Agricultural Regions

Transcription

1 Agricultural Regions The following map displays a more specific representation of agricultural regions. It shows (through numbers) when other types of agriculture are practiced within a region where another type predominates (color). The regions to be mapped are generalized meaning they should be color-coded based on the predominant type of agriculture practiced within the region. For purposes of AP Human Geography it is more important to understand the generalized version. A blank copy is provided under a separate attachment. You should color code that map as you read the following slides. You will be required to understand this distribution.

2 World Agriculture

3 Agriculture (terms to know) Subsistence: production of food primarily for the family (mostly in LDCs). Commercial: production of food primarily for sale off of the farm (MDCs and some LDCs). Extensive agriculture: requires limited input of labor or is spread across a large area of land or both. Intensive agriculture: requires lots of labor or is focused on a small plot of land or both.

4 Agricultural Regions in LDCs

5 Shifting cultivation occupies largest land area of all agricultural activities 25% of world s land area, only 5% of people (low populations) Land usually not owned individually Amount of land (dedicated to shifting agriculture) is declining Replaced by logging, ranching, cash crops development» Destruction of rainforests, global warming Most prevalent in low-latitude, humid climates High temperature, abundant rainfall Two features: Land is cleared by slashing and burning debris Creating a swidden, lading, milpa, etc. Work done by hand, only fertilizer = potash Slash-and-burn agriculture Land is tended for only a few ( 3) years at a time Loses fertility quickly due to leaching etc. Types of crops grown vary regionally

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7 herding of domesticated animals animals are seldom eaten Pastoral nomadism obtain grain from sedentary farmers in exchange for animal products or from small fixed plots tended by women size of the herd indicates power and prestige type of animal depends on the region For example, camels are favored in North Africa and SW Asia primarily in arid/semiarid B-type climates = marginal lands Movement is NOT random = strong territoriality Migration patterns evolve from knowledge of the land Transhumance practiced by some pastoralists Seasonal shift between low and high altitude grazing Now in decline No longer needed as carriers of goods/info Governments want land for other uses

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9 Intensive subsistence areas with high population (esp. in E, S and SE Asia) high agricultural densities Many farmers, small plots (fragmented), little mechanization To maximize production, little land is wasted single path roads, little animal grazing Two types (depends on climate) Intensive with wet rice dominant (yellow on map) Rice = most important source of food in Asia Several step process involving planting seedlings in a flooded field» sawah, paddy» Need FLAT land terracing hillsides Double-cropping (2 harvests (rice/dry grain) per year if warm winters) Intensive with wet rice not dominant (orange on map) Drier, harsher winters Grains (1) wheat, (2) barley, millet, corn, soybeans, etc. Use crop rotation to avoid exhausting soil

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12 Plantation farming Found in Latin America, Africa, and Asia Form of commercial farming usually found in LDCs grown in LDCs but typically sold to MDCs From periphery to core!!! Plantations specialize in one or two cash crops Often luxury crops = coffee, tea, sugarcane, cotton, rubber, and tobacco Usually found in sparsely occupied areas large labor force is usually imported and housed Once dominated American south

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14 Agricultural Regions in MDCs

15 Mixed crop and livestock farming Locations? N. America between Appalachians and w. of Mississippi Iowa = center of the Corn Belt Europe between France and Russia Japan? Transvaal ( Boers = farmers in Dutch) integration of crops and livestock most land = devoted to crops (1) corn (2) soybeans But used to feed livestock, livestock provide fertilizer most profits = derive from sale of livestock allows distribution of work throughout year evens seasonal variations in income Crop rotation used (different crops use different nutrients or replenish, NO fields left fallow)

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17 Dairy farming Regional distribution: Not traditionally consumed arose with urbanization and rising incomes in MDCs Closest ring outside large cities = the milkshed» Highly perishable = requires proximity to market» Improvements to transport allowed expansion of milkshed» Farms farther from market = dairy products milk Now a majority produced in LDCs (India is #1) Two primary challenges cause lack of profitability Labor-intensive Must be milked 2x daily, even with machines, dairying requires constant attention Expense of winter feed Need to feed milk cows during winter

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19 Grain farming for human consumption rather than animal feed LDCS = crop is directly consumed (subsistence) MDCs = crop sold to food product manufacturers Wheat is world s leading export crop» ½ of exports from US/Canada = world s breadbasket» flour bread» Easily stored/transported The largest commercial producer of grains = the U.S. Winter-wheat belt = KS, CO, OK = survives milder winter Spring-wheat belt = Dakotas, Montana, Saskatchewan Other areas Pampas (SE South America in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil), Ukraine, Russia steppe, Australia Areas too dry for mixed crop and livestock Heavily mechanized (reaper, combine), large farms Workload not uniform, may spilt between farms in two different belts.

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21 Livestock ranching Extensive in MDCs Cattle driven north to RRs slaughtered in Chicago and processed by meatpackers shipped to east coast consumers came into conflict with sedentary farming = range wars farmers win with barbed wire = cattle ranchers forced onto marginal (dry) environments in MDCs With better irrigation more land now farmed Farmer has higher return, ranching has lower costs Cattle now frequently sent to fattening or feed lot farms (CAFOs concentrated animal feeding operations ) along major highways or railroads. Now part of the meat-processing industry rather than independent agricultural activity Ranching in Australia (sheep), Europe (Spain/Portugal), Pampas (Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil = the Pampas) Follows similar pattern of isolation and decline due to competition for land with sedentary farming around the world

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23 Mediterranean agriculture primarily on western coasts of land masses, Along Mediterranean coast, California, Chile, South Africa and SW Australia requires a particular climate and terrain Prevailing sea winds provide limited moisture, moderate winter temperatures, summers are hot and dry with some relief from sea breezes Terrain is hilly, very narrow bands of flat land along coast Small % of revenue from animal products transhumance Mostly products for human consumption Horticulture: the growing of fruits, vegetables and flowers Mediterranean = Olives (cooking oil), grapes (wine), etc. ½ land devoted to growing wheat for pasta California = citrus fruits, tree nuts, deciduous fruits Competition for prime agricultural land from cities Dry lands require massive irrigation

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25 Commercial gardening and fruit farming aka Truck farms = truck = bartering/exchange Predominant in SE USA Long growing season access to large markets of east coast Fresh produce for groceries, farmer s markets Products for consumers in MDCs Apples, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes Some fresh some canned Large-scale mechanized operations Reduce labor costs by hiring migrant farm (undocumented) workers Specialty farming spread to NE as alternative to dairying Supplies wealthy customers with specialty products

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