1. Agricultural Regions in MDC’s
Six Types of Commercial Agriculture
Mixed crop and livestock farming
Dairy farming
Grain farming
Livestock ranching
Mediterranean agriculture
Commercial gardening and fruit farming

2. Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming
Integration of livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, chickens etc.) and crop farming.
Most crops raised are fed to animals.
Most land is devoted to crops.
Most money is generated from animals and animal products.
Crop rotation is common.
Advantages:
Livestock supply manure to fertilize the crops.
Workload and income can be more evenly distributed throughout the year.

3. Agriculture Regions in MDC’s

4. Dairy Farming
Dairy products (butter, cheese, etc.) are extremely valuable.
Mostly produced in Western Europe, North America, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
Because milk is extremely perishable, dairy operations traditionally located near markets – in the milkshed.
Today, transportation makes it possible for milk producers to locate hundreds of miles from markets.
However, the further from markets, the less likely dairy operations are to produce fluid milk.

5. U.S. Dairy Production 2005
Fig. 10-9: Milk production is widely dispersed because of its perishability, but cheese production is far more concentrated.

6. Grain Farming Globally, the most important crop grown is wheat
Wheat is usually produced in areas where it is too dry for mixed farming.
The US is the largest grain producing region on earth.
Winter wheat region (wheat planted in fall, dormant through winter, grows and is harvested in late spring or summer).
Spring wheat region (wheat planted in spring, harvested in late summer).
Other wheat regions (Eastern Washington).
Other major producers include Canada, Argentina, Australia, France and the UK.
Large scale production only became possible in the 19th century, with the development of mechanized agriculture.

7. Livestock Ranching
In some ways, it’s commercial version of pastoral nomadism.
Adapted to areas which are too dry for other agriculture.
Not as profitable per acre as farming
if irrigation makes farming possible, ranching usually ends.
Cattle ranching in the US:
In the 19th century, rapidly expanding cities became a major market for beef.
In the Western US, arid areas that couldn't be used for anything else could be used to produce beef cattle – the problem was getting the beef to market.

8. Livestock Ranching
The solution – long-distance cattle drives.
By the end of the 19th century, cattle drives were basically over.
Has changed to mostly fixed location ranching.
Some cattle are still raised on ranches, but most on shifting pastures.
Many cattle now shipped to feed lots for fattening near their market.
Ranching is also practiced in other developed countries:
Spain and Portugal.
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay.
Australia.

9. Mediterranean Agriculture
Adapted to the Mediterranean climate region – places with warm dry summers, and mild wet winters
Most grown for human consumption – not animal feed.
Primary source of the world's olives, grapes, etc.
Wheat and other grains also grown but mostly for local consumption.
Animals and animal products of less importance traditionally.

10. Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming “Truck Farming”
Truck farming has nothing to do with trucks or trucking! The word “truck” comes from an old English word meaning “to carry” or “to exchange.”
Specialty fruit and vegetable farming – very similar to “market gardening.”
Fresh fruits and vegetables –
Farmers tend to specialize in a few profitable crops.
Traditionally grown near markets.
Specialty farming in New England
Modern transportation has created several truck farming areas in the U.S.

11. Access to Markets Von Thunen Model
Market location influences the farmers choice of crop to plant.
Must compare two costs, Land vs. Transportation
Demonstrates that farms closer to market produce crops with higher transportation costs

12. Von Thünen Model
Fig : Von Thünen’s model shows how distance from a city or market affects the choice of agricultural activity in (a) a uniform landscape and (b) one with a river.

13. Challenges for Commercial Farming
Overproduction
Low incomes because they produce too much
U.S. policies to address this
Farmers encouraged to avoid producing crops in excess supply
Encourages planting fallow crops
Pays farmers when commodity prices are low
Buys surplus production

14. Challenges for Commercial Farming
Sustainability
Three practices distinguish sustainable agriculture
Sensitive land management
Limited use of chemicals
Integrated crop and livestock

15. Challenges for Commercial Farming
Sustainable agriculture
Sensitive land management
Ridge Tillage
Planted on same ridge year after year
Lower production costs
No need to plow every year
Minimal soil disturbance
Improved soil properties

16. Challenges for Commercial Farming
Sustainable agriculture
Limited use of chemicals
“Roundup Ready” seeds allow conventional farmers to drench their fields with herbicide
Sustainable uses limited herbicides
Farmers can control weeds without chemicals
Combining mechanical with some chemicals
Ridge Tillage promotes decreased use of chemicals

17. Challenges for Commercial Farming
Sustainable agriculture
Integrated crop and livestock
Individual farm raises its own feed
Complexities of interdependence
Need correct number and distribution of livestock
Animal confinement
Extreme weather conditions

18. Challenges for Subsistence Farming
Population Growth
Rising population means subsistence farmers must produce more food
Must intensify production
Leave land fallow for shorter periods
Stages of intensification
Forest Fallow
Bush Fallow
Short Fallow
Annual Cropping
Multi Cropping

19. Challenges for Subsistence Farming
Population Growth
Rising population means subsistence farmers must produce more food
Must intensify production
Adopt new farming methods
Plows
Weed control
More manure
More terraces
Increased irrigation

20. Challenges for Subsistence Farming
International Trade
The idea of “subsistence” and “trade” seems contradictory
Many must figure out a way to get needed supplies
High-yield seeds
Fertilizer
Pesticides
Machinery
No money so must trade agricultural products

21. Challenges for Subsistence Farming
International Trade
No money so must trade agricultural products
Some LDC’s choose to export crops that can be converted to drugs
Opium poppy plant
Coca leaf
Cannabis sativa

22. Strategies to increase food supply
Four Strategies
Expand land area used for agriculture
Increase production of existing land
Identify new food sources
Increase exports from other countries

23. Strategies to increase food supply
Expand land area used for agriculture
Not a practical solution
There is not that much suitable land available
Lack of water
Desertification
Excessive crop planting exhausting nutrients
Excessive water (irrigated land becomes water logged)
Urbanization

24. Strategies to increase food supply
Higher Productivity
Green Revolution
Introduction of new higher-yield seeds
Allow countries that used to import a crop now produce a surplus
Expanded use of fertilizers
In the 19th century scientists identify nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash as elements that increase fertility
This prevented a food crisis in the past but will new breakthroughs continue?

25. Strategies to increase food supply
Identify New Food Sources
Cultivate the oceans
Ocean is not a limitless resource
Over fishing is already a problem
Develop higher-protein cereals
Scientifically modified hybrids
Fortified processed foods
Improve palatability of rarely consumed foods
Encourage consumption of foods that are avoided for social reasons

26. Strategies to increase food supply
Increase exports from other countries
Help countries become net exporters
Very few countries are major exporters
Former importers have become exporters
South Asia
South East Asia
Thailand has replaced the U.S. as the #1 exporter of rice
Sub-Saharan Africa is one area that is not keeping up with population growth