1. Absolutely, Positively, 100%, ‘Need to Know’s for Unit 5 (Agriculture)

2. On a sheet of paper, draw the layout of how you believe agriculture works. Include the main city, then where following are grown/produced:
Dairy
Market Gardening (Fruits and Vegetables)
Ranching
Forrest
Grains

3. Two volunteers, please come draw your models on the board and discuss why you chose the placement you did.

4. Von Thunen Model (Pronounced Von Too-nen)
This is THE most important thing in Ag (Unit 5).
Many, many questions have been asked about this.
Why do you think (answer out loud, please)…
Dairy, fruits, and vegetables are so close to the city?
Ranching/Livestock are so far away?

5. Potential Answers
Dairy, fruits, and vegetables are so close to the city?
They are quick to spoil- it’s better to have them closer to the market.
Ranching/Livestock are so far away?
These take up quite a bit of land. Land is much more expensive toward the city (we’ll discuss Bid-Rent Theory in a few slides), so ranchers can afford more land when it’s far from the city.
Think of where most ranching is done- rural Texas, “fly over states” of the Midwest. You’re far more likely to see fruits/vegetables closer to the city.
Potential smells. (Not very pleasant.)

6. It may not always look perfectly circular.

7. In fact, it is almost never perfectly circular
In fact, it is almost never perfectly circular. That’s just what models are- examples, not reality.
They do, however, have similar features. What is something you notice?

8. Bid-Rent Theory Land Value Distance from Center
This theory states that the closer you are to the center (city), the higher the land value.
Similarly, the more space you need to grow, the further you need to go out.
As distance price
Land Value
Distance from Center

9. Agricultural Revolutions
1) Hunting and Gathering  Farming
2) Industrial Revolution
The Ag Revolution slightly predates Industrial Revolution
3) Green Revolution
Same food, just modifying the type.
Not technically “green” at all
Increases yield BUT kills environment and biodiversity, increases erosion.
GMOs – Genetically Modified Organism
Spiders and Goats

10. Types of Farming Subsistence Commercial Intensive Extensive
Large number of inputs
Simple technology
Fruits and vegetables
Some grains (rice)
Small expanses of land
Extensive
Fewer inputs
Larger expansion of land
Shifting cultivation
Shifting fields
NOT crop rotation
(See next slide)
Larger expanses of land
Grain and Livestock

11. Shifting Cultivation Shifting the fields you grow in- not shifting crops grown
(Slash and Burn)