Topic: Commercial Farming

• Aim: What are the major types of commercial farming?

Second Agriculture Revolution:

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

Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming:

Characteristics 1. Most common form of commercial

agriculture in the U.S. west of Appalachians and from France to Russia

2. Integration of crops and livestock (most crops fed to animals; livestock then supply manure to improve soil to grow more crops)

3. Devotes nearly all land area to growing crops, but ¾ of income from animal products (beef, milk, eggs)

4. Crop rotation

Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming

Choice of Crops1.In U.S. corn is used most frequently a.Higher yields per area than other crops

b.Most corn is fed to pigs and cattlec.Most important mixed crop and livestock farming region is the Corn Belt (from Ohio to the Dakotas)

2.2nd most important crop are soybeansa. Mostly used to make animal feed

Dairy Farming:

Characteristics 1. Most common form of commercial

agriculture on farms near large urban areas of the northeastern U.S., southeastern Canada, and northwestern Europe

2. In the twentieth century, most clustered in a few MDCs, but the share of the world’s dairy farming in LDCs has risen from 21% in 1970 to 44% in 2005

3. India is world’s largest milk producer (Pakistan and China will soon pass Russia as third and fourth largest)

The production of highly perishable dairy products, such as milk, is dispersed around the United States, whereas cheese production is heavily clustered between Wisconsin and Idaho.

Dairy FarmingLocation Near Urban Areas1.In MDCs, dairying is most

important in first ring outside large cities because of transportation factors

2.Milkshed: ring surrounding city from which milk can be supplied without spoiling - technology increases this in MDC’s

3.Dairy farms must be close to market because milk is highly perishable - farmers typically sell to retailers, not individuals

Milk Men in India

Dairy Farming:

Regional Differences in Dairy Products1.The farther the farm is from

large urban concentrations, the smaller is the percentage of output devoted to fresh milk

2.Farms located farther from consumers are more likely to sell output to processors who make butter, cheese, or dried, evaporated, or condensed milk

Dairy Farming:

Challenges for Dairy Farmers1.Declining revenues and rising

costs2.Labor intensive (cows must be

milked twice a day)3.Expensive to feed cows in

winter (need to purchase hay or grain for winter feed)

4.Number of farms with milk cows declined in U.S. by 2/3s between 1980 and 2000

Grain FarmingCharacteristics

1. Crops grown on grain farm are primarily for consumption by humans (breakfast cereals and snack foods)

2. Grain: seed from various grasses (wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, millet) - grains grown for human, not animal consumption

Grain Farming

Choice of Crops1. Most important crop is wheat, used

to make bread flour2. World’s leading export crop3. North American prairies are

labeled the world’s “breadbasket”4. U.S. is largest commercial

producer of grain (others are Canada, Argentina, Australia, France, and UK)

Grain Farming:

Three Main Regions of Production1. Winter-wheat belt: crop is planted in

autumn and develops strong root system before growth stops in winter; wheat survives winter and is harvested in early summer (Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma)

2. Spring-wheat belt: crop is planted in spring and harvested in late summer (Dakotas, Montana, southern Saskatchewan)

3. Palouse region of Washington state

Machines Used for Grain Farming

McCormick reaper: was invented in the 1830s to permit large-scale wheat production; machine cuts grain standing in the field.

Machines Used for Grain Farming

Combine: performs the three tasks of reaping (cutting), threshing (separating edible parts from inedible) and cleaning

Livestock RanchingBeginning of U.S. Cattle Ranching

1. Commercial grazing of livestock over extended area where soil is too poor to support crops

2. Cattle first brought to Americas by Columbus3. Immigrants from Spain and Portugal began

ranching in the Americas4. Expanded because of demand for beef in the

East Coast cities during the 1860s5. Challenge to transport from Texas to eastern

markets

Chisholm Trail: Became famous in American folklore as main route for cattle drives

Livestock Ranching Outside the U.S.

1. South America: Argentina, southern Brazil, Uruguay

2. Interior of Australia, Middle East, New Zealand, South Africa

3. Change from herding over open ranges to fixed location

Mediterranean Agriculture

Characteristics1. Exists on lands that border the

Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia (also California, Chile, South Africa, and Australia)

2. Similar Physical Characteristicsa.Borders a seab.Mostly on west coasts of continentsc.Moderate climated.Land is hilly

Choice of Crops1. Most crops grown for human consumption2. Horticulture: growing of fruits, vegetables,

and flowers3. Horticulture and tree crops form the

commercial base4. Olives, grapes are most important cash crops -

2/3 of wine produced in countries that bolder the Mediterranean (Italy, France, Spain)

Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming

Characteristics1.Predominant type of agriculture in U.S. Southeast

2.Long growing season, humid climate, and accessibility to large markets

3.Called truck farming because truck was a Middle English word for barter

Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming

Truck Farming:1.Predominant in Southeast U.S.2.Grow apples, asparagus, cherries,

lettuce, mushrooms, and tomatoes 3.Most are sold to large processors

for canning or freezing4.Maximize efficiency (experiment

with seeds, fertilizers and hire migrant farm workers)

5.Specialty farming (demand among affluent consumers for asparagus, peppers, mushrooms, strawberries and nursery plants)