Agricultural Regions in MDC’s

1. Agricultural Regions in MDC’s Six Types of Commercial Agriculture • Mixed crop and livestock farming • Dairy farming • Grain farming • Livestock ranching • Mediterranean agriculture • Commercial gardening and fruit farming

2. 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.

3. Agriculture Regions in MDC’s

4. 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.

5. U.S. Dairy Production 2005 Fig. 10-9: Milk production is widely dispersed because of its perishability, but cheese production is far more concentrated.

6. Grain Farming • 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. Challenges for Commercial Farming • Sustainability • Three practices distinguish sustainable agriculture • Sensitive land management • Limited use of chemicals • Integrated crop and livestock

15. Challenges for Commercial Farming Sustainable agriculture • Sensitive land management • Ridge Tillage • Planted on same ridge year after year • Lower production costs • No need to plow every year • Minimal soil disturbance • Improved soil properties

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Challenges for Subsistence Farming Population Growth • Rising population means subsistence farmers must produce more food • Must intensify production • Adopt new farming methods • Plows • Weed control • More manure • More terraces • Increased irrigation

20. Challenges for Subsistence Farming International Trade • The idea of “subsistence” and “trade” seems contradictory • Many must figure out a way to get needed supplies • High-yield seeds • Fertilizer • Pesticides • Machinery • No money so must trade agricultural products

21. 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

22. Strategies to increase food supply Four Strategies • Expand land area used for agriculture • Increase production of existing land • Identify new food sources • Increase exports from other countries

23. Strategies to increase food supply Expand land area used for agriculture • Not a practical solution • 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

24. 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?

25. 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

26. 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