Lesson 3 Flashcards
(14 cards)
Von Thünen Model
An important concept in agricultural geography is the Von Thünen model. The originator of this model was a nineteenth century German land manager who noticed typical patterns in what crops were grown at particular distances from market. He made several assumptions about prevailing conditions, like a uniform soil type, a plain surrounding the market, and there being only a single market.
In the Von Thünen model, zones of uniform agriculture types form in concentric rings around the market. Perishable products like dairy and vegetables are raised close to the market, where distance to market is short and the product will not likely spoil in transit. Forests are the second ring, in that its bulky and heavy harvest is expensive to transport across distances. The third ring is extensive field crops such as grains, and the fourth ring is ranching.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Beginning in the 1960s, agricultural scientists began experimenting with crossbreeding varieties of grains in an attempt to dramatically increase harvests. This was important in trying to improve food security in economically developing countries with rapidly growing populations. The so-called Green Revolution continues today and makes use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in commercial agriculture. In the search for varieties of staple foods like rice, wheat, and corn that combine resistance to pests and disease with high yields, farmers increasingly favor a handful of bioengineered plants instead of naturally occurring varieties.
Truck Farming
Truck farming (market gardening) is a type of commercial agriculture where fruits and vegetables are grown for sale to wholesale firms or individual businesses. The name of the practice derives from the use of large vehicles to transport many containers of the product to nearby markets.
Agribusiness
An agribusiness is a large farming or ranching operation owned by a corporation. This is in contrast to a small, family-owned farm. An example of an agribusiness is a plantation, where a single crop is grown for sale on a very large parcel of land. The term plantation is associated with colonialism, slave or forced labor, and tropical climates. Growing a single crop on a farm, whether a planation or a commercial farm, is termed monoculture.
Cash Crops
In economically developing countries, plantations and farms often grow cash crops. These are plants that are not intended for local food markets but rather to sell abroad to earn hard currency. Examples of cash crops include coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, and cotton. The related term luxury crop refers to plants that are normally not affordable in large amounts for the average person. This could include some spices, coffee, and varieties of cotton.
Agrarian Reform
The concentration of ownership of the best land in economically developing countries in the hands of the elite, and its use for growing cash crops for export, often results in rural citizens demanding agrarian reform. This would entail the redistribution of land from the wealthy to the poor landless farmer.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a profound change in the way humans created objects and organized businesses. Beginning in the mid-1700s in Great Britain, businesses substituted hydropower and later steam power for human and animal power. Craftsmen making objects one at a time by hand at home or in a small shop were replaced by mass production in factories. The Industrial Revolution spread initially to Western Europe and by the early 1800s to North America. It involved a substantial restructuring of businesses, society, and the landscape.
Boserup Thesis
The Boserup thesis, named for Danish economist Esther Boserup, stipulates that increasing population size will result in rising food production. Farmers innovate to raise productivity levels in order to keep pace with growing populations.
Location Factors
Location factors are influences upon the location of a business and vary by industry. These could include where raw materials are found, where the customer lives, where the labor supply is sufficient, connections to transportation routes, governmental regulations and taxes, etc.
Least Cost Theory
Alfred Weber’s least cost theory of industrial location emphasized the role of natural resources and labor in determining where businesses open. Businesses should seek to minimize their production costs by reducing transportation and labor expenses. Depending on the type of business, it might make sense to locate closer to or farther away from the source of raw materials, the labor supply, or the market.
Line-Haul and Terminal Costs
Line-haul and terminal costs influence the location of businesses. Terminal costs are fixed, in that there needs to be a terminal or depot to facilitate the movement of products. Line-haul costs are variable, in that the farther one moves the product the higher the transportation cost. Locating a business where line-haul costs are reduced may result in lower overall costs unless other location factors make a longer distance more advantageous.
