American Farms are vastly different from farms around the world. Farming practices are different around the world. Agriculture is deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through cultivation of plants and rearing animals to obtain substance or economic gain.

Where did Agriculture Originate? Origins of Agriculture Hunters and Gatherers Role of men vs. Role of women Traveling Contemporary Hunting and Gathering Very few people on earth still do this

Where did Agriculture Originate? Invention of Agriculture Two types of cultivation Vegetative planting Seed Agriculture

Where did Agriculture Originate? Location of Agricultural Hearths Location of first Vegetative planting Southeast Asia West Africa South America

Where did Agriculture Originate? Location of First Seed Agriculture Western India, Northern China, Ethiopia Southwest Asia used seed agriculture and domesticated animals. Diffusion of Seed Agriculture From southwest Asia across Europe Independent hearths in Mexico and Northern Peru Multiple Hearths

Where did Agriculture Originate? Classifying Agricultural Regions Less Developed Countries vs. More Developed Countries Distinguishing commercial agriculture from subsistence agriculture Purpose of farming Percentage of farmers in the labor force Use of machinery Farm size Relationship of farming to other businesses

Where did Agriculture Originate? Mapping agricultural Regions LDCs and MDCs Climate Culture

Where are Agricultural Regions in Less Developed Countries? Shifting Cultivation Two distinguishing hallmarks Slash and burn agriculture Fallow fields The process of Shifting Cultivation Crops of shifting Cultivation Ownership and use of land in shifting cultivation Future of Shifting Cultivation

Where are Agricultural Regions in Less Developed Countries? Pastoral Nomadism Based on herding domesticated animals Characteristics of Pastoral Nomadism Choice of animals Movements of Pastoral Nomads The future of pastoral nomadism

Where are Agricultural Regions in Less Developed Countries? Plantation Farming Plantation is a large farm that specializes in one or two crops. Mostly found in LDCs Common in the Southern US prior to the Civil War.

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Mixed Crop and Livestock farming Characteristics of Mixed crop and Livestock farming Crop rotation Choice of crops

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Dairy Farming Has risen since 1970 in LDCs Dairies are located near urban areas Transportation Milkshed Specialization Regional Differences in Dairy Products Relation to major cities Challenges for Dairy Farmers

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Grain Farming Grain Winter Wheat Spring Wheat Reaper Combine Distribution of work throughout the year

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Livestock Ranching Mostly in MDCs Ranching Cattle Ranching in U.S. Popular Culture Short time Beginning of Cattle Ranching Transporting Cattle to Market Chisholm Trail

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Fixed Location Ranching “The Code of the West” Range Wars Farmers vs. Ranchers Changes in Cattle Breeding Longhorns then Herefords Ranching outside the United States

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Mediterranean Agriculture Found near oceans and seas Horticulture

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming Truck Farming Grows vegetables and fruit Specialty farming

Where are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Countries? Importance of Access to Markets Von Thunen Model Based on what a farmer sees as a need in an urban area. Cost of land vs. Cost of transporting products to market. Application of Von Thunen Model

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Challenges for Commercial Farmers Overproduction Supply and demand Avoid producing crops that have an excess Government pays a subsidy to farmers when prices are low Government buys surplus and sells to other nations

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Sustainable Agriculture Preserves and enhances environmental quality Sensitive Land Management Ridge tillage Limited Use of Chemicals Genetically modified Seeds – “Roundup Ready” Integrated Crop and Livestock Sensitive to environment and economics

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Challenges for Subsistence Farmers Subsistence farming and population growth Boserup Thesis Land left fallow for shorter periods Adopt new technologies Subsistence Farming and International Trade Use profits to buy supplies Drug Crops Marijuana, Cocaine, Opium

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Strategies to increase Food Supply Expand land area for Agricultural use Agricultural land is decreasing Desertification Excessive Water from Irrigation

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Strategies to increase Food Supply Increase through higher productivity Green Revolution Two parts Higher yield seeds Expanded use of fertilizers

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Strategies to increase Food Supply Identifying new food sources Cultivate oceans Overfishing Develop Higher-protein cereals People in LDCs get less protein Improve Palatability of Rarely consumed foods Soy beans, Krill

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Strategies to increase Food Supply Increase exports from other countries Change in Exporters since the 1970s United States – Grains Thailand – Exports Rice China – major importer Japan major food importer

Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties? Africa’s Food-Supply Crisis Sub-Saharan Africa has most of the world’s undernourished people Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan Pastoral Nomads who overgrazed the land Farmers overplanted Drought