Ch. 10 AgricultureCh. 10 Agriculture

Where are Agricultural Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Regions in More Developed

Countries?Countries?

More Developed CountriesMore Developed Countries

► 6 main types of commercial agriculture in 6 main types of commercial agriculture in MDC’sMDC’s- Mixed Crop & LivestockMixed Crop & Livestock- Dairy FarmingDairy Farming- Grain FarmingGrain Farming- Livestock RanchingLivestock Ranching- Mediterranean AgricultureMediterranean Agriculture- Commercial gardening & fruit farmingCommercial gardening & fruit farming

► ClimateClimate is main determinant as in LDC’s is main determinant as in LDC’s

1) Mixed Crop & Livestock1) Mixed Crop & Livestock

►Common in Eastern Parts of USA, & much Common in Eastern Parts of USA, & much of Europeof Europe

► Integration of crops & livestockIntegration of crops & livestock►Most of land devoted to crops, but most Most of land devoted to crops, but most

of income (75%) comes from animal of income (75%) comes from animal productsproducts

►Reduces fluctuations in income (seasonal)Reduces fluctuations in income (seasonal)►Crop rotationCrop rotation►USA- corn belt (Ohio-Dakotas), soybeansUSA- corn belt (Ohio-Dakotas), soybeans

2) Dairy Farming2) Dairy Farming

►Most important near urban areas of NE Most important near urban areas of NE USA, SE Canada, NW EuropeUSA, SE Canada, NW Europe

►Transportation factor + location Transportation factor + location ““milkshedmilkshed””

►Milk or specialize in other milk productsMilk or specialize in other milk products►New Zealand world’s largest producer of New Zealand world’s largest producer of

dairy products (far away from largest dairy products (far away from largest world markets)world markets)

►# of dairy farmers decline (expense) but # of dairy farmers decline (expense) but production upproduction up

Dairy Production in the Dairy Production in the U.S.U.S.

Fig. 10-9: Milk production is widely dispersed because of its perishability, but cheese production is far more concentrated.

3) Grain Farming3) Grain Farming

► For consumption of humans not livestockFor consumption of humans not livestock► Most important grain – wheatMost important grain – wheat► US largest producer; Canada, Argentina, US largest producer; Canada, Argentina,

France & UK (dry areas)France & UK (dry areas)► N.A. – Winter wheat belt, Spring wheat belt & N.A. – Winter wheat belt, Spring wheat belt &

Palouse region Palouse region (Washington)(Washington)

► Large farms, highly mechanizedLarge farms, highly mechanized► World’s leading export crop; US & Canada World’s leading export crop; US & Canada

export ½ of world total – prairies export ½ of world total – prairies “breadbasket”“breadbasket”

4) Livestock Ranching4) Livestock Ranching

►Commercial grazing of livestock over Commercial grazing of livestock over extensive area in semi arid or arid landextensive area in semi arid or arid land

►US Popular culture (Texas)US Popular culture (Texas)►Declined in importance in 1880s; Declined in importance in 1880s; range range

warswars►Other ranching occurs in Spain/Portugal, Other ranching occurs in Spain/Portugal,

Argentina, S Brazil & UruguayArgentina, S Brazil & Uruguay►Sheep over cattle in Middle East, N.Z. & Sheep over cattle in Middle East, N.Z. &

South AfricaSouth Africa

5) Mediterranean Agriculture5) Mediterranean Agriculture

►Areas that border Mediterranean Sea + Areas that border Mediterranean Sea + California, central Chile, SW parts of California, central Chile, SW parts of South Africa & Australia (all border a sea)South Africa & Australia (all border a sea)

►Similar physical environmentSimilar physical environment►Horticulture (F & V, flowers, tree crops)Horticulture (F & V, flowers, tree crops)►Olives & grapes (influence of culture)Olives & grapes (influence of culture)►½ of land devoted to cereals (wheat)½ of land devoted to cereals (wheat)►California: citrus fruits tree nuts etc.California: citrus fruits tree nuts etc.

6) Commercial Gardening & 6) Commercial Gardening & Fruit FarmingFruit Farming

►Dominates US Southeast (high humidity)Dominates US Southeast (high humidity)►Most sold to processors Most sold to processors

(canning/freezing)(canning/freezing)►Highly efficient, large scale operations, Highly efficient, large scale operations,

low labour costs (migrant workers)low labour costs (migrant workers)►High use of machineryHigh use of machinery►Apples, Asparagus, Cherries, Lettuce, Apples, Asparagus, Cherries, Lettuce,

Tomatoes, Mushrooms Tomatoes, Mushrooms ►SpecializationSpecialization

What is a “cash crop”What is a “cash crop”

►A cash crop is an agricultural crop which is grown in LDCs for sale to return a profit

►Usually crops which attract demand in MDCs, and hence have some export value

►A “Bad” thing?!?!

Guess the Cash Crop??Guess the Cash Crop??

Plantation FarmingPlantation Farming

►Form of commercial agriculture found in Form of commercial agriculture found in in Tropics & Sub-tropicsin Tropics & Sub-tropics

►Found in LDC’s, but owned & operated by Found in LDC’s, but owned & operated by Europeans or N. Americans + sold thereEuropeans or N. Americans + sold there

►Large farms that specialize in 1 or 2 cropsLarge farms that specialize in 1 or 2 crops►Cotton, sugarcane, coffee, rubber, tobacco, Cotton, sugarcane, coffee, rubber, tobacco,

cocoa, jute, bananas, tea, coconuts, palm cocoa, jute, bananas, tea, coconuts, palm oiloil

► Import workers & provide them with necessitiesImport workers & provide them with necessities►Civil war; significance to US SouthCivil war; significance to US South

Focus on CoffeeFocus on Coffee► Considered one of the ‘luxury crops’Considered one of the ‘luxury crops’► 11stst domesticated in present day Ethiopia, domesticated in present day Ethiopia,

today thrives in Middle & South America (70%)today thrives in Middle & South America (70%)► US buys more than ½ of all coffee sold, US buys more than ½ of all coffee sold,

Western Europe imports most of restWestern Europe imports most of rest► One of best examples of colonial legacy’s One of best examples of colonial legacy’s

impact on present-day agricultural practicesimpact on present-day agricultural practices► Early 18Early 18thth century- virtually unknown, now 2 century- virtually unknown, now 2ndnd

most valuable traded commodity in worldmost valuable traded commodity in world► There are approximately 25 million farmers

and coffee workers► Foreign owned plantations, low wagesForeign owned plantations, low wages

Illegal Cash CropsIllegal Cash Crops

► Important cash crops, not easily mappedImportant cash crops, not easily mapped►High demand; particularly in coreHigh demand; particularly in core►Periphery farmers find it more profitable Periphery farmers find it more profitable

to cultivate poppy, coca, marijuanato cultivate poppy, coca, marijuana► Increased through the 1980s & 1990sIncreased through the 1980s & 1990s►Coca- *Columbia, Peru, BoliviaCoca- *Columbia, Peru, Bolivia►Poppy- SE & SW Asia Poppy- SE & SW Asia (+90% Afghanistan & (+90% Afghanistan &

Myanmar)Myanmar)

►USA – Role of MexicoUSA – Role of Mexico