APHuG Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land Use Patterns and Processes
Fertile Crescent
A geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates Crops: emmer wheat, barley, flax, chick pea; animals: cows, goats, sheep, pigs 5.3: Early hearths of domestication of plants and animals arose in the Fertile Crescent and several other regions of the world, including the Indus River Valley, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
Slash-and-burn
A farming method involving the cutting of trees, then burning them to provide ash-enriched soil for the planting of crops Can be useful for a few years but then the area can no longer support crops and is left fallow 5.10: Agricultural practices - including slash and burn, terraces, irrigation, deforestation, draining wetlands, shifting cultivation, and pastoral nomadism - alter the landscape.
Economies of scale
factors that cause a producer's average cost per unit to fall as output rises Can help explain why large-scale commercial agricultural operations are replacing small family farms (also 5.7) 5.7: Technology has increased economies of scale in the agricultural sector and the carrying capacity of the land.
Subsistence Agriculture
farming in which only enough food to feed one's family is produced using simple tools and manual labor 5.6: Agricultural production regions are defined by the extent to which they reflect subsistence or commercial practices.
Linear rural settlement
farms/towns settled along a river or main road 5.2: Rural settlement patterns are classified as clustered, dispersed, or linear.
GMOs
genetically modified organisms process by which humans use engineering techniques to change the DNA of a seed; developed to increase yield or kill weds or pests first developed in 1970s (Green Revolution) and became more widely used in 1990s 5.11: Agricultural innovations such as biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, and aquaculture have been accompanied by debates over sustainability, soil and water usage, reductions in biodiversity, and extensive fertilizer and pesticide use.
export commodities
industrial unit - commodity dependence and neocolonialism! 2 out of 3 developing countries are commodity dependent 5.9: some countries have become highly dependent on one or more export commodities
Ranching
practice of raising herds of animals on large tracts of land; commonly raise grazing animals such as cattle and sheep common in temperate areas such as western US, Pampas region of South America, Prairie Provinces of Canada 5.1: Extensive farming practices include shifting cultivation, nomadic herding, and ranching.
Global supply chain
a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to the end customer getting beef to a consumer requires that beef was fed with something (grass or corn) that may have come from somewhere else; the cow had to be slaughtered, butchered, packaged, shipped, and placed on a shelf which requires many different systems to work together 5.9:Food and other agricultural products are part of a global supply chain.
Plantation agriculture
commercial farming where crops are grown for profit; large land areas needed; usually in tropical climate with high annual rainfall crops include cotton, coffee, tea, cocoa, rubber trees 5.1: Intensive farming practices include market gardening, plantation agriculture, and mixed crop/livestock systems.
Market gardening
commercial production of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and other plants on a scale larger than a home garden, yet small enough that many of the principles of gardening are applicable oriented toward local markets but can be shipped to distant markets 5.1: Intensive farming practices include market gardening, plantation agriculture, and mixed crop/livestock systems.
Value-added specialty crops
"value added" goods have some other product in them or item attached to them to make them unique and able to sell at higher price ex: milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam 5.11: Patterns of food production and consumption are influenced by movements relating to individual food choices, such as urban farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), organic farming, value-added specialty crops, fair trade, local-food movements, and dietary shifts.
Distribution system
(it is what it sounds like) process by which food is distributed to the general population includes chain stores, supermarkets, cooperatives, farmers markets. can be comparable to commodity chains or global supply chains in terms of getting a commodity to a consumer. distribution systems change depending on their location 5.11: Challenges of feeding a global population include lack of food access, as in cases of food insecurity and food deserts, problems with distribution systems, adverse weather, and land use lost to suburbanization.
Societal effects of agricultural practices
-changing diets -role of women -economic purpose
Pastoral nomadism
A form of subsistence agriculture based on herding domesticated animals. follows an irregular pattern of movement; commonly practiced in regions with little arable land alters the landscape with temporary shelters for humans and animals, temporary irrigation systems, attempts to create pastures or enclosures 5.10: Agricultural practices - including slash and burn, terraces, irrigation, deforestation, draining wetlands, shifting cultivation, and pastoral nomadism - alter the landscape.
Biotechnology
A form of technology that uses living organisms, usually genes, to modify products, to make or modify plants and animals, or to develop other microorganisms for specific purposes. 5.11: Agricultural innovations such as biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, and aquaculture have been accompanied by debates over sustainability, soil and water usage, reductions in biodiversity, and extensive fertilizer and pesticide use.
Metes and bounds
A method of land description which involves identifying distances and directions and makes use of both the physical boundaries and measurements of the land, such as rivers, roads, stakes 5.2: Rural survey methods include metes and bounds, township and range, and long lot.
