Intro to Ag Geography
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What is the message of this talk?
What was the most surprising thing
you learned?
http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_
foley_the_other_inconvenient_truth.
html
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Unit 9 Agriculture
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Today’s Objectives
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Describe the origins of Agriculture,
including 1st, 2nd and 3rd Agricultural
Revolutions.
Explain the high tech outlook for
Agriculture with agribusiness and
GMOs.
Differentiate between agriculture in
LDCs and MDCs.
Define & describe agriculture
regions.
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Agriculture
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Importance of AG
• Everyone dependent on food
• AG occupies more land area than any
other econ activity
• AG employs 45% - almost half of
world’s labor (in Africa and Asia over
50% are farmers)
• W/out AG you could not have any cities
or urban areas
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AG – Intro cont’d
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AG practices = one of the most
fundamental differences between
MDCs and LDCs
Big Questions….
• Where is AG distributed across the
earth?
• How does farming vary around the
globe?
• Why does farming vary across the
globe?
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Origins of AG
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Agriculture: purposeful modification
of earth’s surface to plant crops or
raise livestock for human sustenance
• AG began when humans domesticated
plants and animals for use
• Origins of AG predate recorded human
history
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Before AG
Hunter/gatherer
societies
follow game
and seasonal
growth
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1st AG Revolution
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@ 10,000 yrs ago – late 18th C
Domestication – conscious
manipulation of plants/animals
Invention of AG evolved slowly and
over time through accident and
experimentation
1st rev:
• hunter/gatherer to semi-sedentary
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Carl Sauer
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Expert on 1st Rev
• Occurred in time of plenty, not famine
• Multiple hearths occurred independently in
several places
• Seed cultivation in Fertile Crescent (Iraq) - @
10,000 yrs ago
• Yams in hill country of SE Asia @ 10,000 yrs
ago
• Root crops & corn in Mesoamerica (Mayans) @
5,000 yrs ago
• Likely discovered by women by accident
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1st AG Revolution – cont’d
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AG Diffusion: spread by relocation migration & colonialism (Columbian
Exchange)
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1st AG Revolution – cont’d
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Today diffusion is hierarchical –
starts in research centers of MDCs
moves to smaller farms or LDCs
Diff can be bad/accidental (ex:
kudzu = the vine that ate the South)
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AG Diffusion – accidental - kudzu
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2nd AG Revolution
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Began in W. Eur in 1600s – transformed
W. Eur and N. America
Intensified AG by promoting higher yields
per acre and per farmer
Used crop rotation, fertilizers, improved
collars for draft animals
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Farmers create surplus, people can
live in cities and buy AG products at
market
Move from rural to urban
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2nd AG revolution – cont’d
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Late 1700s = Industrial Revolution –
mechanization
• Tractors, reapers, threshers replaced
human labor
• Better transportation – RR, steamboats,
refrigerated cars, etc. allows farmers to
ship food products further to urban
markets
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2nd AG rev – cont’d
Industrial Revolution –
Changes in transportation
increase
market area for
farmers’ produce
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3rd AG Rev
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The “Green Revolution”
1940s-1960s
MDCs transfer tech to LDCs
Main practices:
• Artificial fertilizer
• Irrigation
• Insecticides and pesticides
• Mechanical machinery
• Crossbreeding/hybridization (naturally
not in a lab)
….ALL produce higher yields
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3rd Rev / Green Rev
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Multinational Corps encourage LDCs
to focus on specialty crops –
monoculture for export instead of
producing food for local consumption
Successful in some LDCs but
detrimental in others
• New tech devastated land
• Bad for environment
• Unsustainable farming
• Changes in social & culture structures
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Today & the Future…..
High Tech AG & Agribusiness
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Computerized irrigation, remote
sensing, long-term weather
predictions, GMO’s
GMOs: genetically modified foods –
genes altered in a lab for disease
resistance, increased productivity,
increased nutritional value
• BIG debate…U.S. pro – feed developing
world; Europe anti – “Franken food”
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GMOs
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Today and Future….
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Agribusiness: multinational giant
corporations dominate much of
world’s AG market
• demise of family farm
• AG is BIG, expensive business (control
land, tech, machinery, shipping,
packaging, etc.)
• Globalization of AG: free trade, WTO
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Geog looks at WHERE crops are
produced around the
globe….affected by…….
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Environment: (Environmental
Determinism)…rice needs lots of
water, grapes need cool wet winters
and hot dry summers, etc.
Possibilism…green houses, irrigation
Culture: rice in Asia, corn in MX,
wheat in US/Eur, no pork in Middle
East, etc.
