1. Von Thunen’s Theories of Land Use and Agricultural Organization
How is agricultural land organized?
How does this impact the cost of rent/purchasing land?

2. Land Use and Agriculture
Terms
Fallow – the practice of farming land, harvesting, tilling (but not planting), and repeating the cycle
CBD – central business district (town, city, hearth)
Bid rent – how much someone is willing to pay for a particular piece of land

3. Terms
Three-Field Farming—One third of the field is fallowed, while the other two parts are harvested in Spring and Autumn. One third is usually a grain—winter wheat or rye, one third is crops like beans, peas or lentils
Enclosed fields—you have crops in some fields and animals grazing in others. The fields are enclosed—fenced—to keep the animals from wandering into the wrong areas. Then you rotate the pasture and crop land

4. Johann Heinrich Von Thünen
Developed an agricultural model to explain the locations and costs of agriculture in and around a CBD
He used mathematics to explain the cost of farming in multiple environments
R = Y(p − c) − YFm
R = rent p = production costs
Y = yield c = market price
F = transportation costs
m = distance to market

5. Applications
By analyzing the consumer costs, production, and geographic limitations, Von Thunen’s model could help landowners and agriculturalists determine adequate rent for land and potential profits
This model can be been modified to take physical features into account (for instance the “model modified by river” diagram in your books on page 330)

6. William Alonso
William Alonso used von Thunen’s model to evaluate the cost of land in an agricultural region (or industrial center)
The farther away from the CBD, the less money people were willing to pay due to the limited access to the CBD
How can this be applied today?

9. Weaknesses
Assumed that all land had similar site characteristics and uniform quality
Failed to consider that social customs and government policies influence the attractiveness of plants and animals for a commercial farmer
Isolated state, surrounded by wilderness, no roads, transport is by ox cart

10. More Weaknesses: Didn’t take into consideration Roads Railroads
Refrigerated Trucks
Other modern technology

11. Relevant? Land costs are still more closer into cities
Transportation costs continue to be relevant
Consider the “Buy Local” movement
**It does have application today, but probably a bit of limited application

12. Art Project Make one ring for each of Von Thunen’s rings
Each ring needs to state WHAT is grown there and WHY it is in that ring
Color each ring like the item that grows/pastures there
On the back of your largest ring, write down the failings and assumptions made in Von Thunen’s model. Why might it not work perfectly in every situation?

13. Art Project