Clustered rural settlement
A rural settlement in which the houses and farm buildings of each family are situated close to each other and fields surround the settlement; can also be called "nucleated" 5.2: Rural settlement patterns are classified as clustered, dispersed, or linear.
Dispersed rural settlement
A rural settlement pattern characterized by isolated farms rather than clustered villages 5.2: Rural settlement patterns are classified as clustered, dispersed, or linear.
Tropical climate
A type of climate found in the areas just north or south of the equator, where weather is usually hot. Weather is warmer than 64 degrees year round and only contains two seasons: wet and dry. Tropical areas depend on subsistence farming and cash crops; banana, coconut, palms, papaya, rubber, beans, rice, corn, coffee, tobacco 5.1: Agricultural practices are influenced by the physical environment and climate conditions, such as the Mediterranean climate and tropical climates.
Monocropping (monoculture)
An agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety corn, soybeans, and wheat are common crops used in monocropping lower cost to produce but can damage soil ecology 5.6: Agricultural production regions are defined by the extent to which they reflect subsistence or commercial practices (monocropping or monoculture).
Von Thunen's Model
An agricultural model that spatially describes agricultural activity in terms of rent. Activities that require intensive cultivation and cannot be transported over great distances pay higher rent to be close to the market. Conversely, activities that are more extensive, with goods that are easy to transport, are located farther from the market where rent is less. 5.8: Von Thunen's model helps to explain rural land use by emphasizing the importance of transportation costs associated with distance from the market; however, regions of specialty farming do not always conform to the von Thunen's concentric rings.
Food deserts
Areas where it is difficult to find affordable, healthy food options. More common in highly populated low-income urban neighborhoods where there are fewer grocery stores/transportation options to seek out other food choices. Contribute to obesity in these areas because people resort to buying cheap, highly caloric foods 5.11: Challenges of feeding a global population include lack of food access, as in cases of food insecurity and food deserts, problems with distribution systems, adverse weather, and land use lost to suburbanization.
First Agricultural Revolution
Dating back 10,000 years, the First Agricultural Revolution achieved plant and animal domestication; transformed societies from hunting and gathering to farming can also be called the Neolithic Revolution
Mechanized farming
Farming with machines such as tractors, tillers, broadcast seeders, and grain carts has assisted in production and challenged traditional labor-intensive farming practices 5.5: The Green Revolution was characterized in agriculture by the use of high-yield seeds, increased use of chemicals, and mechanized farming.
Conservation efforts
Human activities that help to keep the natural resources of Earth available and clear of pollution can be provided by the government: education on conservation, grants, laws or acts, etc 5.10: Environmental effects of agricultural land use include pollution, land cover change, desertification, soil salinization, and conservation efforts.
Commercial Agriculture
Term 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. 5.6: Agricultural production regions are defined by the extent to which they reflect subsistence or commercial practices.
Sustainability
The ability to keep in existence or maintain 5.11: Agricultural innovations such as biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, and aquaculture have been accompanied by debates over sustainability, soil and water usage, reductions in biodiversity, and extensive fertilizer and pesticide use.
Columbian Exchange
The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between Afro-Asia and the Americas Coffee and bananas moved to Americas, corn and potatoes moved to Europe 5.3: Patterns of diffusion, such as the Columbian Exchange and the agricultural revolutions, resulted in the global spread of various plants and animals.
Mediterranean climate
a climate marked by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters includes not just countries around the Mediterranean Sea but also California, Central Chile, Southern part of South Africa, South Australia four main aspects are orchard farming (citrus, olive, fig), viticulture (grapes), cereal and vegetable cultivation (wheat, barley), and limited animal husbandry (transhumance with cattle) 5.1: Agricultural practices are influenced by the physical environment and climate conditions, such as the Mediterranean climate and tropical climates.
Second Agricultural Revolution
accompanied the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain in the 18th century mechanization of agricultural production, advances in transportation, development of large-scale irrigation, changes to consumption patterns of agricultural goods, invention of steel plough and mechanized harvesting 5.4: New technology and increased food production in the second agricultural revolution led to better diets, longer life expectancies, and more people available for work in factories.
Green Revolution
advances in plant biology that began in the mid-20th century; led to development of higher-yielding, disease-resistant, faster-growing varieties of grains biggest developments in rice, corn, and wheat 5.5: Explain the consequences of the Green Revolution on food supply and the environment in the developing world.
Local-food movements
aim to connect food producers and food consumers in the same geographic region in order to develop more self-reliant and resilient food networks; improve local economies; or to have an impact on the health, environment, community, or society of a particular place 5.11: Patterns of food production and consumption are influenced by movements relating to individual food choices, such as urban farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), organic farming, value-added specialty crops, fair trade, local-food movements, and dietary shifts.
