Extensive Commercial Farming

Farming on the Prairies

Extensive Commercial Farming Large areas under cultivation, due to

cost of machines and economies of scale.

Monoculture of cash crops, mainly wheat

Low yield, Cheap land means farms are huge.

Low Population Density, few signs of workers as most work is done by machines.

Marginal Climate- too cold and dry

Hedges and trees have been removed to allow easy access for large machines.

The Great Plains and the Prairies in

USA and Canada

Areas such as Montana, North Dakota and Saskatchewan are dependant on extensive commercial agriculture. Soil fertility is marginal and short growing season means that large areas of land support a very low population density.

Climate

Climate graph for Alberta

Summer temp 19 Degrees

Precipitation 250 – 500 mm

Climate graph for Manitoba

Summer temp 25 Degrees

Precipitation over 500 mm

Climate

Rainfall Decreases

Increase in farm sizePrecipitation is low. Some Precipitation in growing season although some danger from hail. Severe frost breaks up soil. Warm Chinook wind melts snow early. Growing season is very short due to precipitation and temperature.

Changes in Landuse

Traditional Hunter Gatherer Existence

Immigrants

Immigrant Farmers drove out the Native Americans. Farmers moved to the Prairies and started cattle farming

Railways

Railways were built bringing many more people

Demand for grain rose due to increasingly

industrialised Europe.

Vast areas were ploughed up and wheat planted

Flat land meant land divided into square mile

sections

Original Settlements

Land was split into equally sized sections called blocks. As there were few physical features the blocks were equal size.

Settlers were given free land

Settlers had to build a house and cultivate the land

In wetter East farmers got ¼ or ½ section

Drier West got full block

Farms were vast as soil fertility is

marginal and growing season is short.

Settlement Pattern

Settlements are evenly distributed in linear and

uniform pattern

High order settlements at road

and rail junctions

Population density is low as

large areas required to support

farming

Inputs

Seeds and fertilisers are vital. Marginal climate

has 120 – 140 frost free days

Capital Input ( money and machines) is high

Migrant Labour travel north as wheat ripens

Settlement Hierarchy

High order settlements at railheads and road

junctions

Services locate in high order settlements

Local people very isolated

Settlements evenly spaced

Recent Developments

Amalgamation of Farms as rural depopulation increased. Greater use of part time farming using contractors for harvesting. More ownership by agribusiness rather than families.

Diversification into new crops such as sunflowers.

Miracle seeds, new varieties including HYV

Improved fertilisers and pesticides and irrigation.

Soil conservation measures such as contour ploughing.

Very large fields with more efficient use of machinery.

Impact on people and environment. Rural depopulation means

abandoned homesteads and loss of services such as schools.

Ageing population as young people move out abandoning farming.

More cooperatives have guaranteed farm incomes

New farming techniques such as strip cropping or planting tall sunflowers prevent soil erosion by the wind.

Increase in chemical fertilisers and pesticides have damaged the environment, harming wildlife and polluting water supplies.

Increased irrigation have lead to increased salination of the land as salts are drawn to the surface.