1. Extensive Commercial Farming
Farming on the Prairies

2. Extensive Commercial Farming
Large areas under cultivation, due to cost of machines and economies of scale.
Monoculture of cash crops, mainly wheat
Low yield, Cheap land means farms are huge.
Low Population Density, few signs of workers as most work is done by machines.
Marginal Climate- too cold and dry
Hedges and trees have been removed to allow easy access for large machines.

3. The Great Plains and the Prairies in USA and Canada
Areas such as Montana, North Dakota and Saskatchewan are dependant on extensive commercial agriculture. Soil fertility is marginal and short growing season means that large areas of land support a very low population density.

4. Climate Climate graph for Alberta Climate graph for Manitoba
Summer temp 19 Degrees
Precipitation 250 – 500 mm
Climate graph for Manitoba
Summer temp 25 Degrees
Precipitation over 500 mm

5. Climate Rainfall Decreases Increase in farm size
Precipitation is low. Some Precipitation in growing season although some danger from hail. Severe frost breaks up soil. Warm Chinook wind melts snow early. Growing season is very short due to precipitation and temperature.

6. Changes in Landuse
Traditional Hunter Gatherer Existence

7. Immigrants
                                                             
Immigrant Farmers drove out the Native Americans. Farmers moved to the Prairies and started cattle farming

8. Railways Railways were built bringing many more people
Demand for grain rose due to increasingly industrialised Europe.
Vast areas were ploughed up and wheat planted
Flat land meant land divided into square mile sections

9. Original Settlements
Land was split into equally sized sections called blocks. As there were few physical features the blocks were equal size.
Settlers were given free land
Settlers had to build a house and cultivate the land
In wetter East farmers got ¼ or ½ section
Drier West got full block
Farms were vast as soil fertility is
marginal and growing season is short.

10. Settlement Pattern
Settlements are evenly distributed in linear and uniform pattern
High order settlements at road and rail junctions
Population density is low as large areas required to support farming

11. Inputs
Seeds and fertilisers are vital. Marginal climate has 120 – 140 frost free days
Capital Input ( money and machines) is high
Migrant Labour travel north as wheat ripens

12. Settlement Hierarchy
High order settlements at railheads and road junctions
Services locate in high order settlements
Local people very isolated
Settlements evenly spaced

13. Recent Developments
Amalgamation of Farms as rural depopulation increased. Greater use of part time farming using contractors for harvesting. More ownership by agribusiness rather than families.
Diversification into new crops such as sunflowers.
Miracle seeds, new varieties including HYV
Improved fertilisers and pesticides and irrigation.
Soil conservation measures such as contour ploughing.
Very large fields with more efficient use of machinery.

14. Impact on people and environment.
Rural depopulation means abandoned homesteads and loss of services such as schools.
Ageing population as young people move out abandoning farming.
More cooperatives have guaranteed farm incomes
New farming techniques such as strip cropping or planting tall sunflowers prevent soil erosion by the wind.
Increase in chemical fertilisers and pesticides have damaged the environment, harming wildlife and polluting water supplies.
Increased irrigation have lead to increased salination of the land as salts are drawn to the surface.