What is agriculture. Agro-industrial complex. Factors of placement of branches of agriculture. What industries form agriculture

Agriculture - the most important link in the agro-industrial complex and differs from other sectors of the economy by the seasonal nature of production, the use of land as an object and means of labor, and a strong dependence on natural conditions. It includes agriculture (plant growing) and animal husbandry, closely related to each other, which provide respectively 56 and 44% of agricultural products.

The natural basis of agriculture are land- land used in agriculture. In 2007, the area of ​​agricultural land amounted to 220.6 million hectares, or 12.9% of the country's area, and according to this indicator, our country ranks third in the world after China and the United States. The sown area (arable land) is much smaller: in 2007 it amounted to 76.4 million hectares, or less than 5% of the country's territory. As of the beginning of 2007, the level of provision of agricultural land for the population of Russia per capita was 1.55 ha, including 0.54 ha of arable land. The rest of the territories are occupied by forests and shrubs, tundra, mountain ranges, i.e. agriculturally unsuitable lands.

A significant part of Russia's agricultural land is located in waterlogged or arid regions, subject to wind and water erosion, and some of them ended up in the zone of contamination with radioactive elements after the Chernobyl accident. Thus, almost 3/4 of agricultural land has either already degraded or is at the dangerous line of loss of fertility. This situation is aggravated by a sharp reduction in the supply of mineral fertilizers to agriculture. Therefore, land reclamation is becoming increasingly important - the natural improvement of lands to increase their fertility or general improvement of the area, one of the types of rational nature management.

The total area of ​​fodder lands is more than 70 million hectares, but more than 1/2 of them fall on the share of tundra reindeer pastures, which are characterized by low fodder productivity.

A wide variety of natural landscape zones, different populations led to features of the use of agricultural land: in the steppe and forest-steppe zone with fertile gray soils and chestnut soils, plowing reaches 80% of all agricultural land; in the forest zone - much less; in the foothill areas, vast alpine meadows are combined with small plots of arable land in the valleys and along the slopes of the mountains.

Crop production is the leading branch of agriculture in terms of gross output - 56% in 2007.

The climatic conditions of Russia limit the range of crops that are permissible and cost-effective to cultivate on its territory. It is possible to obtain high and stable yields only in the west of the black earth belt of the country and in the western regions. North Caucasus.

Cereal crops- the leading branch of crop production in Russia. They occupy more than half of the country's cultivated area. Due to the inconsistency of weather conditions, their collection from year to year ranged from 127 million tons in the most fruitful 1978 to 48 million tons in 1998. In the last two decades, there has been a tendency to reduce grain harvests. The average annual gross grain harvest in Russia was (in million tons): 1950s. - 59; 1960s - 84; 1970s - 101; 1980s - 98; 1990s - 76. Nevertheless, in 2007, in terms of grain harvest - 82 million tons - Russia ranked fourth in the world after China, the USA and India.

The average grain yield in Russia is very low - about 20 centners per 1 ha compared to 60-70 centners in Western European countries, which is explained by the difference in agro-climatic conditions and the low culture of domestic agriculture. More than 9/10 of the total collection falls on four crops: wheat (more than half), barley (about a quarter), oats and rye.

Wheat

Wheat- the most important grain crop in Russia. It is sown mainly in the forest-steppe and less arid part of the steppe zone, and the density of crops decreases in the east direction. Two types of wheat are sown in Russia - spring and winter. Given that the yield of winter wheat is twice as high as that of spring wheat, winter wheat is cultivated wherever agro-climatic conditions allow. Therefore, in the western part of the country up to the Volga (the North Caucasus, the Central Black Earth Region, the right bank of the Volga region), winter wheat crops predominate, in the eastern part (the left bank of the Volga region, the Southern Urals, the south of Western Siberia and the Far East) - spring wheat.

Barley

Barley- the second largest grain crop in Russia, used primarily for the manufacture of concentrated feed for livestock. This is one of the earliest ripening crops that tolerate frost and drought well, so the area of ​​barley cultivation is extensive: it penetrates north, south and southeast further than other grain crops.

oats

oats- primarily a forage crop and is widely used in the feed industry. Distributed in the forest zone in areas with a milder climate, it is also sown in Siberia and the Far East.

Rye

Rye- an important food crop, relatively undemanding to agro-climatic conditions, it needs less heat than winter wheat, and, like oats, it tolerates acidic soils well. Its main area is the Russian Non-Black Earth Region.

All other crops, including rice and corn, are not widely used in domestic crop production due to harsh climatic conditions. Maize crops for grain are concentrated in the North Caucasus - the only region of Russia, which in terms of natural conditions resembles the famous "corn belt" of the United States, in other regions of the country it is cultivated for green fodder and silage. Rice crops are located in the floodplains of the Kuban River, the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and the Khanka lowland.

Industrial crops are a valuable raw material for the production of food products (sugar, vegetable oils) and many products light industry. They are very demanding on agro-climatic conditions, labor-intensive and material-intensive, and are located in narrowed areas. The most famous fibrous crop in Russia is fiber flax. Its main crops are concentrated in the north-west of the European part of the country. The main oil crop - sunflower - is grown in the forest-steppe and steppe zone of the country (Central Chernozem region, North Caucasus). The main crops of industrial varieties of sugar beet are concentrated in the Central Chernozem Region and the Krasnodar Territory.

