Von Thunen’s Model of
Agricultural
Land Use
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APHG tends to roll FRQ’s
Into multiple choice questions
The Von Thünen Model
 The Von Thünen
model of agricultural
land use was created
by German farmer
and amateur
economist J.H. Von
Thünen.
 His model was
created before
industrialization
 The Von Thünen model
is an excellent
illustration of the
balance between land
cost and transportation
 The farmers of the Isolated
State balance the
cost of transportation, land,
and profit
and produce the most costeffective product for market.
costs.
 
As one gets
closer to a city,
the price of land
increases.

In the real world, things
don't happen as they would in a
model.
In this ‘Isolated State’ Von Thünen
hypothesized that the following pattern would
develop:

Four rings of
agricultural activity
surrounding the city.
 o
1. Dairying and
intensive farming occur
in the ring closest to the
city.
 Since vegetables, fruit, milk and
other dairy products must get to
market quickly, they would be
produced close to the city in the
‘milkshed’ area (remember, we
don't have refrigerated oxcarts!)

2. Timber and
firewood would be
produced for fuel and
building materials in the
second zone.
 o
Before industrialization (and
coal power), wood was a very
important fuel for heating and
cooking. Wood is very heavy and
difficult to transport so it is located
as close to the city as possible.

3. The third zone consists of
extensive fields crops such as grains
for bread.
Since grains last longer
than dairy products and are
much lighter than fuel,
reducing transport costs, they
can be located further from the
city.
 o
 
4. Ranching is
located in the final ring
surrounding the central
city.
 o
Animals can be raised
far from the city because they
are self-transporting. Animals
can walk to the central city for
sale or for butchering.

5. Beyond the
fourth ring lies the
unoccupied
wilderness,
(hinterland) which is too
great a distance from the
central city for any type of
agricultural product.
Factors influencing location of Agriculture
• Climate and natural environment
Urban market
• Culture
• Economic factors
High transportation cost items
(vegetables, eggs, dairy, flowers)
Intensive land use – high land rent
Medium transportation cost items
(corn, soybeans, mixed farming, logging)
More extensive land use – medium rent
Lowest transportation cost items
(wheat, livestock ranching)
Most extensive land use – lowest land rent
Simplified von Thünen model of agricultural land use (1826)
Contains six assumptions
1.
There is only one market available, self-sufficient
with no outside influence.
2.
All farmers are market oriented, producing goods
for sale. (Not subsistence.)
3.
The physical environment is uniform; there are no
rivers or mountains.
4.
All points at equal distances from the market have
equal access to the market.
5.
All farmers act to maximize profits.
6.
The dietary preferences of the population are those
of Germanic Europeans.
Land rent
 The main concept is land rent or land value, which will
decrease as one gets farther away from central
markets.
 Rent is highest in the closest proximity to urban
markets. (Bid-Rent Theory)
 Thus, agricultural products that have intensive land use,
have high transportation costs and were in great demand
would be located close to urban markets.
Major concepts:
 Distance from the city
 Preservation of food
 Amount of space
So……….
1.
Dairying and gardening of fruits and vegetables
would be closer to the urban market while…
2.
Timber and firewood for fuel and building
materials would be in the second zone.
3.
Mixed farming, commercial grain and orchards
and
4.
Extensive cattle ranching would be located
farther away. Transportation is cheap: the
animals can walk to the city for butchering.
Why?
 Some products spoiled more quickly, needed more
sensitive transportation, or generate higher prices at
market
 These products mean the farmer can afford higher
land rent.
It does not always look the same:
Inference of Von Thunen’s Model to Continental United
States
Forest
Wheat
Dairy
Forest
Wheat
Beef Cattle
and Sheep
Corn and
Soybeans
Vegetables
Beef Cattle
and Sheep
Specialty
Crops
Cotton and
Tobacco
Dairy
Vegetables
Corn and
Soybeans
Cotton and
Tobacco
Assumptions
1. New York City the only market
2. Crops ranked by rent paying ability
3. No terrain or climatic variation
A
Assumptions
1. New York City the only market
2. Crops ranked by rent paying ability
3. No terrain variation
4. Climatic variation considered
Specialty
Crops
B
NOW….
Can you answer the FRQ???