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What crops are
produced where…
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Economic: grow crop that makes
greatest profit (von Thunen model)
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Geog looks at HOW crops grown
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Labor Intensive – lots of people and
few tools V. Capital Intensive – little
human labor, but tools, machinery
Intensive AG- greater yields off
smaller areas (future of farming as
AG land is lost) V. Extensive AG –
needs lots of land, not efficient (wide
spread ranching)
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HOW crops grown – cont’d
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Intensive/extensive and capital
intensive/labor intensive spectrums
are independent of each
other…..examples?
Subsistence AG (LDCs) V.
Commercial AG (MDCs) …see
handout
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Agriculture Regions
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AG Regions in LDCs
1.Shifting Cultivation: in rainforests
• Slash and Burn: clear land by slashing
vegetation and burning debris
• Swidden: land that’s been cleared for
farming
• Land often owned by village not indiv.
• Cannot support dense populations
• Soil depletes rapidly…leads to
deforestation
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AG in LDCs 
Shifting cultivation – deforestation
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AG Regions in LDCs
2.) Pastoral Nomadism – nomadic herders
• Dry mntn regions of Africa and Asia where
harsh climate prevent plants
• Herders cover wide area searching for food for
herd
• Transhumance – seasonal migration
• Use animals - food, clothing, milk, skins
• Type of animal varies depending on culture
and physical region (i.e. camel, sheep, goat,
horse, etc.)
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AG in LDCs 
Pastoral Nomadism
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AG Regions in LDCs
3.) Intensive Subsistence
• High yield for small area of land
• Densely pop areas of Asia
• Often w/ wet rice in Asia
• W/ wheat and barley in India and China
• Double cropping – 2 crops/harvests per
year
• Crop Rotation – preserves soil nutrients
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AG Regions in LDCs
4.) Plantation Farming
• Found in tropics/subtropics
• Large farm specializes in 1-2 cash
crops (coffee, sugar, cotton)
• Often controlled/owned by MDC
• Labor comes from LDC
• Crops exported for sale, not sold
locally
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AG Regions in MDCs
1.) Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming
• Western N. America, S. America,
Australia
• Integrate crops and livestock – crops
(soybeans and corn) fed to animals
• Employ crop rotation
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AG Regions in MDCs
2.) Dairying:
• Near large urban areas (NE United
States, SE Canada, NW Eur)
• Close to city b/c product perishable (esp
milk…cheese & butter can come from
further away)
• Milk Shed - how far out can supply milk
w/out spoiling
• These farms are expensive and labor
intensive
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AG in MDCs – Dairy Farms
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AG Regions in MDCs
3.) Grain Farming: wheat, corn,
barley, oats, millet
• grains grown for human consumption
• Sale to manufacturers for food
production (cereal, bread, flour)
• US – by far greatest exporter of grain
(Great Plains = bread basket)
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AG in MDCs – grain farming
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AG Regions in MDCs
4.) Livestock Ranching:
• Commercial grazing of livestock (cattle
– beef) over extensive areas
• Big in western US (i.e. ranchers) and
Argentina – semi-arid areas
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AG Regions in MDCs
5.) Mediterranean AG
• Mediterranean climates of W. Eur, CA,
Chile
• Variety of fruits and vegetables for
human consumption – olives, grapes,
avocadoes, nuts, etc.
• Olives and grapes = most valuable cash
crops…..olive oil and wine
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AG in MDCs - Mediterranean
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AG Regions in MDCs
6.) Truck Farming – commercial
gardening and fruit farming
• American SE – long growing season and
humid
• Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage,
cherries, etc.
• “Truck” was a word for barter and these
items were originally produced for local
markets…today produced for large scale
food processors
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Truck Farming
Apples, squash, lettuce, cabbage,
peppers, cucumbers, potatoes,
peaches, tomatoes, green beans
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Bell Ringer
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Where did “agriculture” originate
and when?
Why is the 3rd agricultural
revolution called the Green
Revolution?
What are some criticisms of the
Green Revolution?
Today’s Objectives
◦ Explain how scientists use genetic engineering to create
plants that can survive being sprayed by weedkiller or can
create their own pest defenses.
◦ Evaluate what effects these genetically engineered plants
may have on the environment.
◦ Speculate on whether the proteins produced by inserted
genes might be dangerous, either because the proteins
themselves are allergenic or because they might alter the
plant's chemistry, making it toxic.
◦ Examine the need for genetically engineered foods,
including the claim that these foods will help reduce
starvation and improve nutrition in developing countries.
“Harvest of Fear”
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What is the difference between traditional plant
breeding and breeding done through genetic
engineering?
Where do you think genetic engineering is
politically/culturally acceptable? For what
reasons?
Bell Ringer
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Consumers want meat that is ….?
How many different companies were
involved in the mislabeled horsemeat?
What do you think are the pros and
cons of agribusiness?
When is the next time you are going to
eat a burger?!
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Today’s Objectives
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Connect agriculture in MDCs to world
climate zones.
Explore the issues for Commercial
Farming, including transportation,
overproduction, and price supports.