Extensive farming practices
an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labor, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed; yields tend to be much lower but animal welfare is improved and less fertilizer is needed found in mid-latitude sections of most continents and in desert regions where water for cropping is not available 5.1: Extensive farming practices include shifting cultivation, nomadic herding, and ranching.
Shifting cultivation
area of ground is cleared of vegetation and cultivated for a few years, then abandoned for a new area until its fertility has been naturally restored can also be referred to as slash-and-burn; practiced in Amazonian rainforest, sub-Saharan Africa 5.1: Extensive farming practices include shifting cultivation, nomadic herding, and ranching.
Land cover change
change in the physical characteristics of the land including grain crops, trees, or concrete can incur loss of biodiversity and pressures on the ecosystem; measured with remote sensing, GIS 5.10: Environmental effects of agricultural land use include pollution, land cover change, desertification, soil salinization, and conservation efforts.
Indus River Valley
chronologically, the third hearth, dating 2200 BCE along the Indus River tropical climate, monsoons, high winds off the mountains crops: barley, peas, wheat, lentils, mustard; animals: dogs, cats, camels, cows, chickens, sheep, horses, goats 5.3: Early hearths of domestication of plants and animals arose in the Fertile Crescent and several other regions of the world, including the Indus River Valley, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
Draining wetlands
clearing natural swamp areas to create fields reduces biodiversity in both plants and animals 5.10: Agricultural practices - including slash and burn, terraces, irrigation, deforestation, draining wetlands, shifting cultivation, and pastoral nomadism - alter the landscape.
Aquaculture
cultivation of aquatic plants for food and/or breeding and raising aquatic animals for food 5.11: Agricultural innovations such as biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, and aquaculture have been accompanied by debates over sustainability, soil and water usage, reductions in biodiversity, and extensive fertilizer and pesticide use.
Agriculture
deliberate modification of Earth's surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain
Fair trade
emphasizes small businesses and worker-owned and democratically-run cooperatives; requires employers to pay workers fair wages, permit union organizing, and comply with minimum environmental and safety standards 5.11: Patterns of food production and consumption are influenced by movements relating to individual food choices, such as urban farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), organic farming, value-added specialty crops, fair trade, local-food movements, and dietary shifts.
Negative consequences of Green Revolution
environmental damage, lack of sustained investment, disregard for local needs 5.5: Th Green Revolution had positive and negative consequences for both human populations and the environment.
Bid-rent theory
geographical economic theory that refers to how the price and demand on real estate changes as the distance towards the Central Business District (CBD) increases. Different land users will compete with one another for land close to the city center. 5.6: Intensive and extensive farming practices are determined in part by land costs (bid-rent theory).
Intensive farming practices
growing high-yield crops using fertilizers and pesticides, keeping animals indoors food production increases but there are unwelcome side effects 5.1: Intensive farming practices include market gardening, plantation agriculture, and mixed crop/livestock systems.
Urban farming
growing or producing food in a heavily populated town or municipality for the purpose of commerce (buying and selling) 5.11: Patterns of food production and consumption are influenced by movements relating to individual food choices, such as urban farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), organic farming, value-added specialty crops, fair trade, local-food movements, and dietary shifts.
Positive consequences of Green Revolution
high yields, high rates of investment in public and private sectors to research, falling food prices more food leads to reduced hunger, lower death rates, and a growing population in many parts of the developing world 5.5: Th Green Revolution had positive and negative consequences for both human populations and the environment.
Mixed crop/livestock systems
involves both growing of crops and raising of livestock (instead of focusing on just one cash crop); aka mixed farming practiced throughout Asia, Central Europe, Canada, and Russia crops can provide feed for animals, animals can provide fertilizer for crops 5.1: Intensive farming practices include market gardening, plantation agriculture, and mixed crop/livestock systems.
Long lot
long, narrow land divisions usually along a water way (can also be called ribbon or strip farms) common in France, Quebec, Louisiana (French settlements!) 5.2: Rural survey methods include metes and bounds, township and range, and long lot.
Carrying capacity
maximum amount of food/crops an area of land can produce (similar to population - just with food) 5.7: Technology has increased economies of scale in the agricultural sector and the carrying capacity of the land.
