Unit 5 Chapter 9 Reading Guide

What are the three top producers of meat worldwide?

China is the leading producer of meat, ahead of the United States, and Brazil is 3rd.

Where does the Coca Leaf come from?

Cocaine is derived from coca leaf, most of which is grown in Colombia are the neighboring countries of Peru and Bolivia. Most consumers are located in developed countries, especially in North America. The principal shipping group is from Colombia by sea to Mexico or other Central American countries and then by land through Mexico to the United States.

What is conservation tillage and how can it reduce soil erosion?

Conservation tillage is a method of soil cultivation that reduces soil erosion and runoff. Under conservation tillage, some or all of the previous harvest is left on the fields through the winter.

What are some of the most lucrative (most valuable) export crops that developing countries sell to developed countries and why?

Consumers in developed countries are willing to pay high prices for fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be out of season or for crops such as coffee tea that cannot be grown in developed countries because of the climate.

According to the Von Thunen model what two factors (costs) does a farmer consider when deciding what to plant?

Cost of the land Cost of transporting products to the market

Where is mixed crop and livestock farming common?

Crop and livestock farming is the most common form of commercial agriculture in the United States West of the Appalachians and east of the 98 degrees west longitude and much of Europe from France to Russia.

Define crop rotation.

Crop rotation is the practice of rotating the use of different fields from crop to crop each year to avoid exhausting the soil.

Define agriculture:

Deliberate modification of Earth's surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

What challenges do developing countries face in terms of diet?

Diets are more likely to be deficient in countries where people have to spend a high percentage of their income to obtain food.

Describe the climatic conditions of Mediterranean climate and agriculture.

Every Mediterranean area boarded the sea. Prevailing sea winds provide moisture and moderate the winter temperatures. Summers are hot and dry, but sea breezes provide some relief. The land is very heavy, and mountains frequently plunge directly to the sea, leaving very narrow strips of flat land along the coast.

Explain the second of the three main reasons below why many oppose GMOs in Africa:

Export problems: European countries, the main market for Africa's agricultural exports, require genetically modified foods to be labeled. Europeans are especially strongly opposed to GMOs because they believe genetically modified food is not as nutritious as food from traditionally bred crops and livestock. Because European consumers shun genetically modified food, African farmers fear that if they are no longer able to certify their exports genetically modified, European customers will stop buying them.

Explain how the art of agriculture has involved the manipulation of plants and animals for thousands of years.

Farmers have been manipulating crops and livestock for thousands of years. The very nature of Agriculture is to deliberately manipulate nature. Humans control selective reproduction of plants and animals in order to produce a larger number of stronger, hardier survivors.

Which technology do farmers need to use to make maximum use of the miracle seeds?

Farmers need tractors, irrigation pumps, and other machinery to make the most effective use of the new miracle seeds.

Explain how transportation costs and distance from the city factor into the decision farmers make about what to grow.

Farms located closer to markets tend to select crops with higher transportation costs per hectare of output, whereas more distant farms are more likely to select crops that can be transported less expensively.

What does the first ring in the model have in it?

First Ring: Market-oriented gardens and milk producers were located in the first ring out from the city's. These products are expensive to deliver and must reach the market quickly because they are perishable.

List and describe two ways of producing food from the ocean.

Fishing, which is the capture of wild fish and other seafood living in the waters. Aquaculture, or aquafarming, which is the cultivation of seafood under controlled conditions.

What types of food come from the ocean?

Food acquired from Earth's waters include fish, crustaceans (such as shrimp and crabs), mollusks (such as clams and oysters), and aquatic plants (such as watercress).

What type of jobs fall under agribusiness?

Food processing, packaging, storage, distribution, and retailing. Agribusiness also encompasses such diverse enterprises as tractor manufacturing, fertilizer production, and seed distribution.

What does the fourth ring in the model have in it?

Fourth Ring: The outermost ring was devoted exclusively to animal grazing, which requires lots of space.

What do geographers use the Von Thunen model for?

Geographers use the Von Thunen model to help explain the importance of proximity to market in the choice of crops on commercial farms.

Explain one of the three main reasons below why many oppose GMOs in Africa:

Health Problems: Consuming large quantities of genetically modified foods may reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics and could destroy long-standing ecological balances in local agriculture.

Describe how food importing in Europe has worked historically.

Historically, European countries used their colonies as suppliers of food; after they became independent countries, the former colonies sold food to Europe.

Historically, how did world food production increase?

Historically, world food production increased primarily by expanding the amount of land devoted to agriculture.

What is the irony regarding patterns in worldwide agriculture in developed versus developing nations?

In developed regions such as North America and Europe, farmers are encouraged to grow less food, whereas developing countries struggle to increase food production rate of growth in a population.

