5.1 Introduction to Agriculture 5.2 Settlements Patterns and Survey Methods 5.6 Agricultural Production Regions

What are the five principal features that distinguish commercial from subsistence agriculture?

Purpose of farming, percentage of farmers in the labor force, use of machinery, farm size, relationship of farming to other businesses.

Define Subsistence Agriculture.

The production of food primarily for consumption by the farmer’s family.

Define Commercial Agriculture.

The production of food primarily for sale off the farm, mainly to food-processing companies.

What percentage of farmers in LDCs are typically involved in Subsistence Agriculture?

About 50% are involved in growing food to survive.

What technological advances are commonly used in Commercial Agriculture?

Machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, GPS, and satellite imagery.

What is the typical farm size for Subsistence Agriculture?

Small, family-owned land with not a lot of area.

What characterizes Intensive Agriculture?

Crops grown closer together, more productive per unit of land, greater inputs of capital, and typically involves paid labor.

What is an example of Extensive Agriculture?

Shifting cultivation, nomadic herding, or ranching.

What is Agribusiness?

Commercial farming that integrates into a large food production industry, encompassing food processing, packaging, storing, distributing, and retailing.

How does the relationship of farming to businesses differ between Subsistence and Commercial agriculture?

Subsistence farming has very little to no relationship with businesses, while commercial farming is integrated into agribusiness.