The potato is an important food and fodder crop. Crops of this crop are widespread, but the vast majority is concentrated in Central Russia, as well as near cities, where vegetable growing is also developing. Horticulture and viticulture as a large branch of crop production is typical for the southern regions of Russia.

animal husbandry- important component agriculture, which provides less than half of the industry's gross output. Despite a serious drop in production during the years of the economic crisis, today Russia is among the leading countries in the world in terms of livestock production.

The industry reached its maximum level of development in 1987, after which both the number of livestock and the volume of production began to decline. The main value of livestock products is meat. The structure of its production is dominated by beef and veal - 39%, followed by pork - 34%, poultry meat - 24%, lamb and goat meat - 3%. In 2007, the number of cattle, sheep and goats was inferior to 1940.

Number of livestock in Russia at the beginning of the year* (in million heads)

The development, location and specialization of animal husbandry are determined by the availability of a forage base, which depends on the degree of plowing of land, the composition of fodder crops, and the size of pasture resources. A paradoxical situation has developed in the fodder base of modern Russia: while procuring more feed in terms of calories per unit of livestock products than developed countries, Russia constantly experiences an acute shortage of them, which is due to the low preservation of fodder, their inefficient structure (a small proportion of concentrated fodder), frequent interruptions in the supply of livestock farms with fodder, almost complete disregard for scientifically based proposals on the system of feeding and keeping livestock.

The distribution of animal husbandry is formed under the influence of two main factors: orientation to the food base and attraction to the consumer. With the development of urbanization processes and progress in transport, the importance of the second factor in the location of animal husbandry is rapidly increasing. Dairy farming, pig breeding and poultry farming are developing in the suburban areas of large cities and highly urbanized areas; the azonal nature of animal husbandry is increasing. However, until now, the orientation towards the forage base (zonal factor) is the determining factor in the location of livestock farming.

The largest branch of animal husbandry is cattle breeding (cattle breeding), the main product of which is milk and meat. Based on their ratio, there are three main areas of cattle breeding:

• § a) dairy is based on succulent feed and is located in the center of the European part of the country and around cities;
• § b) dairy and meat uses natural feed and silage and is placed everywhere;
• § c) meat, dairy and meat is based on rough and concentrated feed and is represented in the steppes and semi-deserts of the North Caucasus, the Urals, the Volga region, and Siberia.

Pig breeding is a precocious industry and provides 1/3 of the meat. It uses root crops (potatoes, sugar beet), concentrated feed and food waste as feed. It is located in agriculturally developed areas and near large cities.

Sheep breeding provides raw materials for the textile industry and is predominantly developed in semi-deserts and mountainous areas. Sheep breeding of the fine-fleeced direction is represented in the southern steppes of the European part and in the south of Siberia, semi-fine-fleeced - prevails in the European territory of the country and the Far East.

Poultry farming is highly productive and is most developed in the main grain-producing areas and near large cities. Reindeer breeding is the main branch of agriculture in the Far North. In some areas, horse breeding (the North Caucasus, the south of the Urals), downy goat breeding (dry steppes of the Urals), and yak breeding (Altai, Buryatia, Tuva) are of commercial importance.

food industry- the final sphere of the agro-industrial complex. It includes a set of industries producing food flavoring, as well as tobacco products, perfumery and cosmetic products. The food industry is distinguished by its ubiquity, although the set of its industries in each region is determined by the structure of agriculture, and the volume of production is determined by the population of the given territory and transportation conditions. finished products.

The food industry is closely related to agriculture and includes more than 20 industries that use different raw materials. Some industries use raw materials (sugar, tea, dairy, oil and fat), others use raw materials that have been processed (bakery, confectionery, pasta), others are a combination of the first two (meat, dairy).

Accommodation Food Industry depends on the availability of raw materials and the consumer. According to the degree of their influence, the following groups of industries can be distinguished.

The first group gravitates toward the regions where raw materials are produced, since the cost of raw materials per unit of output is high here, and transportation is associated with large losses and deterioration in quality. These include sugar, fruit and vegetable canning, oil and fat, tea, butter, salt.

The sugar industry does not fully meet the needs of the Russian population in its products. A significant part of the sugar consumed in Russia is imported from abroad. Our country also imports raw sugar. The highest concentration of domestic sugar factories is in the Central Black Earth region and in the North Caucasus.

A special place in this group is occupied by the fishing industry, which includes the extraction of raw materials (fish, sea animals) and its processing. The catch is dominated by cod, herring, horse mackerel, a significant proportion of salmon and sturgeon. Most of the products of the fishing industry in Russia are produced by the Far East (Primorsky Krai, Sakhalin and Kamchatka regions). The Murmansk, Kaliningrad and Astrakhan regions stand out from other major producers in this industry.

The second group of industries is connected with the places of consumption of finished products and produces perishable goods. This is the baking, confectionery, whole-milk (production of milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, kefir) industries, which are concentrated primarily in highly urbanized areas.

