APHG Unit 5 Vocab

Commercial Agricultural

The production of crops and livestock primarily for sale in the global market rather than for personal consumption.

Subsistence agriculture

Farming in which most of the food produced is consumed by the farmer and their family, with little surplus for sale.

Capital-intensive agriculture

 Agricultural practices that rely heavily on machinery, technology, and inputs such as fertilizers rather than human labor.

Labor-intensive agriculture

Farming methods that require a large amount of human labor compared to the amount of capital used.

Extensive agriculture

Agriculture practiced over large areas of land with relatively low inputs of labor and capital per unit of land

Intensive agriculture

Agriculture that uses high levels of labor or capital per unit of land to increase productivity.

Mixed farming

A farming system that combines crop cultivation and livestock raising on the same farm.

Nomadism

A form of subsistence agriculture in which herders move with their animals in search of pasture and water.

Yield

The amount of agricultural output (crop) produced per unit of land area.Township-and-range system

Township-and-range system

A U.S. land survey system that divides land into square townships and sections, creating a checkerboard pattern.

Metes-and-bounds survey system

A land division system that uses physical features, directions, and distances to define property boundaries.

Long-lot survey system

A land division system that creates long, narrow plots of land stretching back from a river or road to provide equal access to transportation.

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single crop species over a large area for many consecutive years.

Plantation agriculture

A commercial farming system based on large landholdings that produce cash crops for export, often using hired or coerced labor.

Livestock ranching

The commercial raising of cattle, sheep, or other animals over large areas of land.

Mediterranean agriculture

A farming system adapted to dry summers and mild, wet winters, commonly producing olives, grapes, and wheat.

Market gardening

The small-scale commercial production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers sold directly to consumers or nearby markets.

Mixed crop/livestock farming

A commercial agricultural system where crops are grown to feed animals, and animal manure fertilizes fields.

Truck farming

Large-scale commercial production of fruits and vegetables grown for sale in distant markets.

Terracing

An agricultural technique that creates step-like fields on steep slopes to reduce erosion and conserve water.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert-like due to overuse, climate change, or poor agricultural practices.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, people, diseases, and culture between the Americas and the Old World after 1492

Bid-rent theory

 A geographic theory explaining how land users compete for land based on proximity to a market, influencing land value and use.

Commodity chain

The sequence of processes involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of a good

Supply chain

The network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product from producer to consumer.

Organic farming

Agricultural production that avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.

Fair trade

A system of production and exchange designed to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable practices for producers.

Value-added specialty crops

Agricultural products that are processed or branded in a way that increases their economic value.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA)

A system in which consumers purchase shares of a farm’s harvest in advance, sharing the risks and benefits.

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered through biotechnology to enhance desirable traits.

Biotechnology

The use of scientific techniques to modify living organisms or their products for agricultural or industrial purposes.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural innovation beginning in the mid-20th century that increased crop yields through improved seeds, chemicals, and irrigation.

Aquaculture

The farming of fish, shellfish, or aquatic plants in controlled environments.

Agribusiness

The large-scale industrial system of agriculture that includes production, processing, packaging, and distribution

Farm subsidies

Government payments or financial support given to farmers to stabilize income or control food supply.

Salinization

The buildup of salt in soil due to irrigation, reducing soil fertility and crop productivity.