intensive, the grains produced by farmers in this system typically are wheat, bar-
ley, oats, millet, and corn. Animals are kept for a variety of purposes—they may
provide milk, meat, and in the case of cattle and horses, draft power. In some
regions, tubers such as yams, potatoes, and cassava are an important component
of the local diet. In well-watered areas with a longer growing season, a cash crop
may also be grown.
Mediterranean agricultureis encountered around the littoral of the Mediterra-
nean Sea, but also in some parts of the west coast of South America. Because of
the marked seasonality of rainfall in this region, hardy grains like barley and wheat
are raised in the winter, along with vineyards and olive, fruit, and nut orchards that
produce in the dry summer months. Livestock, primarily goats and sheep, are also
part of the agricultural landscape here, and provide wool, meat, and, in the case of
goats, milk. Both subsistence and commercial cultivation may be encountered in
this region.
The mid-latitudes are the site of large stretches ofcommercial grain farming.
Much of the Interior Plains of North America, the pampas of South America,
Western Europe, and interior Asia is occupied by this region. Grains produced in
these regions include primarily wheat, but also expanses of corn and other grains
as well. The production system is highly mechanized, scientifically produced
hybrids and commercial fertilizers are widely employed, and yields per farmer
are among the highest in the world. In North America and Western Europe,agri-
businesshas become dominant in the agricultural economy.
In developed countries located in the mid-latitudes, a system oftruck farmingor
market gardeninghas evolved to service the large urbanized populations. Cultiva-
tion is intensive and highly specialized, with one or two crops grown. The focus is
typically on high-value agricultural products like vegetables, nuts, and fruits, and
virtually the entire output is directed to local or national markets. Warm to moder-
ate climates are necessary, and in the United States, Florida, southern California,
and the Rio Grande valley of Texas are particularly important for this type of agri-
cultural production.
In the colder reaches of North America and Eurasia, as well as stretches of Aus-
tralia and New Zealand, zones ofdairy farmingare found, often adjacent to the
regions of commercial grain farming. Here commercial production of milk and
associated dairy products are commonplace, involving a high level of mechaniza-
tion. Farms producing liquid milk typically are located close to urban markets,
while those making cheese and butter can be situated further from the main mar-
kets. Corporate dairy farming is becoming more common, and some operations
use hundreds or even thousands of cows.
Transitory livestock herding, although once a widespread agricultural activity,
is now confined to relatively few regions on the globe. Primarily found in Africa,78 Cultivation Regions