Transcript File - Mr. Nelson`s AP human geography

Topic: Commercial Farming
• Aim: What are the
major types of
commercial
farming?
Second Agriculture Revolution:
• A series of innovations, improvements, and techniques
used to improve the output of agricultural surpluses
(started before the industrial revolution).
– seed drill
– new crops-potatoes & corn
– advances in livestock breeding
– new soil preparation methods & new fertilizers
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming:
Characteristics
1. Most common form of commercial agriculture in the
U.S. west of Appalachians and from France to Russia
2. Integration of crops and livestock (most crops fed to
animals; livestock then supply manure to improve soil to
grow more crops)
3. Devotes nearly all land area to growing crops, but ¾ of
income from animal products (beef, milk, eggs)
4. Crop rotation
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming
Choice of Crops
1. In U.S. corn is used most frequently
a. Higher yields per area than other crops
b. Most corn is fed to pigs and cattle
c. Most important mixed crop and livestock
farming region is the Corn Belt (from Ohio to
the Dakotas)
2. 2nd most important crop are soybeans
a. Mostly used to make animal feed
Dairy Farming:
Characteristics
1. Most common form of commercial agriculture on
farms near large urban areas of the northeastern U.S.,
southeastern Canada, and northwestern Europe
2. In the twentieth century, most clustered in a few
MDCs, but the share of the world’s dairy farming in
LDCs has risen from 21% in 1970 to 44% in 2005
3. India is world’s largest milk producer (Pakistan and
China will soon pass Russia as third and fourth
largest)
The production of
highly perishable
dairy products, such
as milk, is dispersed
around the United
States, whereas
cheese production is
heavily clustered
between Wisconsin
and Idaho.
Dairy Farming
Location Near Urban Areas
1. In MDCs, dairying is most important in first ring
outside large cities because of transportation
factors
2. Milkshed: ring surrounding city from which milk
can be supplied without spoiling - technology
increases this in MDC’s
3. Dairy farms must be close to market because milk
is highly perishable - farmers typically sell to
retailers, not individuals
Milk Men
in India
Dairy Farming:
Regional Differences in Dairy Products
1. The farther the farm is from large urban
concentrations, the smaller is the percentage of
output devoted to fresh milk
2. Farms located farther from consumers are more
likely to sell output to processors who make
butter, cheese, or dried, evaporated, or condensed
milk
Dairy Farming:
Challenges for Dairy Farmers
1. Declining revenues and rising costs
2. Labor intensive (cows must be milked twice a
day)
3. Expensive to feed cows in winter (need to
purchase hay or grain for winter feed)
4. Number of farms with milk cows declined in
U.S. by 2/3s between 1980 and 2000
Grain Farming
Characteristics
1. Crops grown on grain farm are primarily for
consumption by humans (breakfast cereals and snack
foods)
2. Grain: seed from various grasses (wheat, corn, oats,
barley, rice, millet) - grains grown for human, not animal
consumption
Grain Farming
Choice of Crops
1. Most important crop is wheat, used to make bread
flour
2. World’s leading export crop
3. North American prairies are labeled the world’s
“breadbasket”
4. U.S. is largest commercial producer of grain (others
are Canada, Argentina, Australia, France, and UK)
Grain Farming:
Three Main Regions of Production
1. Winter-wheat belt: crop is planted in autumn and
develops strong root system before growth stops in
winter; wheat survives winter and is harvested in early
summer (Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma)
2. Spring-wheat belt: crop is planted in spring and
harvested in late summer (Dakotas, Montana, southern
Saskatchewan)
3. Palouse region of Washington state
Machines Used for
Grain Farming
McCormick reaper: was invented in the 1830s to permit largescale wheat production; machine cuts grain standing in the field.
Machines Used for
Grain Farming
Combine: performs the three tasks of reaping (cutting),
threshing (separating edible parts from inedible) and cleaning
Livestock Ranching
Beginning of U.S. Cattle Ranching
1. Commercial grazing of livestock over extended area
where soil is too poor to support crops
2. Cattle first brought to Americas by Columbus
3. Immigrants from Spain and Portugal began ranching in
the Americas
4. Expanded because of demand for beef in the East Coast
cities during the 1860s
5. Challenge to transport from Texas to eastern markets
Chisholm Trail: Became
famous in American folklore as
main route for cattle drives
Livestock Ranching Outside the U.S.
1.
2.
3.
South America: Argentina, southern Brazil, Uruguay
Interior of Australia, Middle East, New Zealand, South
Africa
Change from herding over open ranges to fixed location
Mediterranean Agriculture
Characteristics
1. Exists on lands that border the Mediterranean Sea
in Southern Europe, North Africa, and western
Asia (also California, Chile, South Africa, and
Australia)
2. Similar Physical Characteristics
a. Borders a sea
b. Mostly on west coasts of continents
c. Moderate climate
d. Land is hilly
Choice of Crops
1. Most crops grown for human consumption
2. Horticulture: growing of fruits, vegetables, and flowers
3. Horticulture and tree crops form the commercial base
4. Olives, grapes are most important cash crops - 2/3 of
wine produced in countries that bolder the
Mediterranean (Italy, France, Spain)
Commercial Gardening and Fruit
Farming
Characteristics
1. Predominant type of agriculture in U.S.
Southeast
2. Long growing season, humid climate,
and accessibility to large markets
3. Called truck farming because truck was
a Middle English word for barter
Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming
Truck Farming:
1. Predominant in Southeast U.S.
2. Grow apples, asparagus, cherries, lettuce,
mushrooms, and tomatoes
3. Most are sold to large processors for canning or
freezing
4. Maximize efficiency (experiment with seeds,
fertilizers and hire migrant farm workers)
5. Specialty farming (demand among affluent
consumers for asparagus, peppers, mushrooms,
strawberries and nursery plants)