The third group is formed by industries with a simultaneous focus on raw materials and on the consumer. Such a duality of placement is characterized by meat, flour-grinding, dairy.

At present, the food industry is one of the most dynamic sectors of the country; it is distinguished by investment attractiveness, which makes it possible to create a wide network of processing enterprises of small capacity, equipped with modern equipment.

Agriculture - branch of the national economy that is engaged in the cultivation of plants (plant growing) and animal breeding (livestock).

Agriculture is connected with many industries (food, chemical, etc.), forming an agro-industrial complex, the main task of which is to reliably provide the country with food and agricultural raw materials.

Unlike industry, agricultural production is carried out in vast areas where the relief, climate, and soils are different. In agriculture, many production processes are seasonal in nature, as they are associated with natural conditions for plant growth and animal development. Natural conditions have a greater influence on the process and result of agricultural labor than industrial labor. Regardless of natural conditions, the level of development of agriculture is determined by the quantity and quality of labor expended, the degree of use of machinery and fertilizers.

The natural basis of agriculture is agricultural land - land used in agricultural production. Of the 17.1 million square meters. km of the entire territory of Russia, agricultural land is only 2.22 million square meters. km, or 222.1 million hectares, - 13% of all land (without reindeer pastures, which include a significant part of the tundra zone).

Agricultural lands are of the following types: arable land, hayfields, pastures. A very small area is occupied by perennial plantations (gardens, vineyards). Of the 222 million hectares of agricultural land, arable land accounts for 132 million hectares (about 60%), hayfields - 23 million hectares (10%) and pastures - 65 million hectares (about 30%).

The agricultural development of the territory naturally changes from north to south. In the tundra zone, as already mentioned, of all agricultural lands, only reindeer pastures covered with reindeer moss are represented. In the northern part of the forest zone, there are already separate centers of agriculture along the river valleys (where the soil is more fertile and better drained), but their area is very small. For example, in the Arkhangelsk region, the share of agricultural land in the total area is only 1.5%, and arable land - 0.5%, i.e. 2/3 of agricultural land is hayfields and pastures. In the Vologda Oblast, the share of agricultural land increases to 10% (and arable land - up to 6%), and in the Yaroslavl Oblast - already 32% and 22%, here agricultural development is not focal (like northern), but selective.

In the forest-steppe zone, the share of farmland increases to 50 - 60%, and arable land - up to 35 - 45% (Bryansk, Ryazan regions).

The maximum plowing occurs in the steppe regions: Kurgan, Lipetsk, Saratov, Rostov and other regions have a share of agricultural land of more than 80%, and arable land - more than 60%. Such a high agricultural load on the landscape, especially in rugged terrain (as in the conditions of the Central Russian Upland), is already excessive, since it leads to soil erosion (water and wind) and a decrease in their fertility.

In more southern regions, the share of arable land decreases: in some cases, due to the aridity of the climate (for example, in Kalmykia, in the zone of dry steppes and semi-deserts, arable land makes up only 13% of the area, but pastures - 73%), in others - because of the mountainous terrain ( for example, in Dagestan, arable land makes up only 10% of the territory).

Agriculture consists of two main branches - crop production And animal husbandry.

Branches of agriculture

Agriculture is the most important sphere of the agro-industrial complex, concentrating 2/3 of the workers in the agro-industrial complex and its fixed assets and producing half of the products. It is agriculture that plays the main role in the production of food and raw materials for the production of consumer goods (clothes, shoes).

Natural conditions act as a permanent factor in territorially differentiating agricultural production.

However, the possibilities of using the natural potential of the territory depend both on the level of development of productive forces, which determines the technical equipment of agriculture, and on the nature of production relations, which are associated with land use, many socio-economic and other features of the organization of production.

Natural conditions as a factor in the territorial differentiation of agriculture are of great importance for its development and the formation of regional differences, since the land here acts as essential tool production.

Differences in the types of natural environment, essential for agriculture, are associated not only with the regular change of natural latitudinal zones and vertical belts, but also with azonal natural factors in the formation of various types of landscapes. River valleys, such as in the taiga or desert-steppe zones with more productive types of land, provide better opportunities for agricultural development.

The ecological features of certain cultivated plants and domestic animals determine their distribution in various types of natural environment. So, for example, the lands of the foothill plains or lower deltas with groundwater close to the surface are unsuitable for growing many crops, but these are the best lands for growing rice: xerophytic vegetation of semi-deserts and deserts is of little use for grazing, but favorable for sheep, while wet tall-grass meadows - on the contrary.

The natural environment acts as important factor territorial differentiation of farming and animal husbandry systems, a complex of agrotechnical and reclamation measures, machine systems and other features of the agricultural organization of the territory.

From the point of view of the agricultural assessment of the natural environment, work on the study of certain types natural resources (climatic, soil, plant, etc.). This analytical stage of research makes it possible to more fully identify the potential resources of various types of natural environment (zones, subzones, physiographic regions, landscapes, land types) for the purpose of their rational agricultural use.