Analyze, apply and evaluate von
Thunen’s model for agriculture
locations.
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Finish Harvest of Fear
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Ag in MDCs and Koppen Model
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Issues for Commercial Farmers
1.) Access to markets – distance from
market influences crop choice
th C Germany
 Von Thunen’s Model 19
• Noticed lands w/ same physical geog
were being used for diff AG products
• Farmers consider 2 costs – land and
transporting goods to market
• Land cost most expensive near market
& decreases w/ distance
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Von Thunen – cont’d
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Products w/ intensive land use, high
transportation costs, and in high
demand located near market (i.e.
highly perishable items, bulky heavy
items….dairy, fruits, veggies). These
generate higher prices and farmers
can afford more expensive land
nearest market
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Von Thunen – cont’d
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Products in less demand, w/ more
extensive land use or cheaper to
transport are found further from
market where land is cheaper
(ranching, mixed farming, orchards)
Formula – can farmer make profit?
• P= V – (E + T)
• Profit = commodity value – (production
cost + transportation cost)
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Von Thunen – cont’d
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The model = concentric rings coming
out of market
1. nearest, perishable items diff to
transport (berries, milk, tomatoes)
2. forestry – wood heavy and diff to
transport
3. mixed farming – pigs, poultry
4. wheat, barley, grains, livestock
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Von Thunen Model
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Contemporary Variables of the
Model?
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Modern transportation more efficient
Transportation costs no longer
proportional to distance
Wood (#2 forestry) no longer
needed for fuel
Technology has decreased
permissibility (refrigerated cars,
canning, etc.)
Model still relevant today?????
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Issues for Commercial Farmers OVERPRODUCION
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Tech allows farmers to produce more
than demanded (too much product,
not enough profit)
• Ex: US govnt pays $4B in cotton
subsidies, farmers make $3B off crop
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Subsidies: govnt pays to produce
less – spends @ $10B annually
Govn’t also buys surplus and
donates to foreign countries
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Bell Ringer
Today’s Objectives
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Shifting Cultivation in the
Amazon Response Group activity
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Bell Ringer
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Blood on the Scarcrow – John
Cougar Mellencamp
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Today’s Objectives
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Ag in LDCs and Koppen Model
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Issues for Subsistence Farmers
1.) rapidly increasing pop – must feed more
people on same land (GMOs?)
2.) Trying to grow food for export for
development and not just for consumption
 Strategies….
• Expand land areas and increase productivity of
land already in use
• Identify new food sources
• When there is surplus, export, to bring in $$$
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Future of Farming…..
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Intensive AG is replacing Extensive
AG…generate more food on smaller
plots of land
• Ex: Feedlots: concentrate raising
livestock in smaller space and use
hormones and other fattening grains to
prepare cattle for slaughter at a more
rapid pace and in a smaller space
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Future of Farming….
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Biotechnology – techniques to modify
living organism and improve plant and
animal species and production (GMOs)
Agribusiness: includes food production,
canning, refining, packing, etc.
• Little farmer goes out of business
• Transnational Corp – profit goes to company
• Can get any fruit/fresh produce all over the
globe at any time of year
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AG and the Environment
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Negative impacts on Env
• Pesticides (DDT) harm wildlife,
pollute lakes, rivers, etc.
• Erosion – loss of fertile topsoil –
fertile topsoil accumulates slowly
takes hundreds of yrs to rebuild
• Salinization: soil in dry area is
irrigated, water evaporates quickly
and leaves salty residue
• Urban Sprawl: takes over good
AG land
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AG and the Environment
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Deforestation: slash and burn in
rainforests (debt for nature swap –
see article)
Desertification: degradation of
land…turns into desert b/c of
extensive planting or grazing
Conclusion….greater tech often
correlates w/ destruction of env.
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RESOURCES
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Natural Resources:
• Renewable: resources w/ a
theoretically unlimited supply…env
continues to replace them (i.e. soil,
timber). Note – we can use renewable
resources faster than they can
reproduce themselves
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• Nonrenewable: cannot be replaced by
nature; a finite supply that will be
exhausted (minerals, coal, oil, copper)
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Fishing
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Accounts for 20% of human and
animal protein consumption (higher
in some countries)
3 Sources:
• Inland catch – ponds, lakes – 7%
• Fish Farms – controlled/contained
environment – 32%
• Marine catch – oceans – continental
shelf – 100 miles out – 61%
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Fishing Problems….
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Over fishing – catch is surpassing
reproduction rates – endangered
supplies.
Tragedy of the Commons =
oceans & open seas, communal
property, all take too much
Pollution of coastal waters
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Fishing
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Aquaculture: fish farming – breed
fish in ponds, lakes, canals, or
fenced off in coastal bays
• Accounts for 30% of total fish harvest in
recent yrs
• Fastest growing sector of world
economy
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