Agricultural Practices and Geography

Physical Environment and Agriculture

• Different regions produce different agricultural products due to their specific physical environments.

• Examples of climate and agricultural products:

  • Tropical climates (Indonesia, Africa near the Equator): coffee, sugar, pineapple
  • Subtropical climates (West Indies, parts of Indonesia): rice, cotton, tobacco
  • Grasslands/continental steppe (Mongolia, western US, northern Africa): cattle ranching, sheep, goats, horses, camels
  • Mediterranean climates (California, Chile, Mediterranean Sea area): grapes, olives, dates
  • Warm mid-latitude climates (Southern China, southern US): vegetables, fruits, rice
  • Cold mid-latitude climates (North Central US, Southern Canada, Eastern Europe): wheat, barley, livestock, dairy cows

• Variations in growing seasons, arable land, access to fresh water, and available space influence agricultural production.

Advancements in Technology

• Technological advances are reducing the barriers to growing food.

• Examples of advancements:

  • Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides increase crop yield.
  • Genetic modification allows crops and animals to grow faster, larger, and in previously unsuitable environments.
  • New farming methods include greenhouses, vertical farming, and community gardens/farms to produce food in or near urban areas.
  • Advancements in irrigation, GPS, and GIS enable farmers to better understand their crops' needs (water, fertilizer) and harvest times.

• These advancements exemplify environmental possibilism, countering Thomas Malthus's theory of arithmetic food production growth.

Intensive vs. Extensive Agricultural Practices

• Two main types of agriculture:
  • Intensive Agricultural Practices
  • Extensive Agricultural Practices

Intensive Agricultural Practices

• Require less land but more capital and labor.

• Typically located closer to larger population centers.

• Aim to produce a high yield with significant work and effort.

• Examples:

  • Plantation Agriculture
    • Located in periphery countries and former colonies with tropical climates and long growing seasons.
    • Labor is often cheap, reducing production costs.
    • Crops are often cash crops, grown for sale rather than consumption by the grower.
    • Farmers in less economically developed areas may grow cash crops for export to more advanced economies, creating issues as arable land is used for export rather than local food production.
    • Many plantations are run by companies in economically advanced countries, exporting produce to core countries.
    • Common crops: coffee, sugar, tobacco, tea.
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Agriculture
    • Typically found in more economically developed countries.
    • Farmers grow crops like corn and soybeans, which are used to feed livestock.
    • Livestock is sent to slaughterhouses, processed, and then sold at the market.
  • Market Gardening (Truck Farming)
    • Located in areas with long growing seasons, like the Southeastern US.
    • Farms grow fresh fruits and vegetables.
    • Migrant labor is often used to keep costs down.
    • Produce is either frozen, canned, or processed, then trucked to market for sale.

Extensive Agricultural Practices

• Use less labor and capital but require more land for food production.

• Crops often have a lower yield and are grown farther from population centers.

• Examples:

  • Shifting Cultivation
    • Located in tropical climates such as Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.
    • Involves clearing a plot of land, often in a rainforest, for agricultural use.
    • Crops are planted until the land becomes less productive due to nutrient loss.
    • The original plot is then left fallow to allow vegetation to regrow and nutrients to return to the soil, and a new plot is identified and cleared.
  • Nomadic Herding
    • Found in Central and Southwest Asia or Northern Africa.
    • Sedentary agricultural practices are not viable due to the physical environment.
    • People are herders who move with their animals (traditionally cattle, sheep, or goats).
    • Herders are constantly on the move within a set geographic area.
    • Population size is limited, and people tend to have few possessions due to constant movement.
  • Ranching
    • Typically located in areas where the land is not ideal for farming.
    • Land is less expensive because of its unsuitability for farming.
    • Located farther away from population centers since land is cheaper away from urban areas.
    • Allows ranchers to maximize profits and reduce costs.