Commercial agriculture, found in more developed countries is the production of

food for sale off the farm

                                                                                                                                             

      

Value of Agricultural Products Sold (2002)

         

Over $5.5 billion annually

         

$3.9 - $5 billion annually

         

$2.3 - $3.9 billion annually

         

$600 million - $2.3 billion annually

         

Under $600 million annually

Source: USDA, Census of Agriculture.

Most common form of agriculture in the US west of the Appalachians and east of 98’ West

Europe from France to Russia Integration of crops and livestock

Grains for animal feed some human consumption

beef, milk and eggs animals provide manure to enhance soil

fertility ¾ income derived from animal sales Almost 100% of land devoted to crops

Evenly distributed workload Consistent income throughout year Crop rotation rather than shifting

cultivation Extensive agriculture Corn #1 in US due to higher yields

per acre Consumed by both people and animals

Soybeans #2 in US Mostly consumed as animal feed

Root Crop-Cereal Crop-Rest Crop

Consider: transportation factors and Von Thunen’s model

Most important type of agriculture practiced on farms near large urban areas in the US

Milk shed: 300 miles The average size of a

dairy cow herd in the US is 135 cows

Labor intensive all year long Declining revenue

and rising costs Milk products vs

cheese and butter The farther the farm

from the urban area the smaller percentage of output devoted to milk

Wisconsin vs Pennsylvania

Since 1970, milk production has risen by almost half, even though

milk cow numbers have declined by about a fourth

Milk is produced in all 50 States. The top 10 producing States in 2008 were:

CaliforniaWisconsinNew YorkIdahoPennsylvaniaMinnesotaTexasNew MexicoMichiganWashington

Food grains: off site consumption by humans Grain sold to manufactures of food products

Breakfast cereals and snack foods Commercial grain farms generally found in

areas too dry for mixed livestock and crop farming

US is world’s largest commercial producer of grain

Wheat, oats, corn, barley, rice, millet (unless you have a beak…buy only hulled millet for human consumption)

Wheat! Sold for higher prices than other grains More uses for human food Stored easily without spoilage Transported a long distance

Wheat is world’s leading export crop and grown specifically for international trade

Spring wheat region vs winter wheat region

Highly mechanized

Millet Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota

Commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area

Semi arid or arid land where vegetation too sparce and soil too poor to support crops

Extensive agriculture World wide concentrations in Spain,

Portugal, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay

Named for mild climate surrounding the Mediterranean Sea in Europe

Generally found on West coasts of continents

Food for human consumption

Horticulture: science and art of gardening and of cultivating fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers

Olives, grapes (viticulture), cereals, citrus, cork (Portugal)

Portugal: winter wheat and sheep

Olives…oil, fruit Europe,

Australia, New Zealand, California

Viticulture: the cultivation of grapes

Mediterranean Europe, Australia, US west coast

Portugal produces 50% of world’s cork

Bottle corks, flooring, ceilings

9 years Ecologically

friendly

Urban agriculture Intensive agriculture High land rents Truck farming Apples, asparagus, cherries, lettuce,

mushrooms, tomatoes Migrant workers