Chapter 10 Food and Agriculture
How diet is affected by the physical conditions of a place
-Climate greatly influences what can and can't be grown in developing countries -In developed countries climate matters but they don't have to worry about transporting food long distances
Two-field crop rotation system
-Developed in Northern Europe in the 5th century
Three-field crop rotation system
-Developed in the 8th century in Northern Europe
Strategies to increase world's food supply
-increasing exports from countries with surpluses -Expanding the land area used for agriculture -expanding fishing -increasing the productivity of land now used for agriculture
Four-field crop rotation system
-introduced in Europe during the 18th century
Future of shifting cultivation
-land used for shifting cultivation is declining in the tropics about 75,000 sq kilometers (30,000 sq miles) or .2% a year -this is caused by the deforestation of tropical regions -shifting cultivation is being replaced by logging, cattle ranching, and the cultivation of cash crops. Selling timber to builders and beef for fast food restaurants are more effective today -developing countries don't think it's a good way to feed a lot of people
Maize consumption
-leading crop in the world -not only used as food for humans, but also for animal feed -leading crop in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa
Consuming protein in developed countries
-leading source of protein is meat products like beef, pork and poultry -account for 1/3 of protein intake in developed countries
Wheat production increase in developing countries
1/4 of wheat production in 1960 1/2 of production by 2010
How much of the world's land is used for shifting cultivation
1/4 or 25%, but less than 5% of the world's people engage in this practice
Average size of farm in developed country (US)
161 hectares (418 acres)
Average kcal consumption worldwide
2,800 kcal
Largest producer of wheat
China, India, then the U.S.
Ester Boserup
Says that population growth influences the distribution of types of subsistence farming, it compels farmers to consider new approaches that produce enough food to take care of more people
How were plantations run before the civil war
Slaves brought from Africa performed most of the labor until the South was defeated in the civil war. After plantations were sold to either individual farms or worked by tenant farmers
First area that joined the cultivation of crops with the domestication of animals
Southwest Asia -Animals were used to prepare the land for the crops and in turn were fed part of the harvested crop -Animal products such as milk, meat and skin were believed to have been cultivated at a later date
New Zealand dairy farmers
Do not sell much liquid milk even though they devote about 5% of production to liquid milk
Von Thünen Model
First ring: dairy Second ring: wood lots, timber Third ring: various crops, pasture Fourth ring: animal grazing
Derwent Whittlesey
Identified 11 main agricultural regions, plus an area where agriculture was nonexistent. 5 are important in developing countries and 6 are in developed countries.
Workers on plantations
import workers are provided with food, housing, and social services in exchange for working on the plantation. Managers try to spread work evenly during year to make the most use of labor force
Unit of measurement for dietary energy
kilcalorie (kcal), or calorie in the U.S. One gram of each food sources delivers a kilocalories level that nutritionists can measure
Ownership of land in shifting cultivation
land was owned by the village as a whole rather than separately by each resident. The chief of the land assigns different patches to each family. Individuals may also have the right to own or protect specific trees surrounding the village
Gov buys surplus production and sells or donates it to foreign governments
low income Americans also receive food stamps from the additional food
McCormick reaper
machine that cuts grain standing in the field, invented in the 1830s first permitted large scale wheat production
South American crops used in shifting cultivation
maize (corn) and manioc (cassava)
African crops used in shifting cultivation
millet and sorghum
Cereal grain, or cereal
a grass that yields grain for food
Winnowed
allowing the lighter chaff of the rice to be blown away by the wind
Crop
any plant cultivated by people
Threshed
beating the rice on the ground or treading on them barefoot
Another way to plant rice...
broadcasting dry seeds by scattering them through the field, a method used in South Asia
How diet is affected by different cultural preferences
certain cultures and religions have different food preferences, thus affecting what some people can grow and eat
Johann Heinrich von Thünen
estate owner in northern Germany, first proposed model in 1826 to show the different types of farming that take place at different distances from a city
Health problems from GMOs
consuming lots of GMOs may reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics and could destroy long standing ecological balances in agriculture
Most important crops grown on plantations
cotton, sugarcane, coffee, rubber, and tobacco. Also produced in large amounts are cocoa, jute, bananas, tea, coconuts, and palm oil *tobacco, cotton and sugarcane can be planted once a year and are less likely to be grown on a plantation today
Plantations after the civil war
cotton, tobacco and sugarcane became less important to grow on a plantation in the southern U.S.
