Agricultural Production in Spain

1. Agricultural Production in Spain Tom Loynachan January 27, 2010

2. Outline • Location • Natural resources • Climate • Soils • Crops • Livestock • Summary Spain with a population of ca. 46 million people is one of the largest (50.5 million hectares) and mountainous countries of Western Europe.

3. Ames is 42oN Barcelona is 41º 23' 12'' N Airport road is right at 42oN

4. Des Moines is 7 hours behind Madrid time. 4474 miles air distance Des Moines to Madrid One time zone every 15O

5. Spain is about 3.5 times larger than Iowa

6. Total Land Area • Spain = 504,782 sq km (3rd in Europe) • Iowa = 145,752 sq km (26th in USA) • Between California (423,971 sq km) and Texas (695,622 sq km) • Twice the size of Oregon (254,806 sq km)

7. Natural Resources of Spain • Coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land

8. A large part is semiarid, with temperatures that range from extremely cold in the winter to scorching in the summer. Rainfall, which is often inadequate, tends to be concentrated in two generally brief periods during spring and autumn, and summer droughts occur frequently.

9. Madrid approx. 17 in/yr

10. Climate The climate in Spain is diverse. It is largely affected by altitude and surrounding oceans. There is a huge difference between the northern and southern climates of Spain.

11. Ames elevation is ca. 950 ft (290m) • Madrid elevation is ca. 2160 ft (660m)

12. Land use: Arable land 31% Permanent crops 10% Meadows and pastures 21% Forest and woodland 31% Other 7% Of Spain's 50.5 million ha of land, 20.6 million, or about 40%, are suitable for cultivation; however, the soil is generally of poor quality, and only about 10% of the land can be considered excellent.

13. Spanish Soils • Soil formation is influence by: • Parent material • Climate • Topography • Biological activity • Time

15. Spanish Soil Map

16. Spain is made up of 17 autonomous regions. Each region has its own government that shares administrative responsibilities with the central government. Each region has a major say in local agriculture.

17. Crops Only about 17 percent of Spain's cultivated land is irrigated but accounts for ca. 40-45% of the gross value of crop production and >50% of the value of agricultural exports. • Corn • Fruit trees and citrus • Vegetables • Grapes • Sunflowers • Sugar beets • Potatoes • Legumes (many edible beans) • Olive trees • Strawberries • Tomatoes • Fodder grasses • Cereal grains (wheat and barley) • Onions • Rice

18. How big is a hectare? One hectare = 2.47 acresOne hectare = 10,000 sq. meters or 107,600 sq. ft.One acre = 4,050 sq. meters or 43,560 sq. ft.

19. Quick Facts • 54%, or 25.6 million ha, of the land in Spain is devoted to agriculture. • Agriculture produces 3% of the country's wealth (GDP) and employs 6.4% of its workforce (720,000). • There are 1.2 million farms in total of which 4% cover more than 100 ha. • The average size of a Spanish farm is 21 ha. • The average size of a cereal farm is 40 ha. • The average size of a vegetable farm is 6 ha. • 27% of the agricultural land used is devoted to tenant farming.

20. Agricultural Production Facts • In inland Spain, most agriculture is based on cereals, potatoes, oil-producing crops, and sugar beet production. • The irrigated zones of the deep valleys and coastal plains produce citrus fruit and tomatoes. A large part of this production goes to export. • Spain's vineyards are widespread throughout the country. • Olive groves are also common in Spain, the world's largest producer of olives and olive oil.

21. Wine • Spain has the largest land area of any country in the world dedicated to the growing of grapes. Next is France, then Italy, Turkey, and the United States. Spain's vine-growing country has diverse terrain and climatic conditions. Growing areas vary from semi-arid southern areas to wet northern areas while in the central tableland vines have adapted to extremely cold, dry winter weather. Spain has ca. 1.2 million ha in grapes (3 million acres)

22. Crop Production (MT)(million) 1 MT = ca. 2,200 lbs

24. Forestry • Forests cover more than one-fourth of the total land area of Spain, with much of this woodland in the mountainous regions. Forestry contributes only a tiny fraction to Spain’s agricultural production. Important forestry products are cork, eucalyptus, oak, pine, and poplar.

25. Cork • Spain is the world's second largest producer of cork after Portugal. The best quality of cork, used for bottle stoppers, was grown in Catalonia. Cork trees can live up to 500 years. Though the cork may be stripped every 9 yrs, it takes at least 40 yrs for the bark to become commercially viable.

26. Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry • Accounted for 39% of overall agricultural output in 1999

27. Livestock Production(million head/tons)

28. Swine Production • No. of head • Spain 26 million (2009) • 2nd largest in EU • Iowa ca. 30 million (no. 1 in USA) (2009)

29. Cattle Production • No. of head • Spain ca. 6,200,000 (2009) • Mainly in the north • Spain is the lowest per capita consumer of beef in the EU • Iowa ca. 3,600,000 (2004)

30. Dairy • Per capita milk consumption (2005) at 119.1 liters/yr is 6th largest in world (Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain...USA is 15th at 83.9 liters/yr). • The current Spanish production is not sufficient for the country's needs and the country is a net importer of milk and dairy products.

31. Sheep and Goat Production • Spain ca. 22.5 million head (2009) • The significance of sheep farming is its threefold production uses (milk, meat ,and wool). (USA approx. 7.8 million head) • Spain ca. 2.9 million head (2009) • Goats are raised in the same regions as sheep and used similarly.

32. Horses • Found throughout Spain • Numbers ??? • There has been an increase in the number of horses in Spain in recent years due to the evolution of breeds, economic factors, the increase in the number of riders, horse-riding as a sport and for leisure, the use of horses as pets, and the utilization of land suitable for grazing.

33. Fishing • Spain has ca. the world's fourth largest fishing fleet. Spaniards eat more fish per capita than any other European people except the Scandinavians. Fishing accounts for about 1 percent of GDP. Sardines, mussels, cod, mackerel, and tuna, most from the Atlantic Ocean, are the principal components of the catch.

34. Good to Know Electric supply in Spain is 220 V, 50 Hz and the plugs are of the two-round-pin type. • The currency is the Euro (€). Currency can be exchanged at the airport or at banks (banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays). Most ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your credit card...must know your PIN. Many Spanish stores will ask for ID (passport) before accepting your credit card. Currently 1 Euro = ca. 1.41 dollars (2 pm, 1/27/10).

35. Summary • Huge diversity in climate and landforms but soils generally are poor • Exporter of grapes, olives, citrus, vegetables, wine, cork, minerals, and fish products • 40-45% of world’s olive oil production • 3rd largest global wine producer • 4th largest global barley producer • 4th largest in citrus fruits • 5th largest global pig producer

36. It’s Going to Be a Great Trip!

37. Questions?