Climate and Weather Affect Every Aspect of Agriculture - Essay Example

Introduction Great pains are located on the western portion of the huge North American Interior plains; they extend from east region to the Appalachian plateau. The great plains are divided into 10 physiographic divisions. While Pacific Northwest, generally when defined, starts from the ocean to continental region and it includes the whole of Washington, Oregon, and some parts of Idaho together with the British Columbia, and also the adjoining regions of Yukon, Alaska, and California. These regions have developed differently over the years and have been influenced but different. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Agriculture and climate Climate and whether affect very aspect of agriculture ranging from crop production and livestock rearing to transportation of the agricultural products. Crop production is likely to be aff4cted by the changes of climate and atmospheric conditions. Geoff (2005): Geoff (2005): notes that evaluated CO do increase photosynthesis of plants and ultimately its production. Temperature level and precipitation amounts have a potential of affecting crop production in a negative or positive manner. Negative effect will be due to unfavorable climatic changes. The final level of CO is dependent on the local climatic conditions, for instance, summer air temperatures and higher springs may be god for crop production in northern temperature where they will increase the growing season. On the other hand higher temperatures may being negative effect to crops especially on crop maturity (Geoff, 2005) The Great Plains The entire region of Great Plains is characterized with low annual rainfall, in many cases there is concentration of storms though in a short duration. The temperatures in region keep on fluctuating though the region has average winds which are equivalent to those found in other areas. A map of the Great Plains; source www.geog.nau.edu As historian Prescott W in his book "the great plains" suggests, the northwest European people who settled in the region was faced which three major problems, these were environmental encounters, which were; 1. Soaring summer temperature in the region 2. Arid southwest and inner west 3. Great unending grasslands which were located across the country (Prescott,1933) The Great Plains environment The landscape and undergrowth of the grasslands is amongst the slightest varied to be located in anyplace in United States. Early on settlers who followed the Oregon Trail were able to get to the Pacific coast in a single spell of travel, this was partly because of easiness to cross the grasslands. The region is located wholly within the inner lowlands physiographic area. The core sedimentary beds fall smoothly. Height increases steadily, almost unnoticeably, from the east side to the west side. Along the eastern border, the height is only 500 meters, while the west parts of Colorado, Denver, has a height of over 1,500 meters. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Geographically, the biggest part of Great Plains is known as the High Plains which stretch down the western margin of the area from south Texas going northward to the southern Nebraska. The region is covered by substantial layer of sediments which are mostly very sandy and very porous, this part is typically flat. However down streams for example, Scottsbluff on the Platte River in western Nebraska erosion has resulted in considerable local relief. (Siegried et al, 2004) Settlement patterns Pre-European settlement of the Great Plains by Indian American was restricted. Hunting, especially for buffalo, at that time was the principal economic activity. Many tribes were living alongside streams in partially permanent homes. With no ways of speedy long-distance land movement the Indians could not live far from the dependable water provisions of the water streams for any prolonged period. This was a considerable problem, since the migration of the buffalo herds meant going leaving the Indian settlers without food (Siegried et al, 2004) The initial American observation of the area as discouraging and not easy place to settle was wrong. Lack of tree plants in the region meant that inhabitants had no usual material normally used for building of houses and barns, or fencing, or for firewood. Sources of water were scarce; in many cases streams and rivers had o a seasonal flow. Those who were first to arrive settled alongside these waterways. Crops which settlers came with them to the Great Plains in many cases failed to grow, and success of crop differed significantly from one year to another year as rainfall amounts changed widely. Production rates of agriculture were also usually lower, and the 65-hectare farm size that seemed so adequate farther east proved to be too small on the Great Plains. (Siegried et al, 2004) Early American settlers' view of the section as discouraging and not easy region to settle was not wrong. Lack of trees plants in the region meant that people did not have usual material normally used for building of homes and barns, or for fencing, or firewood. Water was scarce; in many cases streams and rivers had a seasonal flow. The first to arrive settled alongside these waterways. The crops that settlers came with to the Great Plains many times failed to do well, and the success of groups differed greatly from one year to another year as rainfall amounts changed widely. The rates of Agricultural production were generally lower, for example a 65-hectare farmland size which appeared so adequate in the east attested to be very small on the Great Plains. (Siegried et al, 2004) Early agriculture Starting 1950s, many regions of Great Plains were productive agriculture regions and crops were grown in this regions using irrigation which was very extensive. The south part of the Great Plains is found in the Ogallala aquifer which is a big underground water bearing layer that dates back to the ice age. The region used center pivot irrigation in