In the economic and geographical study of agriculture, great importance is attached to methods of agricultural assessment of the natural environment from the point of view of the rational use of land, the comparative efficiency of crop and livestock industries, and the rational territorial organization of production.

Natural conditions create unequal prerequisites for certain types of land use and the production of certain products of agriculture and animal husbandry. Most crops and branches of agriculture usually occupy only a part of the territory where natural conditions allow them to develop. This is due either to insufficiently favorable economic conditions for their placement, or to a low economic efficiency production in comparison with other types of natural environment.

To evaluate various types of natural environment from the point of view of agriculture means to identify the economic efficiency of one or another of their use in conditions rational organization production and the achieved level of technical progress. It is characteristic that some types of the natural environment can be used effectively with a relatively small investment labor and funds per unit of agricultural area, such as landscapes of dry steppes and semi-desert zones. Others, on the contrary, are large economic effect give only at relatively high levels of labor and funds, which is typical for many landscapes of the zone.

Thus, a comparative agricultural assessment of different types of land can only be obtained by comparing their productivity and the required level of inputs. And as the scientific and technical foundations of agriculture are being improved, ideas about the relative agricultural value of the same landscapes are changing.

To identify the influence of natural conditions on the territorial organization of agriculture, it is necessary first of all to link the physical and geographical features of lands with their production and agricultural characteristics, and only on this basis to approach their economic assessment.

When studying the question of the influence of natural conditions on the location of agriculture, it is important to evaluate various types of land from the point of view of: a) the production of certain types of agricultural products and b) total agricultural production.

Social economic forces territorial differentiation of agriculture. The increase in the growth rate of the urban population leads to constant changes in the territorial organization of agriculture within this zone as well. The further growth of large cities with a population of over 250,000 and especially over 500,000 inhabitants is an important economic factor in the territorial organization of agriculture.

One of the factors of the territorial organization of agriculture is the unequal economic and geographical position of rural areas in relation to the places of consumption and processing of agricultural products.

Finally, the factors of territorial organization are the transport and geographical position of agricultural enterprises (especially those producing low-transportable types of products). The degree of transportability of crop and livestock products is changing as a result of the improvement of vehicles, the creation of specialized modes of transport, including refrigerators and other installations.

Transportation of agricultural products from places of production to points of storage, processing, and consumption of products is largely carried out by road.

The spatial localization of labor resources associated with characteristic features rural settlement in various types of rural areas.

The quantitative assessment of labor resources is due to the unequal labor intensity of different branches of crop and livestock production at a certain level of mechanization of production processes.

With the development of the scientific and technological process and the industrialization (complex mechanization) of agriculture, there is an increase in labor productivity in all sectors of crop and livestock production, although differences remain in the cost of living labor between more labor-intensive crops (berries, fruits, vegetables) and less labor-intensive (cereals). ).

Thus, combinations of natural and economic factors determine the specialization of agriculture, as well as methods of organizing agriculture and animal husbandry, leading to territorial differentiation of levels of production intensity.

Geography of crop industries

The nature of the distribution of cultivated plants throughout the country is due to both their environmental characteristics and socio-economic factors of production. The degree of compliance of the ecological characteristics of cultivated plants with one or another type of natural environment must be considered in close connection with modern systems agriculture and economic efficiency of production. This makes it possible to explain the differences between the established distribution of crops and the areas of their possible cultivation.

The economic characteristics of cultivated plants are determined by the intended purpose of the products produced: food, fodder, for technical processing and drug and narcotic use. These economic features, taking into account the methods of cultivation of cultivated plants, due to their ecological characteristics, serve as the basis for the classification of crop production branches.

Grain farming

Grain farming is one of the main branches of crop production. The wide distribution of grain crops throughout the agriculturally developed territory of Russia is due to the significant diversity of their ecological characteristics, the diversity of their species and varieties. Cereal grain is of great food importance, and is also a valuable animal feed.

Gross grain harvest in Russia by years

Wheat as the most important food crop in Russia, it is more demanding on thermal resources and soil fertility, it does not tolerate acid reaction well. The ecological features of wheat determine its greatest distribution in the forest-steppe and steppe zones. Agro-climatic conditions, in particular the severity of winters and the thickness of the snow cover, limit the areas of cultivation of winter wheat compared to spring wheat.

Winter wheat is cultivated mainly in the European part of Russia. With the transition to areas with a milder climate in the western and central provinces of the main natural zones, the share of winter wheat plantings increases significantly compared to spring wheat. This is due to the fact that winter wheat makes fuller use of precipitation in the autumn and spring periods, which is the reason for its higher yield.

Spring wheat crops dominate, starting from the trans-Volga steppes, in the agriculturally developed regions of Siberia. Areas with a more continental and arid climate are favorable for growing durum varieties wheat, giving a "glassy" high-value grain, which to a certain extent compensates for the decrease in yield compared with areas of more favorable moisture.

The areas with the most favorable winter wheat overwintering conditions include a significant part of the territory of the North Caucasus and the Black Earth Center, where the highest and most stable yields are obtained. As the severity of winters increases, the yields of winter and spring wheat become less stable due to the identification of the ratio of the yields of these crops.

