Transcript Agriculture Regions in MDC`s

Agricultural Regions in MDC’s
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Six Types of Commercial Agriculture
Mixed crop and livestock farming
Dairy farming
Grain farming
Livestock ranching
Mediterranean agriculture
Commercial gardening and fruit farming
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.
Agriculture Regions in MDC’s
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.
U.S. Dairy
Production
2005
Fig. 10-9: Milk production is widely dispersed
because of its perishability, but
cheese production is far more
concentrated.
Grain Farming
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Von Thünen Model
Fig. 10-13: 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.
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
Challenges for Commercial Farming
• Sustainability
– Three practices distinguish sustainable agriculture
• Sensitive land management
• Limited use of chemicals
• Integrated crop and livestock
Challenges for Commercial Farming
Sustainable agriculture
• Sensitive land management
– Ridge Tillage
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Planted on same ridge year after year
Lower production costs
No need to plow every year
Minimal soil disturbance
Improved soil properties
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
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
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
Challenges for Subsistence Farming
Population Growth
• Rising population means subsistence farmers
must produce more food
– Must intensify production
• Adopt new farming methods
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Plows
Weed control
More manure
More terraces
Increased irrigation
Challenges for Subsistence Farming
International Trade
• The idea of “subsistence” and “trade” seems
contradictory
– Many must figure out a way to get needed
supplies
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High-yield seeds
Fertilizer
Pesticides
Machinery
– No money so must trade agricultural products
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
Strategies to increase food supply
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Four Strategies
Expand land area used for agriculture
Increase production of existing land
Identify new food sources
Increase exports from other countries
Strategies to increase food supply
Expand land area used for agriculture
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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
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?
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
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