Explain the challenges farmers in developing countries face when attempting to access the required farming technology to make maximum use of the miracle seeds of the green revolution.

In developing countries, farmers cannot afford such equipment and cannot, in view high energy costs, buy fuel to operate the equipment.

Why is corn so popular in the United States? In what different ways is the corn used?

In the United States, corn is the crop most frequently planted in the mixed crop and livestock region because it generates higher yields per area than other crops do. Some of the corn is consumed by people as oil, margarine, and other food Products, but most is fed to pigs and Cattle.

Why is Commercial Gardening often referred to as "Truck Framing"?

It is called truck farming because of the Middle English word truck, meeting "barter" or "exchange of commodities."

Explain the economic difficulties that dairy farmers currently face.

Labor-intensive: Cows must be milked twice a day, every day; although the actual milking can be done by machines, Dairy farming nonetheless requires constant attention throughout the year. Winter Feed: Dairy Farmers face the expense of feeding the cows in the winter, when they may be unable to graze on grass. In Northwest Europe and in the northeastern United States, farmers generally purchase grain for winter food. In the western part of the U.S. Dairy region, crops are more likely to be grown in the summer and stored for winter feed on the same farm.

What determines the use of land and type of commercial agriculture practiced in developed countries?

Land in developed countries is determined primarily by market forces of supply and demand.

Describe how large-scale grain production works in developed countries.

Large-scale grain production, like other commercial farming ventures in developed countries, is heavily mechanized, conducted on large farms, and oriented to consumer preferences.

Where does marijuana come from?

Marijuana produced from the Cannabis sativa plant, is cultivated widely around the world. The overwhelming majority of the marijuana that reaches the United States is grown in Mexico. Cultivation of C. sativa is not thought to be expanding worldwide, whereas cultivation of opium poppies and coca leaf are.

Which three types of commercial agriculture found in developed countries derive most of their income from the sale of animal products?

Mixed crop and livestock, dairy, and ranching.

Explain what overfishing is and the challenges the world currently faces regarding this.

Overfishing is capturing fish faster than they can reproduce. Populations of some fish species in the ocean and lakes have declined.

What is pastoral nomadism?

Pastoral nomadism is a form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals and dry climates, where planting crops is impossible.

Describe Calorie consumption and diet in Developed countries.

People in developed countries are consuming on average nearly twice the recommended minimum, 3,400 calories per day.

Describe plantation farming.

Plantations grow crops for sale primarily to developed countries.

What four factors does the UN attribute record high food prices to?

Poor weather, especially in major crop-growing regions of the South Pacific and North America. Higher demand, especially in China and India. Smaller growth in productivity, especially without major new "miracle" breakthroughs. Use of crops as biofuels instead of food, especially in Latin America.

What does Ester Boserup argue in her "Boserup Thesis" regarding: Population Growth's impact on subsistence farmers:

Population growth influences the distribution of types of subsistence farming, according to economist Ester Boserup.

What has happened to the price of agricultural farmland as a result of record high food prices?

Record-high prices have stimulated record-high prices for prime agricultural land.

What does the second ring in the model have in it?

Second Ring: The next to ring out from the cities contained wood looks, where timber was cut for construction and fuel; closeness to the market is important for this commodity because of its weight.

What crop, in addition to corn, has become important in the Mixed Crop and livestock farming region?

Soybeans have become the second most important crop in the US mixed commercial farming region. Like corn, soybeans are mostly used to make animals feed. Tofu (made from soybean milk) is a major food source, especially for people in China Japan. Soybean oil is widely used in US Foods, as a hidden ingredient.

What is subsistence agriculture?

Subsistence agriculture, found in developing countries, is the production of food primarily for consumption by the farmer's family.

Describe the two main sources of California's limited water supply:

Surface Water: Water that travels or gathers on the ground, like rivers, streams, and lakes. Groundwater: Water that is pumped out from the ground.

Define Food Security.

The United Nations defines food security as physical, social, and economic access at all times to safe and nutritious food sufficient to meet dietary needs for an active and healthy life.

Explain the importance of wheat exporting for the US and Canadian economies.

The United States and Canada account for about one-fourth of the world's wheat exports. The ability to provide food for many people elsewhere in the world is a major source of economic and political strength for these two countries.

Explain government agricultural subsidies (payments to farmers) in the United States and in Europe.

The United States has averaged about 20 billion a year on Farm subsidies in recent years. Annual spending varies considerably from one year to the next. Farming in Europe is subsidized even more than in the United States. More Farmers receive subsidies in Europe, and they receive more than American farmers.

Explain the first US government agricultural policy designed to improve the financial position of farmers.