drier sections of the Great Plains which lead to aquifer exhaustion at higher rate that was more that the ability of ground water recharges (Geoff, 2005): A wide-ranging ranching agricultural economy was introduced in the south part of Texas via Spaniards settlers which moved to the eastern region Texas via American settlers coming from the Southern part. This agricultural economy spread through Texas northward between 1867 and 1885. (Siegried et al, 2004) In the year 1878, Lake Sumas was drained and created land which was available for homesteaders, yet again agriculture development in Great Plains remained slow in relation to the increase forest exploitation and also mining that was taking Vast herds of livestock were moved to the northern parts from south Texas and taken to railheads down in Kansas to be shipment east or to be stock in the huge, moderately unsettled Great Plains area. It is estimated that by 1880, probably almost 5 million heads of cattle had been relocated to the Kansas (Siegried et al, 2004) Open-ranching agricultural economy collapsed quickly during 1880s, this was due to extensive overgrazing, the competition of finer beef of increasing cattle-raising business in Midwest regions, a falling national economy, terrible winter that was there between 1887 and1888, and a speedy invasion of farmers onto the Great Plains collectively resulted in end the open ranching agricultural practices. Open-range ranching was moved to the dry western part of the Great Plains or were pushed into extra restrained fenced process. (James, 1946) On the agricultural border line, barbed wire fencing, developed provided an efficient different fencing wire which was used instead of wood. Development of a windmill and mechanical well-drilling machine led that adequate water availability for both animals and humans, and also irrigation. It was the extensive adoption of windmill expertise on the grasslands which resulted to its ensuing acceptance in many of the rural America. Grain farming at that time also increasingly became mechanized, allowing farmers to be able to operate bigger farms and consequently compensate for poorer yields. (James, 1946) Lastly, crops which adapted better to the conditions of the region growing conditions were then introduced in the agricultural system of the region, farmers started to improve their knowledge on how to utilize the Great Plains environment. The best example is perhaps hard winter wheat. The wheat was initially brought to the U. S by Mennonites who were migrating from Russia, the wheat adapted better to the dry growing conditions of the region better than wheat strain grown there earlier. At present, the Great Plains region is United State's leading wheat-producing area, and it is mostly on the abundance of Great Plains agriculture which makes the United States to be at top wheat exporter. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Great Plains agriculture Great Plains agriculture is basically large scale farming and machine intensive, subjected by a not many crops, wheat is the most important crop in the region. Winter wheat in the region is planted in just before the winter, when the winter sets in it find the wheat when it has grown to a number of centimeters tall. The major growth of wheat comes during spring and also in during early summer, during these periods precipitation is at the highest level and also at that time the desiccating winds of summer are not present. Wheat is harvested in the months of May and June. Currently, winter wheat is planted in many regions of United States; however, its region of concentration is the southern part of Great Plains from northern part of Texas to southern region of Nebraska. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Another type of wheat grown is spring wheat; this is grown primarily in the central and South Dakota northwards going into Canada. The wheat is planted during early spring season and it is harvested in late summer or in the fall. The wheat is suited in areas where winters are so severe that it can kill germinating winter wheat. (Zeynep et al, 2004) As for grasslands wheat, it is grown by use of dry farming methods, without the use of irrigation. Soil is plowed extremely deep to loosen the sod and also slow evaporation. Grassland wheat is mostly planted in the northern parts of the Great Plains, in the region there is extensive use of fallowing; land is tilled and plowed but left without being planted in for a season in order to preserve moisture. The farms for wheat are mostly the termed as "Wheat Belt" which exceeds 400 hectares, this mean s that currently many wheat farmers can afford to own combines. However, it is estimated that one-third of total wheat in the Great Plains is harvested using custom combining crews. (Zeynep et al, 2004) A key problem with commercial wheat growing is the complexity of moving the harvested wheat swiftly to storage places in the great grain elevators that are found in the Great Plains. Competition coming from truck transportation and, in some parts of winter wheat region, barge transportation has made the railroads to leave many small countryside grain elevators for much bigger complexes normally found in bigger towns. Most wheat that is exported is transported through the Great Lakes or by use of barges down the inland waterway transport system. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Recently, Sorghum is another group that has surfaced as a main crop on the southern Great Plains. It is Able to endure dry growing conditions of the region; sorghum now is equivalent winter wheat in significance on the dry, hot southwestern borders of the Great Plains. Texas and also Nebraska currently have more farmland in sorghum compared wheat. Sorghum grain is mostly used as livestock feed. (Malin, 1984) The northern part of Great Plains is famous for growing barley and oats this currently are key second crops. Most of the world barley crop comes from Lake Agassiz Basin found in North Dakota and Minnesota. More so almost all flaxseed that is produced in North America is grown in northern Great Plains. Another important plant that is rapidly increasing in popularity is sunflowers; which is a source of vegetable oil and it also gives important ingredients for livestock feeds, is rapidly increasing in significance in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Northwest Coast The Pacific Northwest, generally when defined, starts from the ocean to continental region and it includes the whole of Washington, Oregon, and some parts of Idaho together with the British Columbia, and also the adjoining regions of Yukon, Alaska, and California. The region uses the name "Pacific Northwest" and also "Cascadia", a name which is a resultant of Cascade Range, even though the name "Pacific Northwest" is noticeably older, tracing its origins way to the 19th century. (Malin, 1984) The term "Cascade" is of modern coinage (1980s) which is at times referred in geology, climatology and ecology and mostly by community members of the region, "Pacific Northwest" is in commonly used all through the area, and also includes more area compared to Cascade conception, which seems to be more coastal and at the same time limited only to Evergreen Triangle region of Washington and Oregon. (Malin, 1984) Climate The region experiences different climates which includes Oceanic climate that occurs in a lot of coastal regions, characteristically among the ocean and high mountain ranges. The Alpine climate is mostly found in the high mountains. Another climatic condition of semi-arid and arid is found in the eastern part of the higher mountains, particularly in rainshadow areas. Wine is a major product and wine industry play an important role in the region and in the also in wider American. (Malin, 1984) Agriculture The initial attempts of farming in the region started in 1813 and were associated with fur business at fort Vancouver. In the year 1826, stock and grain centers were developed in the region at Okanagan Valley to provide a trout for fur trading. In the year 1839 Hudson's Bay Company set up a subsidiary known as the "Puget sound agricultural company" which was to supply fur to northern Russian ports in exchange of fur. This company was set up to also offer competition to the United States Settlers, who were autonomous of the company, came to Oregon in 1841, and after that Oregon was settled away from the United States. The Hudson Company received a proprietorial grant of managing the Vancouver Island the company was to pay certain amount of rent in return. (Zeynep et al, 2004) The discovery of gold in 1858 in the region boosted the agriculture sector in area especially the Victoria regions, New Westminster and Yale. Ranches and grist mill that were located in Okanogan were impacted as agriculture expanded in the region in response to staple exports. Further discovery of gold in the Cariboo in the year 1862 encouraged settlers to inhabit the interior areas. However, the end of gold rush in 1866 changed the way agriculture was developing in the region. Miners who were stuck resorted to agriculture, thus more products were produce leading to low demand of the products. British Colombia region which was depressed by reduction of gold also turned to agriculture with the hope of creating an alternative economy. (Zeynep et al, 2004) The region has little agricultural economy and mostly it is a commercial center few groups are grown in the region compared to the Great Plains. However, in Washington is well known for apple farming and produces a lot of apples in the region for export and for domestic use. Another product from the region is potatoes which are grown in large farms in Idaho region, cheese and wine are other agricultural products from this region However agriculture in the region has reduced drastically over time this is because the of removing off of the rich top soil through soil erosion which has been unchecked over time. The remaining soil is less absorptive sub sol which is unfavorable for agriculture. (Zeynep et al, 2004) Conclusion Over the past different regions in America has developed to their current situation. These regions have been impacted mainly by the first settlers of those regions who influenced the agricultural plants that are currently being grown in these particular regions. The Great Plains regions are a major agricultural region that produces a lot of wheat and sorghum which is exported to other parts of the world. Products that are planted in a region are mostly influenced by climatic conditions of that area. The farming methods affect productions. Commercial use of machines has highly helped to increase [production of products being produced. The North West coast is basically a commercial region when it is compared to the Great Plains; however it also produces cheese, wine and apples which are important to the overall economy of America. Reference: Egan, T (2005): The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Geoff C. (2005): On the Great Plains: Agriculture and Environment. By College Station: Texas A M University Press, James C. M (1944): Winter Wheat in the Golden Belt of Kansas: A Study in Adaptation to Subhumid Geographical Environment. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press. James C. M (1946): Dust Storms, 1850-1900," Kansas Historical Quarterly 14: 129-44, 265-96, 391-413. James C. Malin (1946): Essays on Historiography. Ann Arbor: Edwards Brothers. Malin, C.J (1984). History and Ecology: Studies of the Grassland, edited by Robert P. Swieranga. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Siegried D. et al (2004) "On the Cause of the 1930s Dust Bowl, Science 303: 1855-59. Prescott, W (1933): The Great Plains. New York: Grosset and Dunlap. Worster, D (1979): Dust Bowl: The Southern Plains in the 1930s. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Zeynep K. et al (2004): Small Farms, Externalities, and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s,"Journal of Political Economy 112: 665-94 Read More