Central America
may include southern Mexico and/or northern South America in addition to seven countries; tropical climate crops: banana, coffee, cacao, cassava, corn; animals: llamas and alpacas 5.3: Early hearths of domestication of plants and animals arose in the Fertile Crescent and several other regions of the world, including the Indus River Valley, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
Southeast Asia
plant domestication began 14,000 years ago, cultivated root crops, seed planting crops: rice, hemp, cabbage, soybean, opium; animals: water buffalo, pigs, chickens 5.3: Early hearths of domestication of plants and animals arose in the Fertile Crescent and several other regions of the world, including the Indus River Valley, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
main elements of global food distribution networks
political relationships, infrastructure, and patterns of world trade 5.9: the main elements of global food distribution networks are affected by political relationships, infrastructure, and patterns of world trade.
Soil salinization
process by which water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil excess salts hinder the growth of crops by limiting their ability to take up water Salinization may occur naturally or because of conditions resulting from management practices 5.10: Environmental effects of agricultural land use include pollution, land cover change, desertification, soil salinization, and conservation efforts.
Irrigation
process of diverting water from its natural course or location to aid in the production of crops organized irrigation emerged around 6000 BCE can result in salinization, cause land subsidence, or disrupt natural drainage of water 5.10: Agricultural practices - including slash and burn, terraces, irrigation, deforestation, draining wetlands, shifting cultivation, and pastoral nomadism - alter the landscape.
Deforestation
removal of large tracts of forests, typically for farmland most deforestation today occurs in SE Asia, parts of Africa, and Amazon Rainforest 5.10: Agricultural practices - including slash and burn, terraces, irrigation, deforestation, draining wetlands, shifting cultivation, and pastoral nomadism - alter the landscape.
High-yield seeds
seeds that have been engineered to be stronger and more productive. They will produce more crops peer seed, need less water, and can survive in warmer climates 5.5: The Green Revolution was characterized in agriculture by the use of high-yield seeds, increased use of chemicals, and mechanized farming.
commodity chain
series of links connecting the many places of production and distribution and resulting in a commodity that is then exchanged on the world market 5.7: Complex commodity chains link production and consumption of agricultural products.
Terraces
series of steps built into the side of a hill to create flat surfaces where there originally were none makes planting, tending, and harvesting easier for farmers; collects rainfall; reduction in water running down hillside reduces soil erosion 5.10: Agricultural practices - including slash and burn, terraces, irrigation, deforestation, draining wetlands, shifting cultivation, and pastoral nomadism - alter the landscape.
Rural survey
surveyors advise on rural property and agricultural matters to help farmers and other clients manage their businesses 5.2: Rural survey methods include metes and bounds, township and range, and long lot.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
system that connects the producer and consumers within the food system more closely by allowing the consumer to subscribe to the harvest of a certain farm or group of farms goal of creating a sense of community; consumers share the cost of farming with the farmers and receive a portion of the harvest 5.11: Patterns of food production and consumption are influenced by movements relating to individual food choices, such as urban farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), organic farming, value-added specialty crops, fair trade, local-food movements, and dietary shifts. Lyman Orchards has this program - check it out! https://www.lymanorchards.com/apple-barrel/csa/?matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&adposition=&keyword=%2Bcommunity%20%2Bsupported%20%2Bagriculture&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9ZzzBRCKARIsANwXaeJmFLtDfTm-eUlSLNiDm1KGFCMmYnmzrO6TnYQpnkNcVXX5d_BybdAaAmq4EALw_wcB
Food insecurity
the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food 5.11: Challenges of feeding a global population include lack of food access, as in cases of food insecurity and food deserts, problems with distribution systems, adverse weather, and land use lost to suburbanization.
Domestication
the taming of animals for human use, such as work or as food; growing plants or using crops for human use 5.3: Early hearths of domestication of plants and animals arose in the Fertile Crescent and several other regions of the world, including the Indus River Valley, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
Organic farming
the use of natural substances rather than chemical fertilizers and pesticides to enrich the soil and grow crops more labor-intensive than other forms of agriculture, which create more jobs, but the food is more expensive 5.11: Patterns of food production and consumption are influenced by movements relating to individual food choices, such as urban farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), organic farming, value-added specialty crops, fair trade, local-food movements, and dietary shifts.
Desertification
transition of land from fertile to desert; can be caused by cutting down trees to clear for farmland, soil erosion, decrease in rainfall 5.10: Environmental effects of agricultural land use include pollution, land cover change, desertification, soil salinization, and conservation efforts.
Township and range
way to divide and measure land based on a grid; township is 36 sections arranged in a 6x6 square (measuring 6 miles by 6 miles) range is assigned to a township by measuring east or west of a Principal Meridian 5.2: Rural survey methods include metes and bounds, township and range, and long lot.
Nomadic herding
when livestock are herded in order to find fresh pastures on which to graze; can also be known as nomadic pastoralism can be irregular (truly nomadic) or fixed depending on the season (transhumance) 5.1: Extensive farming practices include shifting cultivation, nomadic herding, and ranching.
