Agriculture and Rural Land Use Study Guide

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to Agriculture and Rural Land Use, designed to aid in studying for the exam.

Agribusiness

The large-scale system of agriculture that integrates various steps of food production, from farming to processing and distribution.

Agriculture Practices with Significant Long-Term Environmental Impact

Practices such as deforestation, overgrazing, monocropping, and excessive pesticide use that can lead to desertification, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss.

Bid-Rent Theory

A geographical theory explaining land cost variation based on distance from the central market; closer land is more expensive due to higher demand for accessibility.

Climate’s Importance to Agricultural Practices

Mid-latitude climates support crops like wheat and corn; low-latitude tropical climates favor rice and bananas.

Organic Farming & Organic Food

Farming without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers aimed at maintaining environmental health.

North American vs. South American Ranchers

North American ranchers primarily export beef, while South American ranchers face deforestation issues due to cattle grazing.

Corn (Maize) Domestication

Originally domesticated in Mesoamerica, particularly in Mexico, and spread globally through the Columbian Exchange.

Early Hearths of Domestication & Diffusion of Plants/Animals

Major centers include the Fertile Crescent (wheat, barley), East Asia (rice, millet), and Mesoamerica (corn, beans, squash).

Globalized Agricultural Commodity Chains

An interconnected system of food production, processing, and distribution.

Risks of Pesticide Applications

Can lead to soil contamination, biodiversity loss, and health risks.

Second Agricultural Revolution

Occurred alongside the Industrial Revolution, leading to improved farming tools and rural-urban migration.

Green Revolution in India & Asia

Introduced high-yield crops and increased food production, causing environmental strain.

Green Revolution Technology

Innovations that increased productivity but also contributed to issues like water depletion.

Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

Global businesses that control large portions of agricultural production and trade.

Nomadic Pastoralism

A subsistence practice where herders move livestock seasonally in search of grazing land.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of crops and livestock between the Old and New Worlds.

Subsistence Agriculture

Small-scale farming primarily for local consumption.

Commercial Farming

Large-scale agriculture geared toward profit.

Market Gardening

Small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers often near urban centers.

Desertification

The degradation of fertile land into desert due to overuse and climate change.

Township and Range Land Survey

A system used in the U.S. to divide land promoting organized land use.

Environmental & Social Impacts of Chemical Use in Agriculture

Chemicals boost yields but contaminate water and harm ecosystems.

Von Thunen Model

Explains agricultural land use in concentric rings based on product perishability.

Multicropping

Growing multiple crops on the same land throughout the year to improve soil fertility.

Monocropping

The repetitive cultivation of a single crop, increasing vulnerability to pests.

Shifting Cultivation

Farmers clear forests, cultivate land temporarily, and then move.

Nomadic Herding

A form of subsistence agriculture where livestock is moved seasonally for grazing.

Impact of Transportation on Agriculture

Advances in refrigeration and infrastructure have expanded global food trade.

Women in Agriculture

Women play crucial roles in subsistence farming but face barriers to land ownership.