory 2007, California Department of Food and Agriculture

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Where is California? Southern California extends roughly from 32°N to 38°N. California United States Where is southern California?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? What is the physical environment of southern California? 1 Relief and drainage 3 Soil and vegetation 2 Climate Are these characteristics similar to those in the Sahel? Little drainage? Hot? Dry/Scanty rainfall? Infertile soil? High evaporation?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Types of farms run in Fresno county, California in 2007 Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture The farmers in southern California mainly practise ( arable farming / livestock rearing ) What do people farm in southern California?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? In southern California, farming is characterized by heavy reliance on irrigation. Therefore, the farming system is know as irrigation farming. Inputs Physical inputs Cultural inputs 1 Irrigation water from various water schemes 2 Research and technology 3 Chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers 4 High capital investment 5 Hired and contract labour 6 Government aid/policies 7 Rail or road transport Farming processes Ploughing, seeding, planting, irrigation, pest control, fertilizing, harvesting Local and overseas markets Outputs Useful outputs: cash crops (e.g. fruits, vegetables) Useless outputs: waste and excess chemicals Cash What are the characteristics of the irrigation farming system in southern California?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? In southern California, farming is characterized by heavy reliance on irrigation. Therefore, the farming system is know as irrigation farming. Inputs Physical inputs Cultural inputs 1 Irrigation water from various water schemes 2 Research and technology 3 Chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers 4 High capital investment 5 Hired and contract labour 6 Government aid/policies 7 Rail or road transport Farming processes Ploughing, seeding, planting, irrigation, pest control, fertilizing, harvesting Local and overseas markets Outputs Useful outputs: cash crops (e.g. fruits, vegetables) Useless outputs: waste and excess chemicals Cash What are the characteristics of this farming system? ( Arable farming / Livestock rearing ) ( Intensive / Extensive ) farming ( Subsistence / Commercial ) farming ( Low-technology / High-technology ) farming ( Sedentary / Non-sedentary ) farming What are the characteristics of the irrigation farming system in southern California?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? In Part B, we will study the farming constraints in southern California.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Relief and drainage Relief: Mostly over _____ metres Highland: The _______ ________ and the _______ ________ Ranges 400 Nevada Lowland: The _______ _______ and the ________ _______ Coast Sierra Central Valley Imperial Valley Describe the relief of southern California.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Relief and drainage Rivers: The ____________ River and the _____________ River Describe the drainage of southern California. The water in San Joaquin River comes from the melted snow of the ________ to the east of the valley San Joaquin Rockies Colorado

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Climate Eureka Fresno Palm Springs Eureka Fresno Palm Springs R: 962mm T  C: 11.5  C R: 260mm T  C: 17  C R: 144mm T  C: 22.8  C R: Annual rainfall (mm) T  C: Annual mean temperature (  C) Temperature ( increases / decreases ) towards the south. ATemperature

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Climate BRainfall Eureka Fresno Palm Springs Eureka Fresno Palm Springs R: 962mm T  C: 11.5  C R: 260mm T  C: 17  C R: 144mm T  C: 22.8  C R: Annual rainfall (mm) T  C: Annual mean temperature (  C) Rainfall ( increases / decreases ) towards the south. In southern California, rainfall becomes scanty.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Eureka Fresno Palm Springs 2Climate BRainfall Rainfall ( decreases / increases ) from the coast towards the inland. Higher rainfall Lower rainfall Wet onshore winds rise over the Coast Ranges, forming _______ rain. relief Central Valley is in the ______________, resulting in low rainfall. rain shadow

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Climate BRainfall Eureka Fresno Eureka Fresno R: 962mm T  C: 11.5  C R: 260mm T  C: 17  C R: Annual rainfall (mm) T  C: Annual mean temperature (  C) In most parts of California: In winter, it is warm and ( dry / wet ). In summer, it is hot and ( dry / wet ). It is known as ______________ climate. Mediterranean

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Climate BRainfall Palm Springs R: 144mm T  C: 22.8  C R: Annual rainfall (mm) T  C: Annual mean temperature (  C) At the southern tip of California, ____________ _______ climate exists. subtropical desert This is caused by the ( onshore / offshore ) winds blowing in most of the year, which bring little rain. Palm Springs

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 3Soil and vegetation High temperature High evaporation rates Salt Alkaline soil Bringing salts beneath the soil to the surface Alkaline soil Most soils are alkaline in southern California.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? In places where a Mediterranean climate prevails, woodland and scrubland are found. Towards the south where the climate is drier, grassland and desert plants dominate. As there is not much vegetation here, soils contain ( little / much ) organic matter. Grassland in California Therefore, most soils are ( fertile / infertile ) in southern California. 3Soil and vegetation

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Physical inputs Climate Temperature: 12°C–32°C Annual rainfall: Scanty, about 200–450 mm Soil________ and ________ Land Extensive lowland in the _______ Valley and the ________ Valley Water supply From the ____________ River and the _________ River SeedsSeeds of one or two crops Alkalineinfertile Central Imperial San Joaquin Colorado

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Cultural inputs To compensate for the less favourable physical environment, cultural inputs are ( low / high ): Developing irrigation systems Applying pesticides and fertilizers Using machinery Undertaking research for advanced technologies in farming Farm workers are harvesting lettuce in California (Credit: Richard Hamilton Smith/Corbis)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Cultural inputs Import barriers 40% Government payments (such as market loss assistance payments) 25.7% Marketing 13.4% Input assistance (such as crop insurance, irrigation system, etc.) 10.3% Research 5.1% Economy-wide policies 4% Export assistance 1.5% Government aid to farming in California Source: Agricultural Marketing Resource Centre (2003), Commodity policy and California agriculture, Agricultural Issues Centre, University of California The federal government has adopted different policies to help farming in California.