The government encourages farmers to plant fallow crops, such as clover: Farmers are encouraged to avoid producing crops that are in excess supply. Because soil erosion is a constant threat, the government encourages planting fallow crops, such as clover, to restore nutrients to the soil and to help hold the soil in place. These crops can be used for hay forage for pigs, or to produce seeds for sale.

Explain the second US government agricultural policy designed to improve the financial position of farmers.

The government subsidizes (pays money to farmers) for certain crops: The government pays farmers when certain commodity prices are low. The government sets a target price for a commodity and pays farmers the difference between the price they receive in the market and the target price set by the government as a fair level for the commodity. The target prices are calculated to give farmers the same price for the commodity today as in the past, when compared to other consumer goods and services.

What is horticulture?

The growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and tree crops form the commercial base of Mediterranean farming.

Define Green Revolution

The innovation and rapid diffusion of more productive agricultural techniques during the 1970s and 1980s.

What are the major grain crops?

The major crop on most farms is grain, such as wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, and millet.

What dilemma do governments in LDCs face as they seek to increase the amount of export crops to sell to MDCs? As a result, what might the earned funds have to be used for?

The more land that is devoted to growing export crops, the less that is available to grow crops for domestic consumption.

What is the distinctive characteristic of mixed crop and livestock farming?

The most distinctive characteristic of mixed crop and livestock farming is the integration of crops and livestock. Most of the crops are fed to animals rather than consumed directly by humans.

What three conditions make the US southeast an ideal location for commercial gardening and farming?

The region has a long growing season and humid climates, and it is accessible to the large number of consumers and the Northeast United States.

Describe agribusiness, the system of commercial farming found in Developed Countries.

The system of commercial farming found in developed countries is called agribusiness because farming is integrated into a large food-production industry.

What does is mean by "intensive"? (Intensive farming)

The term intensive implies that farmers must work intensively to subsist on a parcel of land.

Define the agricultural revolution.

The time when human beings first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering.

Explain what "Roundup-Ready" seeds are.

These are known as "Roundup - ready" seeds because their creator, Monsanto, sells its weed killer under the brand name Roundup.

How do some LDCs generate funds to buy farm equipment from MDCs?

To generate the funds they need to buy agricultural supplies, developing countries must produce something they can sell in developed countries.

What is the problem with too much water in agricultural lands?

Too much water can cause soil erosion.

What are examples of food produced in developed Commercial Gardening?

Truck farms grow many of the fruits and vegetables that consumers in developed countries demand, such as apple's, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

Describe what undernourishment is.

Undernourishment is dietary energy consumption that is continuously below that needed for healthy life and carrying out light physical activity.

What experiences did von Thünen base his model on?

Van Thunen based his General model on the spatial arrangement of different crops on his experience as the owner of a large estate in northern Germany during the early 19th century.

Explain why the increasing global human population does not have to result in massive famine, as Thomas Malthus predicted.

With the amount of land devoted, many experts forecast major global famine. But these dire predictions did not come true. Instead, increased productivity has resulted in an expansion of food supply. New agricultural practices have permitted Farmers worldwide to achieve much greater yields from the same amount of land.

Why has overall demand for food remained constant in developed countries, although the world as a whole has been experiencing an increase in food production?

As the world as a whole is experiencing an increase in food production, overall demand for food has remained constant in developed countries because of low population growth in saturation of the market for most products.

Before the invention of agriculture, how did humans obtain food?

Before the invention of agriculture, All Humans probably obtained the food they needed for survival through hunting for Animals, fishing, or gathering plants (including berries, nuts, and roots.)

Which climatic characteristic do the North American wheat producing areas share?

Commercial grain farms are generally located in regions that are too dry for mixed crop and livestock agriculture.

Because the purpose of commercial farming is to sell produce off the farm, the ________________ from the farm to the market influences the farmer's choice of crop to plant.

Distance

Where is the US Corn Belt?

Extending from Ohio to The Dakotas, with its Center in Iowa.

Which three types of commercial agriculture found in developed countries derive most of their income from the sale of crops?

Grain, Mediterranean, and commercial gardening and fruit.

How are livestock raised on organic farms?

In organic farming, animals consume crops grown on the farm and are not confined to small pens.

How are crops grown in organic farming?

In organic farming, crops are grown without application of herbicides and pesticides to control weeds. GMO seeds are not used.

Where is ranching practiced?

Ranching is adapted to semi-arid or arid land and is practiced in developed countries where the vegetation is too sparse and soil too poor to support crops.

Define ranching

Ranching is the commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area.

What are the five cleanest types of produce?

The five cleanest types of produce are avocados, corn, pineapples, cabbage and frozen sweet peas.

