Grain Importers and Exporters

Most countries are net importers of grain. The U.S. is the largest net exporter.

• Ranching – commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area– Adapted to semiarid or arid land – practiced in MDC’s

• Growth of Cattle Ranching– Expanded in the U.S. because demand for beef in East

Coast cities (1860’s)– Cattle transported by hoof from south to Chicago –Most famous cattle trail was the Chisholm Trail

Livestock Ranching

Meat Production on Ranches

Cattle, sheep, and goats are the main meat animals raised on ranches.

Fixed Location Ranching• Cattle ranching declined with conflict with

sedentary agriculture– Farmers bought land, protected with barbed wire –

ranchers forced to buy/lease land• Breeds of cattle changed because of fixed-location– Longhorns replaced by new breeds (ex. Hereford)

• Spread of irrigation and hardier crops has led to less ranching land– Cattle raised on ranches, but sent to farms for fattening

or local feed lots to increase size

Livestock Ranching

Ranching Outside the United States• Cattle ranching in other parts of the world– Spain and Portugal in Europe– Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay in South

America• In the pampas – humid climate leads to plants

• Other types of ranching in the world– Ranches in Middle East, New Zealand, and South

Africa more likely to have sheep• Ranching has changed over time – Began as herding over open ranges, then to fixed

farming, and even new methods of breeding and sources of food and water

Livestock Ranching

Mediterranean Agriculture• Location of Mediterranean Agriculture– Lands that border the Mediterranean Sea, as well as

areas of California, central Chile, southwestern part of South Africa, and southwestern Australia• All the above areas have Mediterranean climate

• Most crops grown for human consumption• Horticulture – growing of fruits, vegetables, and

flowers – and tree crops–Most of world’s olives, grapes, fruits, and vegetables• Crops grown based on local physical and culture ideas• Most important cops are olives and grapes

– 2/3 of world’s wine produced in this area• Half the land devoted to cereals (for pasta and bread

• Predominant in the U.S. Southeast– Long growing season and humid climate

• Truck farming – commercial farming and fruit farming – named because truck was Middle English word meaning bartering or exchange of commodities– Grow foods demanded in MDC’s• Fresh and canned/frozen (most)

– Specialty farming (form of truck farming) has spread to New England area – limits crops for affluent customers (peppers, mushrooms, strawberries)

Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming

Von Thünen Model

• Von Thünen Model – What farmers produce

varies by distance from the town, with livestock raising farthest from town.

– Cost of transportation governs use of land.

– First effort to analyze the spatial character of economic activity.

• Von Thünen model explains the importance of proximity to market in the choice of crops

• Commercial farmer compares two costs – the cost of the land versus the cost of transporting products to market– Commercial farmer must combine two sets of

monetary values to determine most profitable crop• The value of the yield per hectare• The cost of transporting the yield per hectare

– Farms located closer to market tend to select crops with higher transportation costs per hectare of output

– More distant farms are more likely to select crops that can be transported less expensively

Von Thünen Model

• Von Thünen model based in 19th century Germany• Specific crops grown in different rings around cities– First ring were market-oriented gardens and milk• Expensive to deliver and perishable

– Second ring were wood lots for construction and fuel• Heavy weight – needs to be closer for profit

– Next rings used for various crops and pasture• Specific commodity rotated from one year to next

– Outermost ring for animal grazing• Required lots of space

Von Thünen Model

• Von Thünen model did NOT consider site or human factors– Assumed all land had similar site characteristics and

uniform quality–Model did vary according to topography (ex. river)– Failed to consider social customs and government

policies influence• Von Thünen model developed for small region

with single market, but also applicable on national or global scale

Von Thünen Model

Von Thünen Model

Fig. 10-13: Von Thünen’s model shows how distance from a city or market affects the choice of agricultural activity in (a) a uniform landscape and (b) one with a river.

Von Thünen Model

Second Agriculture Revolution

• A series of innovations, improvements, and techniques used to improve the output of agricultural surpluses (started before the industrial revolution). eg. – seed drill– new crops-potatoes & corn– advances in livestock breeding– new soil preparation methods & new fertilizers

Third Agriculture Revolution(Green Revolution)

• invention of high-yield grains, especially rice, with goal of reducing hunger.

- increased production of rice- new varieties in wheat and corn- reduced famines due to crop failure,

now most famines are due to political problems

- impact (in terms of hunger) is greatest where rice is produced

Opposition to Green Revolution

• Opposition argues Green Revolution has led to:– vulnerability to pests– Soil erosion – Water shortages– Micronutrient deficiencies– Dependency on chemicals for production– Loss of control over seeds

Agriculture

• Commercial AgricultureTerm used to describe large scale farming and ranching operations that employ vast land bases, large mechanized equipment, factory-type labor forces, and the latest technology.

- roots are in colonial agriculture- today, global production made possible by

advances in transportation and food storage

Overproduction in Commercial Farming• Commercial farmers produce large quantities of

food, which has led to lower prices for output– Greater yields in land and animal farming

• Food supply increases – demand remains constant– Consumption does not change even if price does– Demand stagnant in MDC’s – low population growth

Challenges for Commercial Farmers

• U.S. government policies designed to address problem of excess productive capacity

1. Farmers encouraged to avoid producing crops that are in excess supply– Encouraged to plant fallow crops (restore nutrients)

2. Government pays farmers when certain commodity prices are low– Govt. sets target price – pays farmers difference between

price they receive in market and target price (being fair)3. Government buys surplus and sells or donates to

foreign governments – Low-income Americans also get food stamps– Subsidies in Europe higher than U.S. (higher food prices)

Challenges for Commercial Farmers

Sustainable Agriculture• Sustainable Agriculture – agricultural practice

that preserves and enhances environmental quality• Organic farming is best form of sustainable ag.

Challenges for Commercial Farmers

There is limited use of chemicals and heavy machinery on organic farms such as this one in Whatcom County, Washington state.

Organic Agriculture

• Organic Agriculture –The production of crops without the use of synthetic or industrially produced pesticides and fertilizers or the raising of livestock without hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic feeds.

- sales of organic foods on the rise- grown everywhere - demand in wealthier countries

Organic Agriculture

Fair Trade Agriculture• Fair Trade Coffee –

shade grown coffee produced by certified fair trade farmers, who then sell the coffee directly to coffee importers.

- guarantees a “fair trade price”- over 500,000 farmers- produced in more than 20 countries- often organically produced

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/fellows/mexico_2008/

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2009/09/brazil_hired_gu.html

http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/photo_gallery_watch.php