Aquaculture or Aquafarming
cultivation of sea food under controlled conditions
Transplanting wet rice
customary to grow seedlings on dry land and transplant the seedlings to a flooded field. 1/10 of a sawah is for the seedlings. After a month they're transplanted to the rest of the field. Rice grows submerged in water for 3/4 of the growing period
Challenges for dairy farmers
declining revenues and rising costs -extremely labor intensive (cows milked twice a day everyday) -feeding cows in the winter is hard, farmers generally have to purchase hay or grain during the winter
Industrial Revolution in England affecting demand
demand for cotton rose after textiles factories started in the late 18th century. Was stimulated more after the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793
Choosing animals for pastoral nomadism
depends on physical conditions, cultural norms, the prestige of the animal, it's ability to adapt to a particular climate and vegetation.
Subsistence agriculture and international trade
developing countries must produce something they can sell in developed countries, consumers in developed countries are willing to pay high prices for fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be out of season for crops like coffee and tea
Undernourishment
dietary energy consumption that is ocntinuously below the minimum requirement for maintaining a healthy life and carrying out light physical activity
Preparing the field for wet rice
farmer prepares field for planting, usually using a plow drawn by a water buffalo or oxen.
Slash and burn agriculture
farmers clear land for planting by slashing vegetation and burning the debris which helps nourish the soil, endless cycle
Planting and fallowing
farmers grow crops on a cleared field for only a few years, until soil nutrients are depletes, and then leave it fallow (with nothing planted) for many years so the soil can recover
Multi-cropping
field are used several times a year and never left fallow
Short fallow
fields are cleared and used for 2 years and left to fallow for up to 2 years
Bush fallow
fields are cleared and used for 8 years and left to fallow for up to 10 years
Forest fallow
fields are cleared and used for up to 2 years and left to fallow for more than 20 years
Annual cropping
fields are used every year and rotates between legumes and roots
Harvesting wet rice
harvest by hand, usually with knives. To separate the husks, known as chaff, from the seeds, the heads are threshed by beating them on the ground or trading on them barefoot. The rice is placed in a tray and the lighter chaff is winnowed. If the rice is to be directly consumed the hull is removed used a mortar and pestle. Rice sold commercially is whitened and polished which removes some nutrients
Chaff
husks of the rice
Farmers are encouraged to avoid producing crops that are in excess supply
encourages planting clover in fallows to restore nutrients, these crops can be used for hay or forage for pigs, or to produce seeds for sale
Hull
outer covering of the rice
Increased dependence on the US
people think that biotechs will put a gene in food that will not allow it to be replanted again, causing the world to rely more on the US and be forced to buy from them
Combine machine
performs in one operation the reaping, threshing and cleaning of wheat
Specialty truck farming
spread to New England -farmers are growing crops that have limited but increasing demand such as asparagus, peppers, mushrooms, strawberries and nursery plants -represents alternative for farmers at a time when dairy farming is declining because of relatively high operating costs and low milk prices
Dietary energy consumption
the amount of food that an individual consumes
How climate affects agricultural regions
the climate in an area largely affects what type of agriculture can be practiced there. For example, pastoral nomadism is prevalent in Southwest Asia and North Africa because of the dry climate.
Ranching
the commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area. practiced in areas where vegetation is too sparse and the soil is too poor to support crops
Agriculture
the deliberate modification of Earth's surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain
Green revolution
the invention and rapid diffusion of more productive agricultural techniques during the 1970s and 1980s
Where is intensive subsistence, wet rice dominant prevalent
the large population concentrations of East Asia and South Asia
Where is intensive subsistence, crops other than rice dominant prevalent
the large population concentrations of East Asia and South Asia where growing rice is difficult
Flooding the field for wet rice
the plowed land is flooded with water that is collected from rainfall, river overflow and irrigation. Too much/little water can damage the crop, a common problem for South Asia who depend on monsoons.
Agricultural Revolution
the time when human beings first domesticated plans and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering
Where are plantations prevalent
the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian crops used in shifting cultivation
upland rice
Palouse region of Washington State
wheat comprises a smaller percentage of agricultural output than the other two regions, 80% of U.S. lentils are grown in the region
After 1500 ______ were introduced to the western hemisphere and ________ to the eastern hemisphere
wheat, oats and barley; maize
Leading cereal grains
wheat, rice, and maize account for about 90% of all grain production and more than 40% of all dietary energy consumed worldwide
Desertification
when human actions caused land to deteriorate to a desert like condition
Dairy farmers usually sell to...
wholesalers, who distribute in turn to retailers, don't sell directly to consumers, retailers then sell milk and other dairy products to consumers
Winter wheat belt through Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma
winter wheat crop is planted in the autumn and develops a strong root system before growth stops for winter. Wheat survives winter and is ripe by the beginning of snow
Paddy
word for wet rice in Malay, what Europeans and North Americans frequently but incorrectly call wet rice
Other crops used in shifting cultivation
yams, sugarcane, plantains, and vegetables
What percentage of the world's rice is produced in China and India
50% in China and India, 90% in East, South and Southeast Asia
When did the agricultural revolution occur?
