Human Geography Exam Review - Unit 5: Agriculture & Rural Patterns and Processes

Part 1: Evolution of Agriculture

  • First (Neolithic) Revolution:

    • Resulted in the establishment of permanent human settlements.
    • Began in the Fertile Crescent, Mesoamerica, and Southeast Asia.
    • Diffused thanks to trade via the Silk Road.
    • Involved the domestication of plants and animals.
    • Involved selective breeding of plants and animals.
    • Spread via contagious diffusion.
    • Involved in the development of large-scale irrigation projects.
    • Included the Columbian Exchange, which brought cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens to the New World.

  • Second Revolution:

    • Increased food production, allowing people to work in factories.
    • Resulted in fewer, larger, more productive farms.
    • Associated with the advancements of the Industrial Revolution, led to labor-saving machinery and increased crops and yields. Industrial processing increased the demand for agricultural products, specifically cotton.
    • Caused a shift from subsistence to commercial farming.
    • Led to a large increase in food production to support a fast-growing population.
    • Involved in the mechanization of agricultural production.

  • Third (Green) Revolution:

    • Resulted in a change in society’s consumption patterns.
    • Made food more affordable and accessible.
    • Has had significant negative environmental effects.
    • Involved the use of biotechnology and genetic modification.
    • Led to longer life expectancies.
    • Helped create a high rate of investment in research and development.
    • Failed in Africa due to diverse conditions and lack of funding/infrastructure.

Part 2: Types of Agriculture

  • Shifting Cultivation: W, V, E, L

    • Moving crops from one field to another, clearing the land by burning it.
    • Extensive farming.
    • Land is tended for only a few years at a time.
    • Practiced in tropical climates.

  • Mixed Crop/Livestock: T, D, K

    • Intensive farming.
    • An integrated system where the crops grown are used to feed livestock.
    • Practiced in cold mid-latitude climates.

  • Market Gardening: N, T, B, C

    • Growing fruits and vegetables, primarily for freezing and canning.
    • Intensive farming.
    • Practiced in warm mid-latitude climates.
    • Apples, oranges, strawberries, cucumbers.

  • Pastoral Nomadism: Q, V, F, G

    • Declining due to increased privatization of land.
    • Extensive farming.
    • Cows, sheep, goats, bison, alpacas.
    • Subsistence agriculture.

  • Plantation Farming: S, T, J, M, L

    • Coffee, rubber, tea, sugarcane, tobacco.
    • Intensive farming.
    • Often used to grow luxury crops.
    • Commercial agriculture.
    • Practiced in tropical climates.

  • Dairy Farming: X, M, T, B

    • Previously limited by the milk shed.
    • Commercial agriculture.
    • Intensive farming.
    • Practiced in warm mid-latitude climates.

  • Grain Farming: K, A, M, V, O

    • Spring and summer wheat, barley, corn.
    • Practiced in cold mid-latitude climates.
    • Commercial agriculture.
    • Extensive farming.
    • Characterized by use of heavy machinery on very large farms.

  • Livestock Ranching: V, U, M, R

    • Extensive farming.
    • Practiced in drylands.
    • Commercial agriculture.
    • Commercial grazing of animals confined to a specific area.

  • Mediterranean: P, I, T, B, A

    • Figs, dates, olives, grapes.
    • Always practiced on the border of a sea or ocean.
    • Intensive farming.
    • Practiced in warm mid-latitude climates.
    • Spring and summer wheat, barley, corn.

  • Physical geography’s influence on agriculture: The agricultural practices of a place are heavily shaped by its physical geography, including climate, soil quality, water availability, and terrain. These factors influence the types of crops that can be grown, the farming techniques employed, and the amount of labor or technology required to sustain productive agricultural systems.

  • Modern technology helping overcome environmental conditions: Modern technology has equipped farmers with the tools and techniques needed to overcome difficult environmental conditions, leading to increased productivity, resource conservation, and climate change adaptation. Farmers can use technology to create more sustainable and productive agricultural practices that allow them to better adapt to unpredictable weather, manage scarce resources, and lessen the effects of environmental problems.

Part 3: Rural Settlement Patterns & Survey Methods

  • Clustered Settlements: A rural settlement pattern where many houses and buildings are close together.

  • Dispersed Settlements: A rural settlement pattern where houses and buildings are more spread out.

  • Linear Settlements: A rural settlement pattern where houses and buildings are in a line.

  • Settlement Pattern Scenarios:

    • Morgan (COVID-19 pandemic concern): Dispersed Settlements
    • Jamal (commute to city): Linear Settlements
    • Simon (sense of community): Clustered Settlements
    • Marie and Oscar (privacy and independence): Dispersed Settlements
    • Andrea (safety in a community): Clustered Settlements

  • Rural Survey Methods:

    • Metes & Bounds: A rural survey method where land is divided into parcels based on features of the landscape, distance, and direction.
    • Township & Range: A rural survey method where land is divided using lines of latitude and longitude, resulting in a grid pattern.
    • Long Lot: A rural survey method where land is divided into long, narrow lots that run perpendicular to a river, road, or canal.

Part 4: Von Thünen's Model

  • Rings in Von Thünen’s Model:

    • Horticulture (Semi-center): Located closest to the city because these products are highly perishable and require quick transport to market.
    • Forests (Semi-center): Located in the next ring because lumber is bulky and heavy, so transportation costs would be too high if they were located too far away.
    • Grain farming (Middle): Located further out because these crops are lightweight and don't perish. Also includes the size of land needed to farm grains. Further out on larger land, better for grain farming.
    • Ranching (Outside): Requires large amounts of land and can be located further away from the market due to the lower transportation cost per unit of product. Animals can be walked to the market and be slaughtered on arrival, so perishability was not an issue.

