Unit 5

V. Agriculture, Food Production, and Rural Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–17% 

A. Development and diffusion of agriculture 

          1. Neolithic Agricultural Revolution 

          2. Second Agricultural Revolution 

          3. Green Revolution 

          4. Large-scale commercial agriculture and agribusiness 

B. Major agricultural production regions 

          1. Agricultural systems associated with major bioclimatic zones 

          2. Variations within major zones and effects of markets 

          3. Interdependence among regions of food production and consumption 

C. Rural land use and settlement patterns 

          1. Models of agricultural land use, including Von Thünen’s model 

          2. Settlement patterns associated with major agriculture types: subsistence, cash cropping, plantation, mixed farming, monoculture, pastoralism, ranching, forestry, fishing and aquaculture 

          3. Land use/land cover change: irrigation, desertification, deforestation, wetland destruction, conservation efforts to protect or restore natural land cover, and global impacts 

          4. Roles of women in agricultural production and farming communities

D. Issues in contemporary commercial agriculture 

          1. Biotechnology, including genetically modified organisms (GMO) 

          2. Spatial organization of industrial agriculture, including the transition in land use to large-scale commercial farming and 

             factors affecting the location of processing facilities 

          3. Environmental issues: soil degradation, overgrazing, river and aquifer depletion, animal wastes, and extensive fertilizer and pesticide use 

          4. Organic farming, crop rotation, value-added specialty foods, fair trade, and eat-local-food movements 

          5. Global food distribution, malnutrition, and famine   

IF YOU ONLY LEARN 7 THINGS IN THIS UNIT...

1. Many of the world's crop products are dictated by the climate of the regions where they are grown.

2. There are three agricultural revolutions that changed history. The First Agricultural Revolution was the transition from hunting and gathering to planting and sustaining. The Second Agricultural Revolution increased the productivity of farming through mechanization and access to the market areas through better transportation. The Third Agricultural Revolution involves the genetic engineering of products as well as the increase use of fertilizers for crops and antibiotics for animal products. 

3. Von Thunen's model focuses on transportation. The distance and the weight of crops as well as their distance to the market affect which ones are grown.

4. There are two primary methods of farming in the world. Subsistence farming involves producing agricultural products for use by the farm family. Commercial farming involves the sale of agricultural products off the farm.

5. Many of the settlement patterns in the United Sates have been based on the agricultural possibilities of the areas.

6. Modern agriculture is becoming more industrialized and more specialized than ever. The loss of the family farm is a direct result of the rise of feedlots and mega-farms used to produce enormous quantities of agricultural commodities.

7. To compete with agribusiness in the United States, many family farms are turning to sustainable methods of production, organic agriculture, and catering to local-food movement.

UNIT 5 STUDY GUIDE AND REVIEW

Types of Agriculture and location of agriculture are key components in this Unit.

1. Define agriculture.  

2. Why did Hunter Gathering societies change to agriculture? Identify the locations of Vegetative Planting and Seed Agriculture.

3. Diffusions of agriculture. Carl Sauer’s theory.  Jared Diamond’s theory.  What role does geography play in this diffusion?

4. What role did animal domestication play in agricultural production?

5. Define Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture. Contrast the two. (Size, purpose, labor, etc...)

6. Relationship of locations of Agriculture and climate (Koppen’s Classification)

7. List at least 3 regions for each of the Subsistence Agricultural practices and Commercial Agriculture.

8. According to Jared Diamond how did location determine the development of agriculture?

9. Discuss the cultural factors that affect agricultural production.

10. Explain the environmental affects of shifting cultivation. Slash and burn.

11. What is Transhumance? What are the cultural connections of Pastoral Nomadism?

12. Define Intensive Subsistence Agriculture.  List the techniques used.

13. What were the origins of Commercial Agriculture? What allowed parts of the world to commercialize their Agriculture?

14. Identify the locations of major productions of crops, dairy, and livestock. 

15. Location of farming and the Von Thunen Model. Identify the limitations of Von Thunen’s model.  How did the advancement of industry and technology affect Von Thunen’s model?

16. Overtime what has affected cattle/livestock farming in the US? How is the current livestock farming changed?

17. Define Sustainable Agriculture.  Why is this not used in most commercial farming or Subsistence Farming?

18. What have some LDC’s produced to attempt to create greater profit?  How have MDC’s tried to prevent this production?

19. Identify the 3 Agricultural Revolutions. What was the Green Revolution?  Who did it affect most?  

20. Identify two factors that have led to the reduction of Arable land.

21. Identify the strategies for increasing food supply.  Give specific examples of each.

22. Explain what attempts have been made to solve the Food Crisis in Africa.  What are some of the issues with these attempts? 

23. What role does the Global Economy play on Agriculture? 

24. Explain the affects of Politics/Government on Agriculture.  Define subsidies.  Explain the affect of subsidies on Global food production.

25. Identify specific agricultural productions in the United States.