Agricultural Systems AP Human Geography Agriculture Rural Land

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Agricultural Systems AP Human Geography

Agricultural Systems AP Human Geography

Agriculture & Rural Land Use – Key Topics Commercial Agriculture Subsistence Agriculture Primarily for

Agriculture & Rural Land Use – Key Topics Commercial Agriculture Subsistence Agriculture Primarily for purpose of selling products for money, often monocultures for economies of scale Primarily for direct consumption by a local population food to feed your family, usually small scale and low tech

Subsistence – predominantly low-income regions Intensive subsistence – subtropical monsoon areas Shifting cultivation –

Subsistence – predominantly low-income regions Intensive subsistence – subtropical monsoon areas Shifting cultivation – tropical forests & savannas Nomadic herding – semiarid and arid lands Commercial – predominantly high-income regions Crop farming – more humid climates Livestock ranching - drylands

Agribusiness • The interconnected industry of food production involving farmers, processors, distributors and retailers.

Agribusiness • The interconnected industry of food production involving farmers, processors, distributors and retailers.

Pastoral Farming • Farming related to livestock. The livestock usually graze on naturally-grown grass

Pastoral Farming • Farming related to livestock. The livestock usually graze on naturally-grown grass and other vegetation. Some pastoral farmers grow crops, but instead of selling the harvest, they feed it to livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep etc. )

Transhumance • Moving herds on a seasonal basis to new pastures or water sources

Transhumance • Moving herds on a seasonal basis to new pastures or water sources

Plantation Farming • Plantation Farming – Large farm that specializes in one or two

Plantation Farming • Plantation Farming – Large farm that specializes in one or two crops » Less so today than in the past - cotton, sugarcane, and tobacco – Commercial agriculture found in the tropics and subtropics – Generally situated in LEDCs but often owned and operated by European or North American transnational corporations – Crops produced for sale primarily in MEDC’s – A cash crop is a high-valued crop such as coffee, tea, cotton and sugar that is sold in the international market.

Organic Agriculture • relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and

Organic Agriculture • relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests, excluding or strictly limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms

Intensive Agriculture • is an agricultural production system characterized by the high inputs of

Intensive Agriculture • is an agricultural production system characterized by the high inputs of capital, labour, or heavy usage of technologies such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers relative to land area.

Extensive Agriculture • is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labor,

Extensive Agriculture • is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labor, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed. It most commonly refers to sheep and cattle farming in areas with low agricultural productivity

Agriculture in Less Developed Countries – Characteristics of shifting cultivation • Use fire to

Agriculture in Less Developed Countries – Characteristics of shifting cultivation • Use fire to clear vegetation from land in order to create fields for crops (Slash and Burn) – Cleared land = swidden • Plant crops for a few years then leave fallow – Land fertile for 3 or less years – Native vegetation returns – Soil recovery slow takes years

Classifying Agricultural Regions – Climate influences the crop that is grown and/or animals raised

Classifying Agricultural Regions – Climate influences the crop that is grown and/or animals raised – Relationship exists between climate and agriculture • Dry climate often equates to livestock ranching rather than farming – Culture influences agriculture • Hog (pig/swine) production low to nonexistent in predominantly Muslim (and Jewish) regions due to religious taboo on pork.

World Corn (Maize) Production Fig. 10 -7: The U. S. and China are the

World Corn (Maize) Production Fig. 10 -7: The U. S. and China are the leading producers of corn (maize) in the world. Much of the corn in both countries is used for animal feed.

World Milk Production Milk production reflects wealth, culture, and environment. It is usually high

World Milk Production Milk production reflects wealth, culture, and environment. It is usually high in MEDCs, especially production per capita, and varies considerably in LEDCs.

Dairy Farming and Urban Areas – Why Dairy Farms tend to be located near

Dairy Farming and Urban Areas – Why Dairy Farms tend to be located near Urban Areas » Milk must be close to market due to perishability of milk products » Proximity to market less important now due to transportation options – Regional Differences In Dairy Products » Farmers far from urban centers usually sell to dairy product processors (cheese, butter, etc) – Problems For Dairy Farmers » Declining revenues and rising costs » Labor intensive, cows milked twice daily » Winter feed expenses

Dairy Production in the U. S. Fig. 10 -9: Milk production (top right) is

Dairy Production in the U. S. Fig. 10 -9: Milk production (top right) is widely dispersed because of its perishability, though there areas with greater production. As a whole the US produces tons of milk (left). Cheese production (bottom right) is far more concentrated.

Farms Adventures Dairy Farm • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=JJRy 82 i 8 e

Farms Adventures Dairy Farm • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=JJRy 82 i 8 e 5 Q

Commercial Dairy Farming • The management of cattle for producing and marketing milk, butter,

Commercial Dairy Farming • The management of cattle for producing and marketing milk, butter, cheese or other milk by-products

Grain Farming • Grain Farming » Some form of grain major on most farms

Grain Farming • Grain Farming » Some form of grain major on most farms – wheat most important » Meant for human consumption – Grain-Farming Regions » US largest grain producers; other large scale: Canada, Australia, Argentina, France and the UK » Heavily mechanized planting and harvesting (combine) crop – Importance Of Wheat » World’s leading export crop » North American prairies the “Breadbasket” producing ½ world exports of wheat

World Wheat Production China is the world’s leading wheat producer, but the U. S.

World Wheat Production China is the world’s leading wheat producer, but the U. S. and Canada account for about half of world wheat exports.

Commercial Grain Farming • Agriculture involving the large-scale, highly mechanized cultivation of grain

Commercial Grain Farming • Agriculture involving the large-scale, highly mechanized cultivation of grain

Livestock Ranching Cattle Ranching In U. S. Popular Culture • Taught to us in

Livestock Ranching Cattle Ranching In U. S. Popular Culture • Taught to us in cowboy films » Beginning Of U. S. Cattle Ranching • First brought to the Americas by Columbus on his second voyage • Cattle ranching migrated west with the settlers The Chisholm Trail became famous as the main route for cattle drives from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.

Meat Production on Ranches Ranching outside of the US Fig. 10 -12: Cattle, sheep,

Meat Production on Ranches Ranching outside of the US Fig. 10 -12: Cattle, sheep, and goats are the main meat animals raised on ranches.

Livestock Ranching • A form of agriculture devoted to raising large numbers of cattle

Livestock Ranching • A form of agriculture devoted to raising large numbers of cattle or sheep for sale to meat processors.

Commercial Gardening And Fruit Farming • Commercial Gardening And Fruit Farming – Truck farming

Commercial Gardening And Fruit Farming • Commercial Gardening And Fruit Farming – Truck farming » “Truck” – meaning vegetables grown for market » Predominant in Southeast United States » Fruits and vegetables-apples, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc. » Much of the crop is sold to large processing companies for use in canning and freezing » Distant from markets they serve and require immigrant labor.