Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Key Issue 3Key Issue 3

Where Are Agricultural Where Are Agricultural Regions in More Developed Regions in More Developed

Countries?Countries?

Mixed Crop and Livestock FarmingMixed Crop and Livestock Farming

Mixed crop and livestock farming is Mixed crop and livestock farming is practiced in much of the United practiced in much of the United States and northern Europe.States and northern Europe.

Most of the crops are fed to animals. Most of the crops are fed to animals. Corn is generally the crop of choice Corn is generally the crop of choice because of its high yields per area, because of its high yields per area, followed by soybeans.followed by soybeans.

Dairy FarmingDairy Farming Dairy farming is an important type of commercial Dairy farming is an important type of commercial

agriculture near urban areas in North America agriculture near urban areas in North America and Europe, where it accounts for about 20% of and Europe, where it accounts for about 20% of the total value of agricultural output.the total value of agricultural output.

Australia and New Zealand also have major dairy Australia and New Zealand also have major dairy production regions.production regions.

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

Increasingly in the developed world, thanks to Increasingly in the developed world, thanks to modern transportation systems, dairy production modern transportation systems, dairy production can take place further from the market.can take place further from the market.

Grain FarmingGrain Farming Commercial grain farming, which includes wheat and corn, Commercial grain farming, which includes wheat and corn,

takes place in western North America and southern Russia.takes place in western North America and southern Russia. In North America there is a winter wheat belt in Kansas, In North America there is a winter wheat belt in Kansas,

Colorado, and Oklahoma, where the crop is planted in the Colorado, and Oklahoma, where the crop is planted in the autumn.autumn.

In the spring wheat belt, which includes the Dakotas, In the spring wheat belt, which includes the Dakotas, Montana, and southern Saskatchewan, the crop is planted Montana, and southern Saskatchewan, the crop is planted in the spring.in the spring.

A third important grain growing region is in the state of A third important grain growing region is in the state of Washington.Washington.

Large-scale wheat production was first made possible by Large-scale wheat production was first made possible by the McCormick reaper in the 1830s. Today the combine the McCormick reaper in the 1830s. Today the combine performs the three tasks of reaping, threshing, and performs the three tasks of reaping, threshing, and cleaning in one operation. cleaning in one operation.

Livestock RanchingLivestock Ranching Livestock ranching is the extensive commercial Livestock ranching is the extensive commercial

grazing of livestock land in semiarid or arid lands.grazing of livestock land in semiarid or arid lands. It is practiced in much of the western United It is practiced in much of the western United

States and the pampas regions of Argentina, States and the pampas regions of Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay.southern Brazil, and Uruguay.

Historically ranching involved the herding of Historically ranching involved the herding of cattle over open ranges in a semi-nomadic style, cattle over open ranges in a semi-nomadic style, and later became sedentary farming by dividing and later became sedentary farming by dividing open land into ranches.open land into ranches.

Today it has become part of the meat-processing Today it has become part of the meat-processing industry rather than an economic activity industry rather than an economic activity practiced on isolated farms.practiced on isolated farms.

Mediterranean AgricultureMediterranean Agriculture

Mediterranean agriculture, practiced in the Mediterranean agriculture, practiced in the Mediterranean, California, and parts of Mediterranean, California, and parts of Chile, Australia, and South Africa, consists Chile, Australia, and South Africa, consists of diverse crops such as grapes, olives, of diverse crops such as grapes, olives, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, mostly for nuts, fruits, and vegetables, mostly for human consumption.human consumption.

Horticulture is the term for the growing of Horticulture is the term for the growing of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Commercial Gardening and Fruit Commercial Gardening and Fruit FarmingFarming

Commercial gardening and fruit farming is the Commercial gardening and fruit farming is the dominant form of agriculture in the southeastern dominant form of agriculture in the southeastern United States.United States.

It is practiced close to urban areas and is also It is practiced close to urban areas and is also called truck farming because “truck” was the called truck farming because “truck” was the Middle English word for barter or the exchange of Middle English word for barter or the exchange of commodities. Truck farms grow fruits and commodities. Truck farms grow fruits and vegetables.vegetables.

The von Thunen model helps to explain the The von Thunen model helps to explain the importance of proximity to market and the choice importance of proximity to market and the choice of crops in commercial agriculture.of crops in commercial agriculture.

According to von Thunen, rent, or land value, will According to von Thunen, rent, or land value, will decrease the further one gets from market.decrease the further one gets from market.