Unit 5 Agricultural Patterns and Processes

domestication

consists of raising and growing plants and animals for human use

Columbian Exchange

the global movements of plants and animals between Afro-Eurasia and the Americas

Green Revolution

began in the mid-20th century with the advances in plant biology; the development of higher-yielding, disease-resistant, faster-growing varieties of grains

shifting cultivation agriculture

one of the earliest agricultural practices, all vegetation in an area of forest is cut down and burned; also known as slash-and-burn agriculture

pastoral nomadism

a form of subsistence agriculture practiced in the developing world, people travel from place to place with their herds of domesticated animals

suitcase farm

a farm in which no one lives on the farm and the harvesting and planting is performed by farmers who live nearby or migratory labor

intensive farming

agriculture that involves greater inputs of capital and paid labor relative to the space being used

aquifer depletion

the reduction in available water for consumption due to pumps; ground water depletion

agribusiness

the integration of various steps in production in the food-processing industry; it not only includes large-scale commercial agriculture, but also the steps of processing and production, transportation, marketing, retail, and research and development

subsistence farming

farmers focus on raising food they need to live

plantation agriculture

consists of large commercial farms that specialize in one crop, usually found in the low latitudes (tropics), and in hot, humid climates with substantial precipitation

economies of scale

the cost advantages of conducting economic activities on a large scale;

Von Thunen

farmer that created an economic model that suggested a pattern for the types of products that farmers would produce at different positions relative to the market where they sold their goods

deforestation

the removal of large tracts of forest

genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

process by which humans use engineering techniques to change the DNA of a seed

soil degradation

the decline in soil quality as a result of improper use; one of the main arguments against chemical farming is that the pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers damage the soil quality, which can lead to desertification or loss of top soil

value added specialty crops

goods that have some other product in them or item attached to them to make them unique and able to sell at higher price

commercial agriculture

farmers focus on raising one specific crop to sell for profit

mixed crop livestock

an integrated system common in developed regions, such as the Midwestern United States, northern Europe, and Canada; on these farms, the majority of the crops raised are fed directly to livestock

clustered settlements

many buildings are grouped together and are often found in lowland areas along roads

wetland destruction

clearing water from wetlands and swamps to make land accessible for farming; can lead to the destruction of an ecosystem if not done properly

organic farming

a natural approach to farming that uses biological diversity to fight the pests so as to not use any pesticides or fertilizers; results in lower yields than commercial farming but has health and environmental benefits.

biodiversity

growing multiples crops across a land area; opposite of monoculture

fair trade

label that tells the consumer that by purchasing that product producers get a fair price for their goods

truck farming

commercial gardening and fruit farming that were traditionally driven to urban markets and sold

extensive agriculture

agriculture that uses fewer inputs of capital and paid labor relative to the amount of space being used

dispersed settlements

buildings are spread out and and are often found in hilly mountainous terrain

horticulture

growing of plants and vegetables for sale at market

aquaculture

farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants in a controlled environments; different than commercial fishing

overgrazing

occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods

carrying capacity

the number of crops or people that an area can support

Mediterranean agriculture

agriculture practiced in regions with hot-dry summers, mild winters; figs, olives, dates, and grapes; herders often practice transhumance

biotechnology

using scientific research to provide higher yield crops and more productive animal by-products; the end result is an increase in agricultural productivity (the amount of agricultural products that can be created)

linear settlements

buildings are built in lines along a road, railroad, or river

tropical climate

A type of climate found in the areas just north or south of the equator, where weather is usually hot.

Market Gardening (Truck Farming)

The small scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops sold directly to local consumers.

nomadic herding

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

ranching

A form of commercial agriculture in which livestock graze over an extensive area.

Metes and Bounds

A term used in describing the boundary lines of land, setting forth all the boundary lines together with their terminal points and angles.

township and range

land boundaries based upon lines of latitude and longitude

longlot survey system

land division system of French origin whereby land is divided into narrow parcels stretching back from rivers, roads or canals

high-yield seeds

seeds that have been engineered to be stronger and more productive. They will produce more crops peer seed, need less water, and can survive in warmer climates

Mechanized agriculture

Using machines in farming to increase farm production

bid-rent theory

different land users are prepared to pay different amounts for locations at various distances from the city center.

commodity chain

series of links connecting the many places of production and distribution and resulting in a commodity that is then exchanged on the world market

conservation

Protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment

terracing

creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface, which reduces soil runoff from the slope.

food desert

An area characterized by a lack of affordable, fresh and nutritious food.

Food Insecurity

Widespread problem. Faced by the working poor, not just the unemployed. Problem of over & under nutrition.

rural settlement patterns

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

rural survey method

this include metes and bounds, township and range, and long lot.

First Agricultural Revolution

Dating back 10,000 years, it achieved plant domestication and animal domestication.

Second Agricultural Revolution

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

monocropping-monoculture

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

global supply chain

A company's integrated network of sourcing, production, and distribution, organized on a worldwide scale and located in countries where competitive advantage can be maximized

export commodities

Goods or services sold to a foreign country

pollution

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.

soil salinization

Occurs when dissolved salts in water tables rise to the soil surface and accumulate as water evaporates

desertification

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

land cover change

The changes that have taken place to natural environments due to a variety of natural and/or human-induced causes

sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

fertilizer

A chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility

pesticide

A chemical intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops.

irrigation

The process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops.

urban farming

The growing of fruits, herbs, and vegetables and raising animals in towns and cities, a process that is accompanied by many other activities such as processing and distributing food, collecting and reusing food waste.

local food movement

Purchasing food from nearby farms because you want to minimize the pollution created from the transportation of food around the world

community supported agriculture

Network between agricultural producers and consumers whereby consumers pledge support to a farming operation in order to receive a share of the output from the farming operation

animal husbandry

An agricultural activity associated with the raising of domesticated animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep, and goats.

Dairying

An agricultural activity involving the raising of livestock, most commonly cows and goats, for dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter.

Feedlot

Places where livestock are concentrated in very small area and raised on hormones and hearty grains that prepare them for slaughter at a much more rapid rate than grazing; often referred to factory farms

Fertile Crescent

Area located in the crescent shaped zone near the southeastern Mediterranean coast (including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey), which was once a lush environment and one of the first hearths of domestication and thus agricultural activity.

Swidden

Land that is prepared for agriculture by using the slash-and-burn method.