Agriculture Human geography

Subsistence agriculture

the production of food primarily for consumption by the farmer and mostly found in less developed countries. In subsistence agriculture, small-scale farming is primarily grown for consumption by the farmer and their family.

Commerical Agriculture

large-scale farming practices that are primarily geared towards producing crops and livestock for sale in the marketplace rather than for personal consumption.

Shifting Cultivation

Shifting fields to find better land. Often called slash and burn framing, practiced primarily in tropical and subtropical regions

Pastoralism

livestock graze on open land. This can be sedentary, nomadic or semi nomadic in nature. Livestock commonly involved include cattle, camels, yak, llamas, horse and sheeps

Transhumance

semi nomadic style of pastoralism where farmers seasonally move livestock from high altitude areas in the summer to lower altitude pastures in the winter.

Wet Rice Farming

very water intensive, vulnerable to both drought and flooding. Climate change threatens many rice growing regions. Modified crops are being bred to combat these conditions but can be expensive

Terrace Farming

Terrace farming is a type of farming that consists of different "steps" or terraces that were developed in various places around the world.

Smallholder crop and livestock farming

usually relies on rainfall rather than irrigation, usually a diverse range of crops grown. Excess sold at market. Must subsistence farming can be categorized this way.

Intensive agriculture

requires lots of labor and investments relative to the size of landholding. This can mean using complex irrigation systems, crop rotation, pesticides, and gmos. Happens when population pressures make less land available.

Extensive agriculture

requires less labor and little investment in materials relative to the size of the land used- uses more land to get higher yields happens where land is relatively cheap (huge corn fields in the great plains or nomadic grazing herds.)

1st agricultural revolution (neolithic revolution)

Occurred at different times in different parts of the world. Radically changed human beings relationshi[s to nature and food. marks the transition of human society from wandering hunter-gatherer societies into settled agricultural communities. This is one of the most important transitions in human history as it led to the rise of cities, civilizations, religions, culture, and a great many more things.

2nd agricultural revolution (british agricultural revolution)

happening at the same time as the industrial revolution, helped prove malthus wrong. Revolution that began in Great Britain in the 18th century. It involved the mechanization of agricultural production, advances in transportation, development of large-scale irrigation, and changes to consumption patterns of agricultural goods.

Crop Rotation

an agricultural practice that involves alternating the types of crops grown in a specific field over a series of seasons. This method is crucial for maintaining soil fertility, reducing pest and disease cycles, and optimizing the use of nutrients in the soil.

3rd agricultural revolution (green revolution)

20th century improvements in crop genetics, pesticides, and fertilizers that led to greater yields worldwide.hybridization and genetic engineering of products and the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers.

substinence farming

involves producing agricultural products for use by the farm family.

Organic agriculture

non GMo, no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

Sustainable Agriculture

no till farms, strips corroping to prevent erosion

Precision Agriculture

using technology to treat specific plants with pesticides and fertilizers rather than blanket spray

Metes and Bounds

marks the boundaries of a property according to its surrounding landmarks. Metes measures the distance in a straight line between two points, regardless of the terrain. Bounds are identifiable lines following features like a river or a road.

Township and Range

uses latitude and longitude to divide territories into squares with further subdivisions. One 6 mile square divided into 361 mile squares, divided into quarter mile lots. Found west of the appalachian mountains, from ohio and georgia to california

French long Lots

divide up land based on access to water for irrigation. Used in places where germs need access to a waterway. Found in areas of french and spanish settlement (Quebec, Florida, Louisiana)

Von Thunen Model

19th century german model for how to locate agricultural industries to a city center. Looks different if there is a river.

Dry lot Dairy

a fenced area that is free of vegetation and is used for the containment, feeding and fattening of livestock.- dictionary.com

Terrace Farming

method of growing crops on sides of hills or mountains by planting on graduated terraces built into the slopes."

Milksheds

The ring surrounding a city from which milk can be supplied without spoiling

CAFOs

are a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, basically a few buildings that hold hundreds of a specific animal, and farm them for a certain product.

Mediterranean agriculture

Land surrounding the Mediterranean sea, western united states, and the southern tip of Africa.

Mixed crop/ livestock agriculture

An agricultural system where farmers raise animals and grow crops on the same farm

Deforestation

Large-scale destruction of forests

Food Deserts

A food desert is an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious foods

Environmental Racism

Racial discrimination in environmental policy-making, enforcement of regulations and laws, and targeting of communities of color for toxic waste disposal and siting of polluting industries

Plantation Agriculture

A plantation is a large commercial farm in a developing country that specializes in one or two crops.

Desertification

is the process by which vegetation and moisture leave drylands.

Commercial Dairy Farming

Commercial dairy farming is the practice of raising livestock specifically for the production of milk and dairy products on a large scale for profit.

Commercial Grain Farming

is the production of cash crops primarily for sale off the farm.

Ranching

The practice of raising herds of animals on large tracts of land. Ranchers commonly raise grazing animals such as cattle and sheep.

Market Truck Farming

gardening and fruit farming is predominant type of agriculture in the southeastern united states. The region has a long growing season and humid climate, and it is accessible to the large number of consumers in the northeast United States.

Genetically modified organisms

A genetically modified organism is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.