Rye. Unlike wheat, rye is less demanding on thermal conditions and soil fertility. Winter rye is mainly introduced into the crop, which is characterized by much greater winter hardiness compared to other winter cereals.

The unpretentiousness of winter rye to habitat conditions provides it with a number of advantages compared to wheat in areas with less thermal resources, poorer soils that have an acidic reaction. Therefore, the main areas of cultivation of winter rye are confined to the zone of soddy-podzolic soils in the European part of Russia.

Barley. The culture of barley, like wheat, was widespread in the areas of ancient agriculture in the temperate zone. It is one of the earliest ripening grain crops, tolerates frost and is drought-resistant. Loamy soils are more suitable for barley. Currently, barley is grown mainly for fodder purposes, although it also has food value, and germinated seeds (malt) are used in brewing. The ecological features of barley allow it to be cultivated in a significant part of the agricultural area. At the same time, barley has few competitors in areas with limited thermal resources in the north of the agricultural area, in mountainous areas, as well as in arid areas.

Oats. Unlike barley, oats are more demanding on heat reserves and moisture conditions, and tolerate summer drought worse. At the same time, oats are less demanding on soil fertility and tolerate the acidic reaction of the soil. Distributed in the forest zone in areas with a milder climate, often on poor sandy loamy soils. With the transition to the forest-steppe and steppe zones, the value of oats in the composition of grain crops decreases.

Corn. Corn grain has a valuable fodder value and is used in the food industry. Corn begins development at rather high temperatures, has a long growing season, does not tolerate frost well, needs large reserves of heat, and is drought-resistant.

In areas within the steppe, forest-steppe, and partly forest zones, corn is cultivated mainly to the stage of milky-wax ripeness for fodder purposes, mainly for ensiling.

Cereal legumes(peas, lentils, beans, soybeans, etc.) are characterized by a high content of protein, valuable in feed and food terms. The largest areas among them are occupied by pea crops, which are demanding on moisture, soil fertility, and for the vegetation of which moderate heat reserves are needed.

Peas grown mainly in the forest and forest-steppe zones. lentils to a greater extent cultivated in the western and central regions of the forest-steppe zone. Beans And soy how crops of tropical origin are cultivated in the more southern parts of Russia.

Soya is a more moisture-loving plant, its significant areas are concentrated in the Far East.

cereal crops(millet, buckwheat, rice) occupy about 5% of all grain crops. They have different distribution areas, due to their ecological characteristics.

Millet cultivated mainly in the steppe and dry-steppe zones, especially in areas where lighter soils are distributed within the European part of Russia, with a smaller value of crops of this crop in the forest-steppe and forest zones.

Buckwheat unlike millet, it does not tolerate drought well, it is very demanding on moisture conditions and soil fertility.

The ecological features of buckwheat determine its location mainly in the western and central regions of the forest-steppe, deciduous-forest, southern taiga zones, characterized by a mild climate. The yield of buckwheat is increasing due to the development of beekeeping in the areas of its cultivation, due to better pollination of flowers, which are valuable honey plants.

Rice. Rice crops in Russia are located mainly on alluvial irrigated lands in the lower reaches of large rivers in the European part, the Far East.

Grain production by constituent entities of the Russian Federation in 1997

thousand tons (in weight after completion)

Industrial crops

The composition of industrial crops includes fibrous, oilseed, sugar-bearing plants, which provide the production of raw materials for light and food industries: textile, oil, sugar. Therefore, the substantiation of ways to concentrate industrial crops is closely related to the development of optimal raw material zones for the location of processing enterprises in the system of agro-industrial complexes.

fiber crops, cultivated on the territory of Russia, are represented by many plants common in different natural zones.

Linen. Agro-ecological features of fiber flax cause its widest distribution in the western and central parts of the forest zone with wet and a mild climate on more fertile loamy soddy-podzolic soils that form on nutrient-rich underlying rocks (on mantle loam, carbonate moraine). The placement of flax crops is also influenced by economic conditions, in particular, remoteness from factories, availability of labor resources.

Hemp. Products made from hemp fiber can be replaced to a much greater extent by artificial fiber, which has led to a significant reduction in the crops of this crop over the past decades.

Hemp has unique ecological characteristics: high nutrient requirements in the soil along with the consumption of large amounts of moisture and heat during the period of intensive growth. All this determines the historical distribution of hemp in the form of "foci" confined to well-cultivated soils in the south-west of the forest zone (in the Bryansk and Oryol regions), along river valleys on the western slopes of the Central Russian and Volga uplands, in the forest-steppe and steppe zones. More heat-loving and valuable varieties of southern hemp are common in some regions of the North Caucasus.

Oil crops. The sunflower crop is of the greatest economic importance, providing the main part of vegetable oil production in Russia. In the process of extracting oil from oilseeds, production wastes (cake and meal) are formed, which are of valuable feed value due to the high content of protein and fat in them.

Sunflower. The ecological features of sunflower determine its wide distribution in the western and central parts of the steppe zone. As you move to the more eastern regions of the European territory of Russia, its crops are found in the forest-steppe zone with better moisture conditions. Significant sizes of sunflower crops are located in the western steppe Ciscaucasia. Within Western Siberia, sunflower crops are found in the northwestern steppe foothills of the Altai, where the necessary heat reserves are combined with more favorable moisture conditions.

Gross sunflower harvest by economic region

Sugar beet needs significant reserves of heat, has an extended vegetation period, is demanding on moisture, a large number of sunny days, which causes an increase in the sugar content of root crops. It is demanding on soil fertility, their moisture capacity.

The placement of this culture is also influenced by economic factors: the availability of labor resources, the economic and transport-geographical position of the area, given the high labor intensity and its low transportability.

The main area of ​​sugar beet cultivation is confined to the western and central regions of the forest-steppe, partly steppe zones, where there are favorable conditions for heat and moisture supply in combination with fertile chernozem soils, and numerous sugar factories are also located. These areas are characterized by a high density rural population, well-developed network of roads and railways.

The easternmost centers of sugar beet cultivation in Russia are confined to the steppe foothills of the Altai with more favorable combinations of heat and moisture supply, where early varieties of sugar beet are cultivated.

Tobacco- heat-loving crop, demanding on moisture and nutrient content in soils. Tobacco cultivation is labor intensive. Tobacco crops are confined to the greatest extent to the foothill-mountain regions of the North Caucasus, where leached soils predominate.

Gross harvest (Average for the year in 1991-1993)

Ecological features potatoes allow it to be cultivated over vast areas. However, the territories of the forest and forest-steppe zones are more favorable for its cultivation, especially in their western and central regions with a mild climate and better moisture conditions. The placement of potatoes as a highly labour-intensive crop is also influenced by economic factors, in particular greater or lesser labor resources.

Gross potato harvest 1998.

Fruit growing and viticulture

Fruit crops. Includes a large group of trees and shrubs. In the gardens of our country, pome (apple, pear, etc.) and stone fruit crops (cherries, plums, apricots, etc.) are of the greatest importance, accounting for about 9/10 of the area of ​​all fruit plantations.

Viticulture. The culture of grapes is well adapted to the conditions of a moderately warm and subtropical climate. Features of the location of viticulture due to the fact that this crop is successfully cultivated on light, cartilaginous, gravelly, well-warmed and aerated soils on the slopes of hills and mountains. Thanks to a well-developed, deeply penetrating root system on skeletal soils, the vine is able to extract water from great depths. Therefore, for the cultivation of field and other fruit crops.

Melon growing. In the composition of melons cultivated in Russia, the most important are watermelons and melons, used for food mainly in fresh form.

The ecological features of the main gourds determine their placement in areas with a long frost-free period, where hot, sunny weather prevails: in the arid regions of the Lower Volga region.

vegetable growing includes big set cultivated plants. All of them are demanding on the conditions of moisture, on the content of nutrients in the soil. Therefore, vegetable crops are cultivated with the use of high doses of organic and mineral fertilizers as part of special crop rotations, which are most often assigned to lowered, rich in organic matter and moistened land massifs, primarily along river valleys, in lake basins, on reclaimed massifs where there are water sources. for irrigation application.

The main areas of highly developed vegetable growing and vegetable canning industry are located in the lower reaches of the Volga, in the North Caucasus.

Gross harvest thousand tons

Livestock geography

Animal husbandry in Russia has traditionally been based on fodder obtained from natural fodder lands - pastures, where cattle grazed during the grazing (i.e., snowless) period, and hayfields, on which hay was harvested for the winter in the summer (and the "hay type of winter feeding" prevailed) .

However, the increase in the number of livestock made it impossible to provide them with fodder only at the expense of hayfields and pastures. This led to the need to produce fodder on arable land, so a significant share of crop production (not only fodder crops, but also grains) goes to feed livestock.

A feature of the development of animal husbandry in the last two decades has been the construction of large livestock complexes. As a result, the number of livestock, not provided with local fodder, grew. Happening within a few recent years livestock reduction produces livestock in accordance with its Russian fodder base.

Cattle breeding has different directions - dairy, milk and meat, meat - depending on the composition of the food supply and animal breeds. For dairy cattle, green pastures with forbs are most suitable, and in the composition of stall feeds, the necessary juicy and roughage in combination with concentrated ones. More arid pastures are also suitable for beef cattle, and succulent pastures may be absent in the composition of stall feed. Therefore, dairy cattle breeding is widespread in a more humid forest zone, and meat cattle breeding in the steppe and dry steppe.

Number of cattle in Russia

Pig breeding, based on field fodder, most common in highly developed agricultural areas with the production of corn, sugar beet, sunflower. Therefore, the highest concentration of pig breeding in Russia is in the Krasnodar Territory, and in the more northern regions it is decreasing. In addition, pig breeding is also developed in the vicinity of large cities, where it uses imported concentrated feed.

Number of pigs by economic region, 1998, thousand heads

Sheep breeding oriented mainly to pasture forage in the steppe and dry steppe zone. Their greatest concentration is in the eastern part of the North Caucasus, in the Trans-Volga region, the steppe part of the Chita region, where a slight snow cover makes it possible to keep sheep all year round on pasture. Sheep breeding is characterized by seasonal herd movements. The most valuable product of sheep breeding is wool.

Sheep and goat population by economic region, 1998

Agricultural production in the Kursk region (1999)

The impact of agro-industrial complex on the natural environment.

The peculiarity of the agro-industrial complex is the predominance of areal impacts on the environment. Pollution of the natural environment occurs due to the violation of the technology of applying fertilizers and pesticides. As a result, harmful substances enter groundwater and surface waters and accumulate in soils. The deterioration of the quality of agricultural land is a consequence of their ill-conceived use. Too heavy tractors compact the soil, intensive plowing destroys its structure and contributes to erosion. Improper alternation of crops and non-compliance with agrotechnical standards leads to the depletion of soil fertility. The excess of livestock leads to the degradation of the grass cover and sometimes leads to anthropogenic desertification.

Ways to solve these problems are primarily related to the observance of the technology of agricultural work.

For this, agricultural workers must be highly qualified and, most importantly, strictly observe technological discipline.

Main producers of agricultural products and cargo flows

Wheat is grown in almost 70 countries, but the majority of its gross harvest comes from just a few countries. In the USA, Canada, Australia, China, France, as well as in Russia, Ukraine, the world's main granaries - specialized areas of wheat farming - were formed. The main cargo flows pass by sea: From North America - to Europe, Western Asia, Brazil, Japan and China, from Australia - to China and South-West Asia, from Argentina - to Brazil and Europe.

Rice cultivated in almost a hundred countries. 9/10 of its world collection falls on the "rice" countries of Asia. In the world, 2/3 of all irrigated areas are under rice. The main cargo flows: from Southeast Asia and China to Europe, Equatorial Africa, Indonesia, Japan and Korea, From the USA to Europe and Japan.

Corn. The main producers of corn are the USA, China and Brazil.

Potato. The first places in the world in the collection of potatoes are occupied by China, Russia, the USA and Poland.

Main producing countries sugar cane are Brazil, India and Cuba. The main cargo flows are from Brazil to the USA and Europe, from Cuba and Australia to Europe, Japan and Southwest Asia.

Leaders in livestock cattle are India, Brazil, China, USA and Argentina. Nearly half of the world's livestock pigs in Asia, especially in China. Sheep breeding(more than 1 billion heads) of the meat-and-wool direction is typical for areas with sufficient moisture and a relatively mild climate, fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced direction - for more arid regions. The leader in the number of sheep is Australia.

What direction of study to choose? What sector of the economy to work in? What is happening today in Russian agriculture? How promising is it to work in the agricultural sector? What competencies need to be developed by future agricultural specialists?

While the country is harvesting, and the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and ordinary gardeners are worried about its quantity and quality, we will talk about agricultural professions.

What is agriculture

Agriculture- a branch of the country's economy that provides the population with food (food, food). Agriculture closely interacts with other industries: it provides the textile industry with raw materials (flax for fabrics and animal skins for leather production), uses the achievements of biochemistry ( mineral fertilizers and pesticides) and engineering products (tractors). All industries that are involved in the production, processing and delivery of agricultural products to the consumer are usually combined under the concept agro-industrial complex.

Agriculture in Russia

For our country, the agricultural sector plays an important role. Due to the vast territory and climatic differences between regions, the country can fully provide itself with food with the greatest possible variety and, moreover, develop exports. In the south of Russia, cereals, tea, fruits are grown, in the north, animal husbandry is successfully developing. For 10 years, Russia has increased the export of agricultural products by 6 times. Russia has 10% of all arable land in the world.
Interesting: Russia ranks first in the world in the export of wheat, rye, oats, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, and buckwheat. And we are also leaders in the production of currants and raspberries :)

The Future of Agriculture

Agriculture belongs to the most important and ancient industries. Agricultural professions will always be in demand, and the pressure on agriculture is constantly growing, because the world's population is increasing by 85-90 million people annually. However, in developed countries ah, there is a noticeable trend towards increasing the efficiency of agriculture and reducing the number of people employed in agriculture. In 2015, 4.1 million people were employed in agriculture in Russia (5% of the total working population of the country). But by 2030, it is planned to reduce the number of agricultural workers to 3 million people while increasing the volume of agricultural products.

To feed the entire planet, global agriculture has to change rapidly. To increase labor efficiency, "agbots" are already being used - agricultural robots that can water plants, apply fertilizers, control the state of soil and air, and harvest crops. In the future, new plant crops will appear, more and more products will become genetically modified to increase productivity and resistance to external factors. Agriculture will green the cities: gardens and experimental farms already exist on many rooftops in the city. By 2027, vertical multi-story farms will become familiar in megacities, in which they will grow cereals, fruits and vegetables for the city.

✔ Operator of automated agricultural machinery (remotely controls agbots)
✔ GMO agronomist (growing genetically modified crops)
✔ City farmer (grows plants and breeds animals within the city, on agro-skyscrapers)
✔ Agronomist-economist (establishes the production of competitive and profitable agricultural products)

How to develop in agriculture

Agriculture- This is a huge area for self-realization. Do you want to become a breeder or, start with biology.

1. At school, pay more attention to biology, physics and chemistry.
2. Grow plants at home and in the country, keep annual observations.
3. Read veterinarian James Harriot's inspiring book, Of All Creatures Great and Small.
4. Attend biological circles (Botanical Circle of Moscow State University, Circle of the Young Biologist of the Zoo, Biology Laboratory of the Polytechnic Museum, etc.).
5. Go on hikes and expeditions with clubs or with your family. Study nature not only from books, but also in practice.
6. Participate in an outreach program. Waiting for you under the guidance of real, and.

RUDN University
Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology named after K.I. Scriabin

If you want to develop new engineering solutions in agriculture, create robots and huge harvesters, then choose engineering and technological direction:

1. Choose profile mathematics and physics as the OGE / USE.
2. Attend classes on robotics and 3D modeling. In the classroom, you can gain knowledge of technology, experience in project work and create your first robots.
3. Attend exhibitions of robots and new technologies, for example: "Robostation" at VDNH, Robonoch in Skolkovo, "Agroprodmash" at Expocentre.
4. Come visit us at. You will learn how to assemble and disassemble solar panels, arrange a robot battle and figure out how the neurohelmet works.

RGAU-MSHA them. K.A. Timiryazev
National Research Technological University "MISiS"
Moscow Polytechnic University
Mytishchi branch of Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman (National Research University)

Working in agriculture is hard physical labor and irregular working hours. On the other hand, you will always feel the benefits of the work done and enjoy the surrounding nature. And no sedentary work in the office!

If you want to know if a career in agriculture is right for you, take a look at our free test Natural Science Profile. It will help you evaluate your opportunities in the professions of the agricultural industry.

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Agriculture is a way of life for most of the population. Its main function is food production. Since not a single person can live without food, this industry is developing very successfully, thanks to which it is the basis of the agricultural region.

A significant part of agricultural production passes to consumers after being subjected to industrial processing. Agriculture is a source of raw materials, both for food and for. The agrarian region is also developing due to the fact that new areas of consumption of agricultural products are emerging. This is especially true for those products that are rich in carbohydrates. With its help, ethanol is produced, which is associated with an increase in the octane number of gasoline.

Modern agriculture is widely interconnected with other industrial sectors, so it can be said with confidence that the agrarian area is based on successful farming.

Features of the development of agriculture

The success of the development of agriculture largely depends on scientific and technological progress. The process of industrialization of agriculture includes several stages, each of which is based on new technologies that not only facilitate the work of people, but also increase production.

The natural factor, which includes land resources, soil fertility and agroclimatic resources. Natural conditions form not only agricultural areas, but also the main trade flows of goods.

Types of agricultural production

There are two main types of agricultural production that determine the prosperity of the agricultural region. The first type is typical for developing countries. It has a variety of economic structures. Both subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, which is focused on meeting the needs of the population, has become widespread in such countries. However, a highly specialized market economy is also developing, the goods of which enter the world markets.

The second type is typical for economically developed countries. It is based on a high level of intensification of production, its chemicalization and mechanization, as well as on the use of modern technologies cattle breeding and agriculture. Thus, we can conclude that the agricultural region provides a decent standard of living for the population in all countries. different ways which are based on successful farming.

(location geography)

Agriculture is the second leading branch of material production. It includes crop production and animal husbandry. Around the world, they employ about 1.1 billion people.

crop production.

The basis of it is grain farming. Approximately half of the world's area is occupied by crops. Grain, along with potatoes, is the main food resource of mankind. It serves as a raw material for many industries - flour, cereals, alcohol, feed. Of the grain crops, wheat, rice, and corn are of paramount importance in the world. N.N. established that the centers of origin of wheat are in and. From there it spread throughout the world. The main wheat belt stretches across the Northern Hemisphere. Wheat is grown in more than 70 countries of the world, but its predominant part is in Russia,. Here the main granaries of the world were formed. Wheat occupies a major place in the structure of Canada's exports (about 20% of world exports).

In addition to cereals, oilseeds, sugar-bearing, vegetable, and fruit crops are also widely used by humans. In the collection of soybeans, the United States occupies the first place in the world (more than 1/2 of world production), peanuts - India, olives -.

The most common of the tuber crops is potatoes, whose homeland is. The first place in the world in the collection of potatoes is occupied by China, followed by China.

Among sugar-bearing plants, sugar cane (60% of production) and sugar beet are the most important. Most sugar cane is grown in its homeland - in America, and sugar beets - in Ukraine, Russia, Western Europe and in.

Of the tonic cultures, tea (tropics and subtropics) and coffee (tropics) are the most common. China is the birthplace of tea. Today, 4/5 of the world collection of this product is given by countries such as India, China,. The birthplace of coffee is, but today 2/3 of the world collection is given by countries (,).

Among non-food crops, fibrous crops are of the greatest importance, of which cotton is of great value. The first place in its collection is occupied by the countries of Asia. Flax distribution areas are limited. Almost 3/4 of the world production of this product falls on Russia and.

animal husbandry.

It is distributed almost everywhere. Geography is primarily determined by the distribution of livestock.