| Shifting Cultivation |
Rice, Maize (Corn), Cassava, Yams, Sorghum, Millet |
Tropical regions of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia |
Slash-and-burn, Swidden, Fallow, Intertillage |
Land is cleared by cutting vegetation and burning debris. Crops are grown on a cleared field for a few years until soil nutrients are depleted, then the farmers move to a new area. |
Less Developed |
| Pastoral Nomadism |
Camels, Goats, Sheep, Cattle (for milk, blood, and hides) |
Arid and semi-arid lands of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia |
Transhumance, Migration Routes, Herds, Territoriality |
Herding of domesticated animals. Nomads move their herds seasonally to find fresh pastures and water. |
Less Developed |
| Intensive Wet Rice Farming |
Rice |
Dominant in East, South, and Southeast Asia (e.g., China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia) |
Paddy, Sawah, Double-cropping, Labor-intensive |
Rice is planted on dry land in a nursery and then moved as seedlings to a flooded field (paddy or sawah). Requires significant labor. |
Less Developed |
| Intensive Wet Farming (Non-Rice) |
Wheat, Barley, Corn, Vegetables |
Areas of Asia where rice is difficult to grow, such as northern China and parts of India. |
Double-cropping, Crop Rotation, Labor-intensive, High Population Density |
Similar to wet rice farming in its labor intensity, but focuses on crops other than rice due to climate or terrain. Often involves double-cropping. |
Less Developed |
| Plantation Farming |
Coffee, Tea, Bananas, Sugarcane, Cocoa, Rubber, Tobacco |
Tropical and Subtropical regions of Latin America, Africa, and Asia (Historically, often former colonies) |
Monoculture, Export-oriented, Cash Crops, Dependency Theory, Neocolonialism |
Large-scale commercial farms specializing in one or two high-value crops for export. Historically tied to colonial systems. |
Less Developed |
| Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming |
Corn (for animal feed), Soybeans, Cattle, Hogs, Poultry |
United States (Midwest), Europe (particularly Western Europe) |
Crop Rotation, Feedlots, Manure, Integration, Agribusiness |
Integration of crops and livestock. Most of the crops are fed to animals, and the animals provide manure for fertilizer. |
More Developed |
| Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming |
Fruits (Apples, Berries, Grapes), Vegetables (Lettuce, Tomatoes) |
Southeastern United States, California, Coastal areas near large cities in Europe and North America |
Truck Farming, Market Gardening, Specialization, Refrigeration |
Intensive production of fruits and vegetables for sale to urban markets. Often relies on migrant labor. |
More Developed |
| Dairy Farming |
Milk, Butter, Cheese |
Northeastern United States, Northwestern Europe, Southeast Australia, New Zealand |
Milkshed, Specialization, Refrigeration, Agribusiness |
Raising dairy cattle for milk production. Located close to urban areas (historically) due to the perishability of milk. |
More Developed |
| Grain Farming |
Wheat, Barley, Corn, Oats, Rice |
Prairies of North America (e.g., Great Plains), Steppes of Russia, Pampas of Argentina, Australia |
Mechanization, Combine, Reaper, Large-scale, Export-oriented |
Large-scale production of grains for human and animal consumption. Highly mechanized. |
More Developed |
| Mediterranean Agriculture |
Grapes, Olives, Citrus Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts |
Lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., Southern Europe, North Africa), California, Chile, South Africa |
Horticulture, Irrigation, Specialized Crops, Warm/Dry Summers, Mild/Wet Winters |
Specialized farming adapted to the Mediterranean climate. Focuses on high-value crops that thrive in warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. |
More Developed (generally) |
| Livestock Ranching |
Cattle, Sheep, Goats |
Arid and semi-arid lands of the Western United States, Australia, Argentina, Brazil |
Open Range, Feedlots, Overgrazing, Transhumance (sometimes), Agribusiness |
Commercial grazing of livestock over extensive areas. |
More Developed (generally) |