APHuG Unit 5 Overview

Agriculture

The practice of growing crops and raising animals; provides food, fiber, and raw materials.

Primary economic activities

Economic activities that directly use natural resources (farming, fishing, mining, forestry).

Subsistence agriculture

Farming for personal use; farmers grow only what they need to survive; common in developing countries.

Commercial agriculture

Farming for profit; food is produced to be sold; large-scale and mechanized; common in developed countries.

Intensive agriculture

Farming using high labor or capital per unit of land to increase yields (fertilizers, irrigation).

Extensive agriculture

Farming using low labor and capital over large areas; lower yields per acre.

Whittlesey’s agricultural regions

Classification of farming types based on climate and physical geography.

Pastoral nomadism

Raising livestock by moving herds to find water and pasture; extensive; found in arid and semi-arid climates.

Shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn)

Land is cleared, farmed briefly, then abandoned; common in tropical rainforests; causes deforestation.

Intensive subsistence agriculture (wet rice dominant)

Rice grown in flooded paddies; very high yields; labor-intensive; common in East and Southeast Asia.

Intensive subsistence agriculture (wet rice not dominant)

High-yield farming without rice; found in northern China and India.

Plantation agriculture

Large-scale commercial farming of cash crops; monoculture; tropical climates; often involves labor exploitation.

Mixed crop and livestock farming

Crops and animals raised together; crops feed livestock; common in U.S. and Europe.

Market gardening

Small-scale production of fruits and vegetables sold locally; located near cities.

Truck farming

Commercial production of fruits and vegetables for distant markets.

Horticulture

Cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.

Dairy farming

Production of milk and dairy products; located near markets due to spoilage.

Grain farming

Large-scale production of cereal crops (wheat, corn, barley); common in Great Plains.

Mediterranean agriculture

Farming adapted to dry summers and wet winters (olives, grapes); Mediterranean regions.

Livestock ranching

Raising cattle or sheep on large areas of land; extensive; found in U.S., Argentina, Australia.

Clustered rural settlement

Homes grouped closely together for shared resources and protection.

Dispersed rural settlement

Homes spread far apart; common in U.S. farmland.

Linear rural settlement

Homes arranged along a road, river, or coastline.

Circular rural settlement

Homes built around a central feature; rare settlement pattern.

Cadastral system

System used to define land ownership and boundaries.

Metes and bounds

Land survey system using natural landmarks; becomes inaccurate over time.

Township and range

Rectangular land survey system; organized and uniform; common in U.S. Midwest.

Long-lot system

Narrow land parcels extending from waterways; found in France, Quebec, Louisiana.

Primogeniture

Eldest child inherits all land; prevents fragmentation but limits access.

Hunting and gathering

Obtaining food from wild plants and animals; earliest subsistence method.

First Agricultural Revolution

Domestication of plants and animals about 10,000 years ago.

Centers of domestication

Regions where farming began independently (Fertile Crescent, China, Mesoamerica).

Diffusion of agriculture

Spread of farming through migration and trade.

Columbian Exchange

Exchange of crops, animals, and diseases between Old and New Worlds; caused population decline in Americas.

Caloric intake differences

Developed countries consume more calories than developing countries.

Second Agricultural Revolution

Advances in farming (1700s–1800s) that increased food production.

Industrial Revolution connection

New machinery and transportation improved agricultural efficiency.

Enclosure Movement

Consolidation of farmland in Europe; increased efficiency but displaced farmers.

Agricultural mechanization

Use of machines to replace human and animal labor.

Green Revolution

Increased food production using high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation.

Ester Boserup

Theorized that population growth leads to increased agricultural intensification.

Norman Borlaug

Scientist who developed high-yield wheat varieties and helped reduce famine.

High-yield varieties (HYVs)

Genetically improved crops with higher output; require fertilizers and water.

Green Revolution success regions

India and Mexico saw major increases in food production.

Green Revolution struggles

Africa had limited success due to infrastructure and climate challenges.

Criticism of Green Revolution

Environmental damage, soil depletion, and farmer debt.

Green Revolution impact on women

Increased labor demands on women with fewer economic benefits.

Bid-rent theory

Land value decreases with distance from market; influences land use patterns.

Agricultural intensification

Increasing inputs (labor, fertilizer, technology) to boost productivity.

Double cropping

Growing two crops in one year on the same land.

Intercropping

Growing multiple crops together to reduce risk and improve soil use.

Monocropping

Growing one crop repeatedly; can lead to soil depletion.

Feedlots

Intensive livestock operations where animals are fed grain; can cause pollution.

Agribusiness

Large-scale, corporate-owned farming operations.

Vertical integration

Single company controls multiple stages of production and distribution.

Economies of scale

Larger farms reduce cost per unit by producing more efficiently.

Commodity chain

Steps involved in producing, processing, and delivering a product.

Carrying capacity (agriculture)

Maximum population that land can support sustainably.

Von Thünen model

Model explaining agricultural land use based on distance from market.

Location theory

Economic activities are influenced by distance, cost, and accessibility.

Von Thünen assumptions

Isolated state, flat land, single market, equal transport cost.

Von Thünen zones

Dairy and intensive farming closest; then forest; then crops; ranching farthest.

Modern changes to Von Thünen model

Technology and refrigeration reduce importance of distance.

Criticism of Von Thünen model

Oversimplified; does not reflect modern global trade.

Global agricultural interdependence

Developing countries produce food for developed countries.

Luxury crops

Non-essential crops grown for export (coffee, cacao, tea).

Neocolonialism

Economic dependence of developing countries on wealthier nations.

Fair trade movement

Promotes fair wages and sustainable farming practices.

Government subsidies

Financial assistance given to farmers by governments.

Land cover change

Conversion of natural land into agricultural use.

Agricultural pollution

Runoff of fertilizers and pesticides into water systems.

Desertification

Land degradation in dry areas due to overuse and climate change.

Salinization

Salt buildup in soil from irrigation, reducing productivity.

Terracing

Step-like farming on hillsides to reduce erosion.

Irrigation problems

Water depletion and soil degradation from over-irrigation.

Wetland drainage

Removal of wetlands for farming; leads to habitat loss.

Deforestation

Clearing forests for agriculture.

Dietary changes

Increased consumption of processed and high-calorie foods.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Crops altered at genetic level for higher yield and resistance.

Aquaculture

Farming of fish and aquatic organisms.

Organic farming

Farming without synthetic chemicals or GMOs.

Value-added crops

Crops sold at higher value due to processing or branding.

Local food movement

Encourages consumption of locally grown food.

Urban farming

Growing food within cities.

Food insecurity

Lack of reliable access to enough food.

Food deserts

Areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food.

Crop insurance

Protects farmers from losses due to weather or disasters.

Suburban sprawl

Expansion of cities into farmland.

Women in agriculture

Women play major roles in global food production.

Gender inequality in agriculture

Women have less access to land, credit, and technology.

Crop gap

Difference in crop yields due to unequal access to resources.