Agriculture vocab

Yield (not required for vocab)

the amount of a crop produced per unit area of land

Inputs (not required for vocab)

the resources, materials, and substances used in farming to produce crops and livestock

Agriculture

the practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock for food, fiber, medicinal plants, and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.

Agriculture Regions

Geographic areas characterized by the type of crops or farming activities that dominate, such as wheat-producing regions, rice-growing areas, or dairy farming regions.

Agribusiness

The large-scale, commercial production and distribution of food and agricultural products, often involving the integration of various stages of food production from farming to processing and retail.

Agricultural Revolutions

Periods of significant change and innovation in agriculture, often leading to increased agricultural productivity, such as the First Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic Revolution) and the Green Revolution.

Animal Waste

Organic matter produced by animals, such as manure or urine, which can have environmental impacts and is sometimes used as fertilizer in agriculture.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, such as fish and shellfish, under controlled conditions, often in ponds, tanks, or ocean enclosures.

Aquifer

An underground layer of water-bearing rock or sediment that stores and provides a source of groundwater.

Bioclimatic Zones

Geographic areas characterized by specific climate conditions, often associated with particular types of vegetation and agriculture.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms on Earth, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Biotechnology

involves using biological processes, organisms, or systems to develop products and applications for various industries, including agriculture.

Chemical Farming

Farming practices that heavily rely on synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, to enhance crop yields.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Christopher Columbus's voyages.

Deforestation

The large-scale removal of forests or trees, typically to clear land for agriculture, urban development, or logging.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert, often due to factors like soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing.

Diet

The regular consumption of food and drinks by an organism, often considered in terms of its quality, quantity, nutritional value, and cultural context.

Domestication

The process by which humans selectively breed plants and animals for specific characteristics, leading to their adaptation to human use and control.

Extensive Farming

A type of farming that requires a large amount of land but minimal labor input per unit of land.

Fair Trade

A trading partnership that seeks greater equity and transparency in international trade, often providing better trading conditions for marginalized producers in developing countries.

Fertile Crescent

A historical region in Western Asia known for its early cultivation of crops and the development of agriculture.

Fertilizers

Substances, natural or synthetic, added to soil or plants to supply essential nutrients that promote plant growth and increase crop yields.

Food Deserts

Areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, often due to a lack of grocery stores or other fresh food providers.

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism)

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally through mating or natural recombination, often used to improve crop characteristics.

Green Revolution

A series of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives that increased agricultural production worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

Herbicides

Chemical substances used to control or destroy unwanted plants (weeds) in agriculture.

High-yield seeds

Crop seeds bred for increased productivity and yield compared to traditional seeds.

Horticulture

The science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, often in small-scale or garden settings.

Hybrid Crops

Plants resulting from the crossbreeding of two genetically different varieties, often with desirable characteristics.

Intensive Farming

A type of farming that maximizes yields by using a relatively large amount of labor and capital per unit of land.

Intertillage

A traditional agricultural practice involving the cultivation of multiple crops in close proximity, often promoting biodiversity and soil health.

Irrigation

The artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops, often used in regions with limited rainfall.

Large Scale Commercial Agricultural Operation (Factory Farms)

Intensive agricultural systems characterized by the large-scale production of crops or livestock, often using modern technology and practices.

Local-Food Movements

Initiatives that promote the consumption of locally grown and produced food as a means of supporting local farmers, reducing environmental impacts, and enhancing community connections.

Long Lot Survey System

a method of land division in which narrow, rectangular plots of land are arranged perpendicular to a river, road, or canal to provide each plot with equal access to the resource.

Low Latitude Regions

Geographic areas located near the equator, characterized by warm climates and high solar intensity.

Metes and Bounds Survey System

a method of land division that uses natural landmarks, physical features, and directions to define property boundaries

Mechanized Farming

Agricultural practices that heavily rely on machinery and technology to perform tasks such as planting, harvesting, and irrigation.

Mediterranean

A climatic region characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, often found in regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Mixed crop/livestock

Agricultural systems that combine crop production with the raising of livestock.

Neolithic

A period in human history associated with the development of agriculture, marked by the transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming communities.

Organic Farming

A method of agriculture that avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and emphasizes sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Overgrazing

The excessive consumption of vegetation by livestock, leading to soil degradation and desertification.

Pastoral Nomadism

A type of subsistence agriculture involving the herding of livestock, often practiced by nomadic or semi-nomadic groups.

Pesticides

Chemical substances used to control or eliminate pests, including insects, weeds, and diseases, in agricultural production.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale commercial farming characterized by the cultivation of a single crop, often in tropical or subtropical regions.

Role of Women

The involvement of women in agricultural and household activities, often varying by culture and region.

Salinization

The accumulation of salt in soil, which can damage soil fertility and affect crop growth.

Shifting Agriculture

A form of subsistence agriculture that involves clearing land for cultivation and moving to new plots as soil fertility declines.

Settlement Patterns

The spatial distribution and arrangement of human settlements, including rural and urban areas.

Small Family Farms

Agricultural operations owned and operated by individual families, often with limited land and resources.

Soil Degradation

The deterioration of soil quality due to factors like erosion, salinization, and contamination.

Specialty Farming (truck farming)

The production of high-value, niche crops for local or regional markets.

Subsidy

Financial support or incentives provided by the government to farmers or agricultural producers.

Subsistence

Agricultural practices aimed at producing enough food to meet the basic needs of a family or community.

Sustainability

Agricultural and environmental practices that aim to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Terraces

Stepped or sloped landforms created to prevent soil erosion and improve agricultural productivity on hilly or mountainous terrain.

Truck Farming

the commercial cultivation of fruits and vegetables on a small scale for local or regional markets, requiring crops that require quick transportation.

Township and Range Survey System

where land is divided into a grid of townships and ranges

Tillage

The preparation of soil for planting through plowing, harrowing, and other cultivation techniques.

Wetland Destruction

The draining or degradation of wetland ecosystems, often for agricultural or development purposes.

Value-added Specialty Crops

Agricultural products that have been processed or modified to increase their value, often through techniques such as canning or preservation.

Von Thunens Model

A theoretical model that explains the location of agricultural activities in relation to market centers, considering factors like transportation costs and land use.

central pivot irrigation (not required for vocab)

a form of overhead sprinkler irrigation consisting of several segments of pipe