8000 BC
How many people are undernourished
870 million people worldwide, 99% of them are located in developing countries
Where are most of the farmers in the world located?
97% of farmers are in developing countries 2% in the US
Most important Mediterranean crops
Olives and grapes, 2/3 of the world's wine is produced in places like France, Italy and Spain, also very large supply of olives
New farming methods adopted
Plows replace axes and sticks, more irrigation ditches are dug, more terraces are carved out of hillsides. All of this allows more harvest but also demands more labor
Milkshed
-ring surrounding a city from which milk can be supplied without spoiling -typical radius is 300 miles today
Price for agricultural land increase
$2,500 per acre in 2000 to $5,000 in 2010
Consuming protein in developing countries
-1/10 of protein source is from meat -cereal grains provide the largest share of protein
Domestication of the horse
-Believed to have been domesticated in Central Asia -Thought the domestication of horse diffused with the diffusion of the Indo-European language
Movements of pastoral nomads
-Every group controls a territory and will invade other group's territory in an emergency of if war is declared -the amount of land a group controls depends on its wealth and power -Groups usually divide into 5 or 6 families and choose routes based on the most likely water sources during different seasons
Future of pastoral nomadism
-Experts used to regard pastoral nomadism as a stage that is more advanced than hunters and gatherers but less advanced than settled farmers -today it is a declining form of agriculture due to modern tech, they used to carry goods and information but modern transportation systems phased them out -Governments have been trying to resettle nomads in China, Kazakhstan, countries in southwest Asia including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Syria but have experienced difficulty in succeeding
How do developing countries farm?
-Farmers do much of the work with hand tools and animal powers
Commercial ranching not in the U.S.
-Interior of Australia was used since the 19th century for grazing -Rare in Europe except for Spain and Portugal -In South America, Argentina southern Brazil and Uruguay are devoted to grazing cattle and sheep
Hunters and Gatherers
-Lived in small groups of less than 50 people -Men hunted game, fish, etc. -Women gathered berries, nuts, and roots -Moved around frequently based off of season and good locations for food and game
Consuming other crops for energy
-Other countries, like the ones in sub-Saharan Africa, rely on cassava, sorghum, millet, plantains, sweet potatoes, and yams for energy sources -Sugar is the leading source of dietary energy in Venezuela
Cultural factors believed to start agriculture revolution
-People may have wanted to settle permanently in a place rather than constantly move about as nomads -While gathering vegetation, they dropped seeds and other fruits and overtime realized that the discarded food produced new plants -After this main event over time people poured water over the sight and introduced manure to improve growing conditions
East Asia Crop Hearth
-Rice was domesticated along the Yangtze River about 10,000 years ago -Millet was also cultivated early on along the Yellow River
Africa's food supply struggle
-Since 1961 food production has increased in sub-Saharan Africa, but so has population. -Threat of famine is severe in horn of Africa and the Sahel -With growing population, farmers overplanted and herd size increased beyond the capacity of the land to support the animals
Sub-Saharan Africa Crop Hearth
-Sorghum was domesticated about 8,000 years ago -Yams may have been domesticated earlier -Millet and rice may have also been domesticated in Africa -Domestication diffused further south in Africa
Examples of current hunters and gatherers
-Spinifex aka Pila Nguru: live in Australia's Great Victorian Dessert -Sentinelese people: live in India's Andaman Islands -Bushmen: live in Botswana and Namibia
Current number of farmers in the US
-Stable number of 2 million farmers since 1980
How and why did the number of farmers decline after the 20th century?
-US had about 60% fewer farms and 85% fewer farmers in 200 than in 1900 -People were pushed away from farms by lack of opportunity to earn a decent income -Offered higher paying jobs in urban areas
How to developed countries farm?
