Different Types of Agriculture

• Agriculture involves diverse practices shaped by climate, technology, and economic systems

Types of Agriculture

• Plantation agriculture is characterized by large-scale commercial farming in tropical regions, growing crops like coffee, sugar, and bananas
• Shifting cultivation is a practice where farmers clear land, cultivate it, and then move to new areas as the soil fertility declines, a method often referred to as slash-and-burn
• Agriculture in more developed countries (MDCs) involves commercial farming, high mechanization, and a smaller percentage of the population engaged in farming
• Agriculture in less developed countries (LDCs) relies on subsistence farming, lower technology, and a higher percentage of farmers
• Climate significantly influences agriculture, with different crops and livestock thriving in specific climates, such as wheat in temperate zones and rice in tropical areas
• Hunter-gatherer societies moved in response to food availability dictated by seasons and migration patterns

Transhumance

• Transhumance is the seasonal movement of livestock between highlands in the summer and lowlands in the winter
• This practice is common in mountainous regions like Switzerland and Mongolia

Causes of Declining Farmers in MDCs

• Declining numbers of farmers in MDCs can be attributed to urbanization, industrialization, and higher efficiency through mechanization
• An aging farming population and a lack of new entrants into the profession also contribute to this decline

Agribusiness

• Agribusiness involves large-scale commercial farming operations often run by corporations
• Examples of agribusinesses include Tyson for poultry and Cargill for grains
• Agribusiness growth is driven by high food demand, the efficiency of mechanized farming, and global trade networks

Von Thünen’s Model

• Agricultural land use is determined by proximity to the market
• Zone 1 consists of dairy and produce due to their perishable nature and high transport costs
• Zone 2 consists of forests for fuel, which was historically important
• Zone 3 consists of grains and field crops because they are less perishable and have lower transport costs
• Zone 4 consists of ranching and livestock, requiring the most land and having the lowest transport costs

Bid-Rent Theory

• Land closer to cities is more expensive, leading to intensive farming near urban areas, while extensive farming occurs farther away

Sustainable Agriculture

• The eat-local movement encourages buying locally grown food to reduce carbon footprint
• Challenges include higher costs and limited local product availability

Agricultural Revolutions

• The Neolithic Revolution marked the transition from hunting and gathering to farming around 10,000 years ago
• The Second Agricultural Revolution in the 18th-19th centuries introduced innovations like crop rotation, plows, and selective breeding
• The Green Revolution in the 20th century introduced GMOs, fertilizers, and high-yield crops
• Increased food production and reduced famine resulted from these sucesses
• Environmental damage and reliance on chemicals were challenges of these revolutions
• The Neo-Malthusian perspective expresses concern that population growth will outpace food production, despite technological advancements

Women’s Role in Agriculture

• Women significantly contribute to farming, especially in LDCs
• They often face limited access to land, resources, and education

Climate Change & Agriculture

• Rising temperatures affect crop yields
• Increased droughts, floods, and extreme weather events impact farming
• Climate-resistant crops and sustainable farming practices provide potential solutions

Extensive vs. Intensive Agriculture

• Extensive agriculture involves large land use with low labor input, such as cattle ranching and shifting cultivation
• Intensive agriculture involves small land use with high labor or capital input, such as rice paddies and market gardening

Subsistence vs. Commercial Agriculture

• Subsistence agriculture involves growing crops for personal or local consumption, common in LDCs
• Commercial agriculture involves growing crops for sale in markets, common in MDCs

Rural Survey Models

• Isolated settlements feature individual farms spread out, common in the U.S. Midwest
• Clustered settlements feature homes and farms close together, common in European villages

Commodity Chains

• Commodity chains comprise the steps in food production from farm to table, including growing, processing, distributing, and selling
• As an example: Coffee is grown in Brazil, then it is processed, shipped, and sold in Starbucks

Environmental Consequences of Agriculture

• Deforestation, or clearing land for farming, reduces biodiversity
• Overuse of land leads to soil degradation, erosion, and nutrient loss
• Fertilizers and pesticides can contaminate water sources
• Agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, impacting climate change

Understand the various types of agriculture. Plantation agriculture involves large-scale commercial farming. Shifting cultivation is where farmers clear land and then move as the soil declines.