Chapter 10-Agriculture
Origins of Agriculture
· Hunters
· Gatherers
· Lived in small groups
Two types agriculture
· According to Carl Sauer-vegetative planting (reproduction of plants by direct cloning from existing plants) & seed agriculture (reproduction of plants through annual planting of seeds). Seed agriculture used by most farmers today.
· Primary seed hearths-Southeast Asia, East India, Northwest India, Eastern African Highlands, Southern Mexico
· Diffusion of seed agriculture to other areas
Subsistence agriculture found in LDCs (farmers produce only enough for themselves and family).
Commercial agriculture found in MDCs and raising of crops for sale.
5 features that distinguish commercial from subsistence agriculture:
1-purpose of farming
2-% of farmers in labor force
3-use of machinery
4-farm size
5-relationship of farming to other businesses
World land area: 24% too cold, 27% too dry, 37% too mountainous,4% too swampy
That leaves only 8% arable land to feed 6.2 billion people.
Agribusiness-commercial farming
Key Issue2-Where are agricultural regions in LDCs
Shifting cultivation-farmers who move about planting and farming
Slash-and-burn-actual burning land of debris
Swidden-how areas are cleared for planting by slash-burn
Farmers grow crops on cleared field for a few years til nutrients are depleted from soil, then leave it fallow (unplanted) for a few years so that soil can recover.
Pastoral nomadism-form of subsistence agriculture based on herding of domesticated animals.
Transhumance-seasonal migration of livestock between mts. & lowland pasture areas.
Pasture-grass area where animals graze (eat)
Intensive subsistence agriculture-farmers work harder to subsist on parcel of land (high agricultural density-ratio of farmers to arable land) in East, South, and Southeast Asia
Wet rice-practice of planting rice on dry land in nursery; moves seedlings to flooded field to promote growth (picture on page 340)
Flooded field-sawah and paddy is where rice is grown
Rice plants harvested by hand (knives), separate husks-chaff from seeds, heads are threshed, threshed rice placed in tray and lighter chaff is winnowed-allowed to be blown away by wind
Double cropping-2 harvests per field
Crop rotation-practice of rotating use of fields from crop to crop
Plantation-large farm specializes in 1 or 2 crops
1st Agricultural Revolution-allowed humans to become more sedentary (staying in one place)
2nd Agricultural Revolution-occurred during time of Industrial Revolution-used technology provided by IR as a means to increase production and distribution of products. (Eli Whitney invents cotton gin for example)
3rd Agricultural Revolution-latter half of 20th century-aka Green Revolution-involves use of biotechnology or genetic engineering-process alters (changes) genetic material of plants and animals (biotechnology takes place in lab)
Key Issue 3-Whe
re are agricultural regions in MDCs
· Mixed crop and livestock farming is most common form of commercial agriculture in U.S. west of Appalachians
· Most distinctive characteristic of mixed crop/livestock is integration of crops/livestock (most of crops fed to animals)
· Manure from livestock used to improve soil
Crop rotation systems-farm divided into fields & field is planted on cycle (crops change)
· Cereal grain-oats, wheat, barley
Dairy farming most important type of commercial agriculture practiced on farms near large urban areas of Northeast U.S., Southeast Canada, & Northwest Europe
Usually located near urban areas because milk is highly perishable, so the ring surrounding a city from which milk can be supplied is known as a milkshed.
Dairy Belt is ubiquitous-present everywhere
Grain is the seed from various grasses like wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, millet, & others.
U.S. largest commercial producer of grain. Winter wheat (KS, CO, OK) planted in autumn and develops strong root system before growth stops for the winter. Spring wheat (Dakotas, MT, southern Saskatchewan in Canada) 2nd most important grain producing region.
*Reaper-machine that cuts grain standing in field invented in 1830s.
*Combine-machine that performs in one operation 3 tasks of reaping, threshing, & cleaning.
Range wars-1870s-gov’t. owned land then sold to ranchers
Ranchers tried to drive out farmers by putting up fences
Farmers retaliated with barbed wire fences; eventually farmers won then large cattle ranches were established
Cattle Breeding-used to have “longhorns” (hardy cow who could travel long distances on cattle drives). However susceptible to parasitic insects, ticks, poorer quality of meat due to these factors
New breeds came from Europe (Hereford)-offered superior meat, but couldn’t travel long distances, need more water, etc.
Ranching outside U.S.-big industry in Argentina-cattle could graze, Australia-sheep and cattle
Mediterranean agriculture-Mediterranean Sea, Southern Europe, North Africa, most products grown for humans
Horticulture-growing of fruits/veggies, flowers, tree crops (grapes, olives, fruits)
Commercial gardening/fruit farming-truck farming-fruits and vegetables offered for sale close to where they are grown-highly efficient
Access to markets
Von Thünen’s Model states that the distance from the farm to the market influences the farmer’s choice of crop to plant. Best example of proximity to market is dairy farming. Because milk spoils quickly it is very important to be close to market.
Look at model on page 350-you need to input this diagram on left side of notebook.