-Use machinery -Less people need to work because lots of machinery do the jobs necessary rather than other people or animals
Agriculture origination
-When humans domesticated plans and animals for their use -Can't be documented certainly because it began before recorded history
What is pastoral nomadism
-a form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals. -Depend primarily on animals for their milk, skins and hair used for clothing and tents. -Usually don't slaughter animals but eat animals that die naturally -Pastoral nomads primarily eat grain. Modern day nomads will raise crops -size of their heard measures prestige and power -women and children of a nomadic group may plant crops in a fixed location while everyone else wanders with the herd -some groups remain in one place when the climate is good for growing crops and will move when the climate is not sufficient
Plantation
-a large commercial farm in a developing country that specializes in one or two crops, usually situated in tropical Latin America, etc. but are often owned and operate by the U.S. or Europe -goods are usually processed at plantation before being sent to U.S. or Europe because they're less bulky and easier to transport
Swidden
-aka lading, milpa, chena, and kaingin -the area of land that is cleared when practicing shifting cultivation -prepared by hand or with a hoe
Average kcal consumption in developing countries
-average consumption is 2,600 kcal -average in sub-Saharan Africa is 2,400 kcal
Mediterranean Agriculture location and climate
-borders a sea, most are on west coats of continents -sea winds provide moisture and moderate the winter temperatures, summers are hot and dry but the sea breezes provide relief -land is very hilly and mountains plunge into the sea
Evolution of Transportation
-building of railroads in the 19th and the use of highways and trucks in the 20th century made transporting livestock and crops easier
US's use of corn on mixed crop and livestock farms
-corn generates high yields -some of the corn is consumed by people as oil, margarine, etc. but most is fed to pigs and cattle -most important farm extends from Ohio to the Dakotas and is called the corn belt because 1/2 the land is used for corn
Grain farming
-crops on a grain farm are grown primarily for consumption by humans rather than livestock. Commercial grain farms sell their output to manufacturers of breakfast cereals and breads -located in regions that are too dry for mixed crop and livestock agriculture
Cocaine from crop
-derived from coca leaf -grown in Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia -most buyers are in developed countries, especially North America
Heroin from crop
-derived from raw opium gum, which is produced by the opium poppy plant -Afghanistan is the source of 90% of the world's opium, the rest is grown in Myanmar (Burma) and Laos -Traffic routes go through Iran, Turkey and the Balkans to Western Europe where the largest number of the world's users live
Southwest Asia Crop Hearth
-earliest crops believed to be domesticated in SW Asia were barley and wheat about 10,000 years ago. -Lentil and olive were also domesticated early there. -Cultivation diffused to Europe and central Asia
Intensive subsistence agriculture with wet rice dominant
-farmers must work intensively to subsist on a parcel of land.
Environmental factors believed to start agriculture revolution
-first domestication of crops and animals started due to climate change around 10,000 years ago -marked the end of the ice age, which resulted in a large redistribution of humans, plants, and animals
Mixed crop and livestock farming
-most common form of commercial agriculture in the U.S. west of the Appalachians -most of the crops are fed to animals rather than consumed directly by humans, in turn the livestock supply manure to improve soil fertility -typical farm devoted nearly all land to crops but gets more than 3/4 of it's income from animal products like beef, eggs and milk -Uses crop rotation
Characteristics of intensive subsistence agriculture with wet rice
-much smaller than other farms -farmers own several plots that will be handed down to several children over several centuries -agricultural density (ratio of farmers to arable land) is so high that people have to feed their families from a very small piece of land -most of the work is done by hand or with animals -waste no land, paths and roads are kept narrow to leave land open for farming, livestock are rarely permitted to graze on land that could be arable
Goats
-need more water than camels -tough and agile and can survive on really any vegetation
Double cropping
-obtaining two harvests per year from one field. common in places that have warm winters such as Southern China and Taiwan Example: usually grow wet rice in summer and then grow wheat, barley or another dry crop in the drier winter season
Evolution of machinery
-originally the farm or local craftspeople made equipment from wood -first iron plow was made in the 1770s -by the late 18th century factories produced machinery -by the 19th and 20th century tractors, combines, corn pickers, planters and other machines replaced manual labor
Record high food prices are caused by
-poor weather in major crop growing regions like South Pacific and North America -Higher demand in China and India -Smaller growth in productivity especially without any major breakthroughs -Use of crops as biofuel instead of good, especially in Latin America
Shifting Cultivation
-practiced in much of the world's tropical climate regions (high temps and rainfall) -250 mil people practice it across 36 mil sq kilometers (14 mil sq miles) -Two types of shifting cultivation techniques -People that practice this usually live in small villages
Commercial gardening and fruit farming
-predominant type of agriculture in the southeastern US -long growing season and humid climate -Accessible to large eastern US urban area -truck farming is practiced frequently
Rice consumption
-principal cereal grain consumed in the developing regions of east, south, and southeast Asia -most suitable crop for production in tropical areas
Wheat consumption
-principal cereal grain in developed parts of Europe and North America -Consumed as pasta, bread, cake, etc. -Also most consumed grain in developing regions of central and southwest Asia where the drier climate allow wheat to grow easier
Agriculture in China after communist revolution in 1949
-private individuals have owned little agricultural land, instead the gov organized agricultural producer communes, which typically consisted of several villages of several hundred people each -hoped to promote agricultural efficiency by sharing equipment and animals and also dealing with flood control, water storage and terracing as a whole -production did not increase as much because people work more efficiently when working for themselves -China dismantled this system but reorganization has been hard because irrigation systems, equipment and other structures were developed for more people than small individually owned people. Production has increased greatly since
Marijuana form crop
-produced from Cannabis sativa plant -cultivated widely around the world but the majority of marijuana that reaches the U.S. is grown in Mexico.
