Unit 5 Von Thunen Model Flashcards
What is the Von Thunen model?
it hypothesizes that perishability of the product and transportation costs to the market each factor into a farmer’s decisions regarding agricultural practices.
What does the model look like?
It has 4 rings but 5 zones. they represent different agricultural practices.
What does the core represent
represents the market or CBD
What does the first ring represent
intensive farming and dairying. The perishability of milk products, berries, lettuce, or tomatoes make it critical that they are produced close to the market and transported and sold within a limited time-frame.
Example of first ring
A farmer with land close to the market might choose to raise chickens and produce eggs for sale, because the transportation costs would be low, and fragile eggs would arrive at the market in a shorter amount of time while still fresh.
What does the second ring represent
Forests. Wood is heavy and bulky, so its weight would make it expensive to transport. Producing wood close to the market reduces transportation costs.
What does the third ring represent
grains and cereal crops. these are less perishable and not to heavy, so can can be grown further away from market. The land here, farther from the market, is less expensive and allows for less intensive agriculture.
What does the last ring represent
livestock production. land is less desirable, so less expensive. In the early 1800s, animals were walked to market, so transportation costs were not so high
Assumption no.1 about the Von Thunen model
The market is located in an isolated self-sufficient state without external influences
Assumption no.2 about the Von Thunen model
A commercial agriculture system exists where farmers will seek to maximize profits
Assumption no.3 about the Von Thunen model
A single, centrally located market is the destination of a farmer’s produce
Assumption no.4 about the Von Thunen model
The land is isotropic (flat and featureless)
Assumption no.5 about the Von Thunen model
There is only one means of transportation (oxen pulling a wooden cart over land)
Reason no.1 Von Thunen is outdated
Refrigerated trucks, trains, ships and cargo planes has permitted perishable items to be produced much farther away from markets.
Reason no.2 Von Thunen is outdated
Time-space compression (the ability to quickly exchange goods across distances, as a result of more efficient transportation systems) as well as growing demands for food worldwide have expanded the markets available to most producers.
