human geo unit 5

agriculture

the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

climate

Overall weather in an area over a long period of time

climate regions

Areas of the world with similar climatic characteristics

Mediterranean agriculture

An agricultural system practiced in the Mediterranean style climates in which diverse specialty crops such as grapes, avocados, olives, and a host of nuts, fruits, and vegetables comprise profitable agricultural operations.

substinence agriculture

Agriculture designed primarily to provide food for direct consumption by the farmer and the farmer's family

Commercial Agriculture

the production of food primarily for sale off the farm

Bid rent theory

geographical economic theory that refers to how the price and demand on real estate changes as the distance towards the Central Business District (CBD) increases.

Central Business District (CBD)

The area of a city where retail and office activities are clustered.

intensive agriculture

any agricultural system involving the application of large amounts of capital and/or labor per unit of cultivated land; may be part of either subsistence or commercial economy

Rural Settlement Patterns

farms, villages, or towns that have any of the following patterns- dispersed, clustered, or linear

Monocropping

An agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety

Monoculture

farming strategy in which large fields are planted with a single crop, year after year

crop rotation

The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.

plantation agriculture

raising a large amount of a "cash crop" for local sale or export

market gardening

the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants

mixed crop/livestock systems

a type of farming in which both crops and livestock are raised for profit

extensive agriculture

An agricultural system characterized by low inputs of labor per unit land area.

shifting cultivation

clearing forests to plant fields for a few years and then abandoning them

slash and burn

A farming method involving the cutting of trees, then burning them to provide ash-enriched soil for the planting of crops

nomadic herding

the raising of livestock for food by moving herds from place to place to find pasture and water

Transhumance

The seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pastures.

Domestication

the taming of animals for human use, such as work or as food

Foragers

People who support themselves by hunting wild animals and gathering wild edible plants and insects.

agricultural hearth

an area where different groups began to domesticate plants and animals

Fertile Crescent

A geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

First Agricultural Revolution

Dating back 10,000 years, the First Agricultural Revolution achieved plant domestication and animal domestication

Second Agricultural Revolution

tools and equipment were modified, methods of soil preparation, fertilization, crop care, and harvesting improved the general organization of agriculture made more efficient

enclosure system

taking and fencing off land formerly shared by peasants to create larger fields

Third Agricultural Revolution

currently in progress, development of genetically modified organisms

GMOs

genetically modified organisms

Green Revolution

Rapid diffusion of new agricultural technology, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers.

Infastructure

the basic framework of a building or a system

Dual agricultural economy

An economy having two agricultural sectors that have different levels of technology and different patterns of demand

Agribusiness

agriculture conducted on commercial principles, especially using advanced technology.

Hybrid

Offspring of crosses between parents with different traits

Vertical Integration

Practice where a single entity controls the entire process of a product, from the raw materials to distribution

commodity chain

the hands an item passes through between producer and consumer

farm subsidies

a form of aid and insurance given by the federal government to certain farmers and agribusinesses

tariffs

Taxes on imported goods

Von Thunen Model

model developed to explain the forces that control the prices of agricultural commodities and how those variable prices affect patterns of agricultural land utilization

Global Supply Chain

a worldwide network to maximize profits in production

cash crop

farm crop raised to be sold for money

fair trade

trade in which fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries.

Agricultural landscape

the cultural landscape of agricultural areas

Agroecosystem

an ecosystem modified for agricultural use

deforestation

Destruction of forests

Terracing

the creation of flat areas on mountain slopes for the purpose of farming

Resevoirs

A large natural or artificial lake that serves as a water source

Aquifers

An underground water reservoir.

Wetlands

water-saturated land area that supports aquatic plants

Desertification

Degradation of land, especially in semiarid areas, primarily because of human actions like excessive crop planting, animal grazing, and tree cutting.

Biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Salinization

Accumulation of salts in soil that can eventually make the soil unable to support plant growth.

debt-for-nature swap

When agencies such as the World Bank make a deal with third world countries that they will cancel their debt if the country will set aside a certain amount of their natural resources.

Bio technology

use and application of living things and biological processes

Agricultural Biodiversity

the variety and variability of plants, animals, and microorganisms that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture

precision agriculture

the use of technology to precisely monitor crop conditions, needs, and resource use to maximize production while minimizing waste of resources

Food security

People's ability to access sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.

food insecurity

a condition in which people do not have adequate access to food

Suburbanization

The process of population movement from within towns and cities to the rural-urban fringe.

economy of scale

the cost per unit of weight decreases as the size of the shipment increases

food desert

An area in a developed country where healthy food is difficult to obtain

farm bill

covers national and international nutrition education, research, funding

food miles

how far your food travels

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the growers and consumers provide mutual support