  • Relation to Distance Decay and Bid-Rent Theory: Von Thünen’s Model is closely related to distance decay and bid-rent theory as it explains the spatial arrangement of agricultural activities based on distance from a central market. The model integrates both distance decay (the effect of distance on interactions, like transportation costs) and bid-rent theory (the economic logic behind the spatial distribution of agricultural land uses).

  • Adjustments for Realistic Conditions: To make Von Thünen’s Model applicable to modern conditions, it must account for the complexities of modern transportation, technology, urban growth, global trade, government policies, and consumer preferences. The model’s assumptions about transportation costs and the relationship between distance and land use must be modified to reflect today’s realities, making agricultural patterns more dynamic and multifaceted than Von Thünen originally envisioned.

Part 5: Agriculture, Politics & the Economy

  • Decline of Small Family Farms: The decline of small family farms since the Industrial Revolution is due to the growing dominance of industrialized agriculture, technological advancements, and global commodity chains that favor large-scale operations. These developments, combined with economies of scale, government policies, and global market forces, have made it difficult for small family farms to remain competitive. As a result, many small farms have been absorbed into larger agricultural enterprises or have disappeared altogether, leading to a dramatic shift in the agricultural landscape in developed countries.

  • Differences Between Agribusiness and Small Family Farms: The production methods of agribusiness and small family farms differ significantly in scale, technology, labor practices, production goals, and market relationships. Agribusinesses prioritize efficiency, profit, and high-volume output through large- scale, industrialized production. They benefit from economies of scale, advanced technology, and global market access, but may overlook sustainability and community ties. In contrast, small family farms prioritize diverse, localized production, often maintaining a direct relationship with consumers and emphasizing sustainable practices and community involvement. However, they may face challenges in accessing technology, capital, and competitive pricing. These contrasting approaches highlight the broader shift in agriculture from small- scale, traditional methods to industrialized, corporate-controlled systems.

  • Regarding the Agribusiness Model: The agribusiness model presents both advantages and disadvantages. It can efficiently, affordably, and innovatively meet the food needs of an expanding global population. However, it also poses significant challenges, particularly in terms of environmental impact, labor rights, and consolidation of power. The model's overall value depends on how it is managed.

  • Influence of Politics on Agricultural Practices: Politics plays a significant role in shaping agricultural practices through various mechanisms such as policies, subsidies, trade agreements, regulations, and public support for certain types of farming practices. Political decisions shape the economic landscape in which farmers operate and affect the sustainability of agricultural systems. For farmers, policies related to subsidies, labor, trade, and land use often determine what crops to grow and how to produce them.

Part 6: Agriculture & Society

  • Environment and farmer well-being: Agricultural trends are deeply influenced by growing concerns for both the environment and farmer well-being. These concerns are causing shifts in food production methods, crop choices, and the overall organization of farming practices. Resulting changes in policy and consumer demand further drive the evolution of agricultural practices.

  • Harmful Production of Luxury Crops: The production of luxury crops like coffee, cocoa, bananas, flowers, tea, and spices in developing countries can lead to several harmful consequences. These include environmental damage, social inequality, food insecurity, and economic dependency. While these crops can generate significant export revenue and economic benefits, they also pose social, economic, and environmental challenges that can have detrimental long-term effects on the local population and the overall well-being of the country.

  • Factors Contributing to Global Food Insecurity: Global food insecurity is driven by a combination of economic, political, social, environmental, and agricultural factors. Addressing this issue requires coordinated efforts at local, national, and international levels, focusing on poverty alleviation, climate change mitigation, improving agricultural productivity, and ensuring access to nutritious food for all populations.

  • Combating Localized Food Insecurity: Localized food insecurity is a multifaceted problem that requires context-specific solutions. By addressing the root causes of food insecurity—such as poverty, inefficient food systems, climate change, and social inequality—communities can become more resilient and self-sufficient. Sustainable agricultural practices, social safety nets, better governance, and investments in education and infrastructure all play crucial roles in combating localized food insecurity.

  • Women's Participation in Agriculture: Women play a crucial and multifaceted role in agriculture around the world, although their involvement differs significantly between developed and developing countries due to social, economic, and cultural factors. Women’s participation in agriculture is vital to both the economic development and food security of nations, regardless of their development status. However, significant differences exist in how women engage in agriculture between developed and developing countries.

Part 7: Agriculture & the Environment

  • Landscape Transformation: The expansion of agriculture has dramatically transformed the landscape over the centuries, often with profound environmental, social, and economic consequences. As agricultural practices have intensified and expanded to meet the demands of growing populations and global markets, various changes to the physical landscape have occurred.

  • Impact of New Agricultural Technologies:

    • Slash & Burn Agriculture: accelerates deforestation, leads to soil degradation, and contributes to climate change. However, the impact can be mitigated with alternative, more sustainable agricultural practices
    • Feedlots: contribute to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion, especially regarding land and water.
    • Deforestation: is one of the most significant drivers of biodiversity loss, climate change, soil erosion, and water cycle disruption. Its environmental effects are far-reaching, impacting everything from local ecosystems to global weather patterns.
    • Pesticides: contribute to water and soil pollution, disrupt ecosystems by affecting non-target species, and lead to resistance in pests. Overuse can result in long-term environmental damage.