List the two main practices of the Green Revolution.

The introduction of new higher yield seeds. The expanded use of fertilizers.

What is potash?

The only fertilizer generally available is potash (potassium) from burning the debris when the site is cleared.

What is a milkshed?

The ring surrounding a city from which milk can be supplied without spoiling is known as the milkshed.

What is transhumance?

The seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pasture areas.

What is commercial agriculture?

Commercial agriculture, found in developed countries, is the production of food primarily for sale of the farm.

Explain the third of the three main reasons below why many oppose GMOs in Africa:

Increased dependence on the United States: US based transnational corporations, such as Monsanto, manufacture most of the GMO seeds. Africans fear that the biotech companies could - and would - introduce a so-called "Terminator" gene in the GMO seeds to prevent farmers from replanting them after harvest and require them to continue to purchase seeds year after year from the transnational corporations.

What elements did scientists learn make-up the critical elements in improving soil fertility, which now serve as the basis of fertilizer today.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (potash) are the base of fertilizers today.

Explain the two types of conservation tillage:

No tillage: No tillage leaves all of the soil undisturbed, and the entire residue of the previous year's harvest is left untouched on the fields. Ridge tillage: Ridge tillage is a system of planting crops on Ridge tops. Crops are planted on 10 - 20-centimeter ridges that are formed during cultivation or after harvest.

Explain the third US government agricultural policy designed to improve the financial position of farmers.

The government buys surplus production: The government buys surplus production and sells or donates it to foreign governments. In addition, low-income Americans receive Food Stamps and part to stimulate their purchase of additional food.

What does the third ring in the model have in it?

Third Ring: The next ring was used for various crops and for pasture; the specific commodity was rotated from one year to the next.

Where is dairy farming practiced?

Dairy farming is the most important agriculture practiced near large urban areas in developed countries.

Where does Opium come from?

Heroin is derived from raw opium gum, which is produced by the Opium poppy plant. Afghanistan is the source of nearly 90% of the world's opium; most of the remainder is grown in Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. Most traffic flows from Afghanistan to Iran, Turkey, and the Balkans to Western Europe, where the largest numbers of the world's users live. A second route goes through Central Asia to Russia.

What are the positives of GMOs that the US stresses to developing countries?

Higher yields, increased nutrition, and more resistance to pests.

What is desertification and where and why is it occurring?

In some regions, farmland is abandoned for lack of water. Especially in semi arid regions, human actions are causing land to deteriorate to a desert-like condition, a process called desertification.

What is double cropping?

Land is used even more intensively in parts of Asia by obtaining two harvests per year from one field, a process known as double-cropping.

What is a dairy farm and why must they be close to the market/urban center?

A dairy farm specializes in the production of milk and other dairy products. Because milk is highly perishable, dairy farms must be closer to their markets than other products.

What is shifting cultivation?

A form of subsistence agriculture in which people shift activity from one field to another; each field is used for crops for relatively few years and left fallow for a relatively long period.

What is "specialty farming" and where has it spread in the US?

A form of truck farming called specialty farming has spread to New England, among other places. Farmers are profitably growing crops that have limited but increasing demand among affluent customers, such as asparagus, peppers, mushrooms, strawberries, and nursery plants.

What is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)?

A genetically modified organism is a living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.

What is swidden?

A patch of land cleared for planting through slashing and burning.

List things that von Thünen did NOT consider in his model, but which influence farmers' choices of crops. Note, these might be cited as weaknesses, or criticisms, of his model.

A river might modify the shape of the rules because transportation costs change when products are shipped by water routes rather than over roads. The model also failed to consider that social customs and government policies influence the attractiveness of plants and animals for a commercial farmer.

What must farmers do to take full advantage of the miracle seeds from the Green Revolution?

Advantage of the new miracle seeds, farmers must use more fertilizer and machinery.

Explain the challenges California is facing in terms of water.

After several years of drought, the volume of water in California's Rivers, streams, and lakes has been severely reduced.

Both subsistence and commercial farmers face challenges in their attempt to produce more food for a growing human population, while preserving and protecting Earth's agricultural resources for the future. List these 7 challenges.

Agricultural land to competing uses. Improving the productivity of existing farmland. Conserving scarce resources, such as water and topsoil. Identifying the appropriate role in agriculture for biotechnology. Balancing production of food for international trade rather than for consumption at home. Meeting the needs of people who are undernourished. Making greater use of organic farming.

How and why do many women in Kenya try to generate household income for their families, in addition to practicing subsistence farming?

Because men in Kenya frequently do not share their wages with their families, many women try to generate income for the household by making clothes, jewelry, baked goods, and other objects for sale in local markets.