Sheep
-relatively slow moving and affected by climatic changes -require more water than camels and goats -more selective about what plants they will eat
How commercial farmers use technology to increase crop production
-researchers generate new fertilizers, herbicides, hybrid plants and farming practices which increases production -farmers also use GPS to know where to spread fertilizer and how much to use. Large ranches use it to locate their cattle -also use to count how much is being harvested
Wet rice
-rice planted on dry land in a nursery and then moved as seedlings to a flooded field to promote growth. -occupies small part of Asia's agricultural land but is the area's most important source of food -easiest to grow on flat land
Increasing demand for milk
-share of the world's dairy farming conducted in developing countries has risen from 26% in 1980 to 53% in 2010 -in the 21st century, India is the world's largest milk producer, ahead of the US with China in third and Pakistan in fourth
Overproduction in commercial farming
-suffer from low incomes due to overproduction. -surplus of food is easy to come by due to efficient and advanced agriculture systems -U.S. gov has three policies to help issue
Percentage of farms that produce the most in the US
-the largest 5% of farms in the US produce 75% of the country's total agriculture -farms in developed countries are usually family owned
Domestication of the dog
-thought to be dated around 12,000 years ago in Southwest Asia, East Asia, and/or Europe
Southwest Asia Animal Hearth
-thought to be hearth for cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep about 8-9,000 years ago
Truck farming
-truck farms grown many of the fruits and vegetables that consumers in developed countries demand, such as apples, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Some are sold fresh, others are canned or frozen -labor costs are kept low by hiring migrant farm workers, some undocumented
Use of the soybean
-used in the US to feed to the animals -Tofu (made from soybean milk) is a major food source for people in China and Japan -Soybean oil is used in U.S. foods
Camel
-well suited to arid climates because they can go long period without water, carry heavy baggage, and move rapidly. -easily bothered by flies, sleeping sickness and have a long gestation period: 12 months from conception to birth
Most important grain crop
-wheat, used for bread flour -sold at higher price than rye, oats, barley, and it has more uses for human food -it's stored and transported easily
How many people today survive by hunting and gathering?
.005 % of the world's population, or 250,000 people
Average size of farm in developing country (China)
1 hectare (2.5 acres)
Average individual kcal intake
1,800 kcal
Biggest meat producers
1. China 2. U.S. 3. Brazil developing countries were responsible for 1/3 of meat production in 2010
Places with the most undernourished people
1. India with 225 million people 2. China with 130 million people -1/4 of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, 1/5 of South Asia, and 1/6 in all developing countries
How many people are farmers in developing countries?
1/2 of the population farms
Typical nomadic family needs (these animals)
25 to 60 goats or sheep, or 10 to 25 camels
How long can the cleared land from slashing and burning last?
