Ap Human Geography Agriculture Practices

Shifting Cultivation (Slash and Burn)

• Climate: Tropical

• Regions: Latin America, Sub‑Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia

• Crops: Rice, maize, millet, sorghum

• Scale: Extensive, subsistence

• Process: Farmers clear vegetation, burn it to add nutrients, plant crops, then move on when soil fertility declines.

Pastoral Nomadism

• Climate: Drylands/Desert

• Regions: North Africa, Southwest & Central Asia, East Asia

• Livestock: Cattle, camels, reindeer, goats, yaks, sheep, horses

• Scale: Extensive, subsistence

• Lifestyle: Herds move seasonally; products (meat, milk, hides) are primarily for local use and trade.

Livestock Ranching

• Climate: Drylands/Desert

• Regions: Western North America, southeastern South America, Central Asia, Australia, South Africa

• Livestock: Cattle, goats, sheep

• Scale: Extensive, commercial

• Outcome: Large‑scale grazing for meat, dairy, and wool markets.

(Commercial) Grain Farming

Commercial Grain Farming

• Climate: Mid‑Latitudes (dry enough for grain, not mixed farming)

• Regions: United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, China, South Asia

• Crop: Wheat (primary)

• Scale: Extensive, commercial

Market Gardening (Commercial Gardening, Truck Farming)

• Climate: Warm mid‑latitudes

• Regions: southeastern US, California, southeastern Australia

• Crops: Fresh fruits & vegetables (lettuce, broccoli, apples, oranges, tomatoes)

• Scale: Intensive, commercial; relies on migrant labor and machinery.

Plantation

• Climate: Tropical

• Regions: Latin America, Sub‑Saharan Africa, South & Southeast Asia

• Crops: Cacao, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, bananas, tobacco, tea, coconuts, cotton (commodity & specialty)

• Scale: Intensive, commercial; historically dependent on cheap labor.

Mixed Crop & Livestock Farming

• Climate: Cold & warm mid‑latitudes

• Regions: Midwestern US & Canada, Central Europe

• Crops: Corn, grains, soybeans (often fed to cattle/sheep)

• Scale: Intensive, commercial; high capital and labor inputs.

Mediterranean Agriculture

• Climate: Mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers; coastal

• Regions: Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Pacific coast of US, Chile, South Africa, Southern Australia

• Crops: Grapes, olives, dates, figs

• Scale: Intensive, commercial; terrain often hilly, requiring labor‑intensive practices.

Dairy Farming

• Climate: Mid‑latitudes

• Regions: Northern US, Canada, Europe, Russia, China, India, Brazil

• Scale: Intensive, commercial; cows milked twice daily, requiring mechanized milking parlors.