© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. T4/2/13; M3/26/12 Problems in Agriculture (Ch. 10.4 – pp. 329-341)

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

T4/2/13; M3/26/12

Problems in Agriculture

(Ch. 10.4 – pp. 329-341)


I. Challenges for Commercial Farmers

A. Market Accessibility– Access to markets is important

– Johann Heinrich von Thünen’s Model (1826)– choice of crop to grow related to the proximity to the market– More perishable the item, closer it is to city/market– Less perishable, farther from market

• von Thunen based ideas on own experience– Based on own estate

• Ideas still applicable today on nat’l & int’l scale• failed to account for social customs & gov’t policy


Von Thunen’s Model



B. Overproduction• Agricultural efficiencies have resulted in overproduction• Demand has remained relatively constant

– Grow more food than people can eat– As a consequence, incomes for farmers are low

• U.S. Gov’t Policies to help farmers– 1. discouraged from growing crops in excess supply– 2. pays farmers subsidy for certain commodities when prices are low– 3. buys surplus production and sells/donates to other countries– about $16B/year in agric. Subsidies

• Europe subsidizes even more– encourage local farming– avoid dependence on foreign foods



C. Sustainable Agriculture– Still relatively small – only 0.24% of farm land

• organic food often expensive

– Three principal practices:• 1. Sensitive land management

– ridge tillage– lower production costs, not as efficient

• 2. Limited use of chemicals• 3. Integrated crop and livestock

– return to traditional mixed method– free-range animals


II. Challenges for Subsistence Farmers– 1. Population growth

• Ester Boserup – 2 major changes in subsistence farming

• A. Greater mechanization - plows replace axes– Requires new labor– More farmland, same productivity

• B. Land left fallow for shorter time– With more people to feed, must grow more crops– Lands must be used more frequently– Possible problems?


II. Challenges for Subsistence Farmers– 2. International trade

• To raise production farmers need– higher-yield seeds– fertilizer– pesticides – machinery

• New supplies cost money

• LDCs must produce more manufactured goods & more crops– Specialize on certain goods: coffee, tea, specialty produce– Sale of export crops brings in foreign currency– Used to buy agricultural supplies

• Often have to import crops - ironic


II. Challenges for Subsistence Farmers– 3. Drug crops

• 3 major drug crops– Cannabis sativa (marijuana) – worldwide– Opium poppy (heroin) – Asia, esp. Afghanistan, Myanmar– Coca leaf (cocaine) – Latin America (Colombian processing)

• Most consumption is in MDCs• Many opium/heroin users in central Asia


World Drug Trade


III. Strategies to Increase Food Supply• 4 major strategies

– A. Expanding agricultural land• Desertification common problem

– Land becomes dry & unusable– More land shifted into unusable land b/c of population growth

• Land converted to urban use

– B. Increasing productivity • The green revolution

– higher-yield seeds & expanded use of fertilizers– Fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium

• Productivity increased dramatically worldwide

• Fertilizers not spread evenly due to resources


III. Strategies to Increase Food Supply– C. Identifying new food sources

• Cultivating oceans– Decreasing fish stocks esp. w/ certain fish – tuna & swordfish

• developing higher-protein cereals– Source of protein in LDCs

• improving palatability of foods - soybean, krill

– D. Increasing trade• Export more food esp. grains

– 3 major grains: wheat, rice, corn (maize)

• U.S. still major exporter of foods

• South Asia & SE Asia becoming net exporters

• Sub-Saharan Africa still major importer


Agricultural Land and Population

Figure 10-28


Grain Imports and Exports

Figure 10-32


The End.

Up next: Industry

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© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. T4/2/13; M3/26/12 Problems in Agriculture (Ch. 10.4 – pp. 329-341)