3 years or less, most productive harvest comes in the second year after burning, the growth of weeds and lost of nutrients forces it to only last 3 years
Latin America Crop Hearth
4-5,000 years ago -Mexico was a hearth for beans and cotton -Peru was a hearth for potato -Corn may have been domesticated by both areas independently at the same time -Squash may have originated in the southeast part of the US -From these hearths cultivation of maize and crops diffused to North America and tropical South America
Most desired animal in North Africa and Southwest Asia
Camels, goats, and sheep
Most desired animal in central Asia
Horse
Kayapo people
Live in Brazil's Amazon -don't arrange crops in rectangular fields and rows, they plant in concentric rings -may plant sweet potatoes and yams in the inner area, with corn and rice, manioc, and more yams in outer rings. eventually the potatoes and yams can replace the rice and corn -outermost ring contains plants that require nutrients such as papaya, banana, pineapple, mango, cotton, and beans. the rotting of these leaves provide nutrients for the circle
6 agricultural regions in developed countries
Mixed crop and livestock, dairying, grain, ranching, Mediterranean, and commercial gardening
5 agricultural regions in developing countries
Pastoral nomadism, shifting cultivation, intensive subsistence (wet rice dominant), intensive subsistence (crops other than rice), and plantation
How diet is affected by the level of development of a place
People in developed countries consume more food and from multiple sources than people in developing countries
Average kcal consumption in developed countries
People in developed countries intake twice as many kcal, or about 3,600 kcal with Austria and the US with the highest at 3,800 kcal
The gov pays farmers when certain commodity prices are low
The gov sets a target rpice for a commodity and pats farmers the difference between the price they receive in the market and the target price set by the gov
What happens after a swidden is no longer fertile
They leave the old site empty for many years and begin clearing a new site. Villagers may return to the site 6-20 years later to use again
Decrease of farm land in the US
US has been losing 1.2 million hectares (3 mil acres) per year of its 400 million hectares (1 billion acres) due to the expansion of urban areas
Spring wheat belt through Dakotas, Montana and southern Saskatchewan in Canada
Winters are usually too severe for winter wheat so spring wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in late summer
Potash
aka potassium -Only fertilizer available, forms when you burn the debris in the empty field
Process of shifting cultivation
clear vegetation with axes, machetes, the debris is then burned on a windless day, the rain washes the fresh ashes into the soil, providing nutrients
Intensive subsistence with wet rice not dominant
climate prevents rice from being grown in parts of Asia, wehat and barley are the other most important crops in China, along with millet, oats, corn, sorghum, and soybeans. Same characteristics as intensive subsistence with wet rice but with different plants
Where is pastoral nomadism prevalent
dry Southwest Asia, North Africa, Central Asia and East Asia
Expanding fishing
food acquired includes shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, watercress; can expand by fishing
GMOs
genetically modifying an organism or plants so it has more nutrients, can with-stain insect damage, etc.
Pasture
grass or other plants grown for feeding grazing animals, as well as land used for grazing. Sheep or other animals may pasture in alpine meadows in the summer and go back down to the valley for winter pasture
Horticulture
growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers and tree crops
Dairy farming
most important commercial agriculture near large urban areas of the northeast US, southeastern Canada, and northwestern Europe, also has become important in South and East Asia
Latin American Plantations
most likely to grow coffee, sugarcane, and bananas
Asian Plantations
most likely to provide rubber and palm oil
Prime agricultural land
most productive farmland, the U.S. has lost 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres)
Sawah
name for the flooded field in the Austronesian language widely spoken in Indonesia, including Java
Dangers of overfishing
population of some fish species decline because of the excessive fishing. Population of large predatory fish like tuna and swordfish decreased by 90% in the past 50 years
Crop rotation
practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year to avoid exhaustion of soil
Subsistence agriculture
practiced in developing countries, the production of food primarily for consumption by the farmer's family
Commercial agriculture
practiced in developing countries, the production of food primarily for sale off the farm
Where are mixed crops and livestock prevalent
primarily in the U.S. Midwest and central Europe from France to Russia
Where are Mediterranean regions prevalent
primarily lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, the western United States, the southern tip of Africa and Chile
Where is dairying prevalent
primarily near population clusters in the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and northwestern Europe
Where is ranching prevalent
primarily the drylands of western North America, southeastern Latin America, Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the South Pacific
Where are grain regions prevalent
primarily the north-central United States, south-central Canada, and Eastern Europe
Where is commercial gardening prevalent
primarily the southeastern United States and southeastern Australia
Export problems with GMOs
products must be labeled with GMO, some countries don't want this food because it's not as nutritious
California Mediterranean farming
provide lots of citrus fruits, tree nuts and deciduous fruits, may face future problems due to lack of rainfall and water
Transhumance
seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pasture areas, sometimes practiced by pastoral nomads
North America prairies are called
the "breadbasket" because of the large production of wheat
Grain (definition)
the seed from a ceral grass
Agribusiness
the system of commercial farming found in developed countries
Cultivate
to care for
Where is shifting cultivation prevalent
tropical regions of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia