Unit Title 2 Geography and Ag Trade
Time needed to complete unit 60-90 Minutes
Why is this important to know?
It is important to understand why certain countries are traders and the why and the what of their imports and exports.
Objectives/Purpose
Provide an example of how trade could work between three countries (Brazil, China, and USA). Provide information on imports and exports of several commodities and demonstrate how one commodity impacts another.
How to use this information
The concept behind this unit is to review the three country fact sheets, weather, population and land use maps to gain an understanding of what influences a country’s competitive advantage in trade and factors that influences what commodities a country raises. Review the fact sheet overviews (DGT 7.2.11 Act FS overviews.ppt) for the three countries. Then look at the three countries and compare the differences between the countries. Next look at “Geography.ppt” and review the key points to look for. Then review the fourteen files that illustrate some of the differences and similarities. Click on “Map Comments” to review some of the highlights. The next activity is to look at where course grains (corn), wheat and sugar come from and are exported to. Click on “Export and Import.ppt” slowly to see where there commodities are exported from and shipped to. Then you will want to see how well you can apply several of these concepts by following through the “Everything Depends.ppt” where you will see how trading impacts various trading partners within a group of countries. Next review the “trade terms.doc” which will explain how trade is impacted using some of the trade vocabulary terms. Next take three minutes to view “futurist” video that is an excerpt from a video that gives the viewpoint of four people giving their view of what global agricultural trade might look like in the future. Use as self-study or with groups.
Supporting Materials
Activity 1: Open the “FactSheetSummary.ppt” file and review
Then open the following three Fact Sheets and review
BrazilFactSheetRB.pdf,
ChinaFactSheetRB.pdf,and
USFactSheetRB.pdf”.
Activity 2: Open file “Geography.ppt” and review.
Then review the 12 “gif” files that show maps of the countries
Open “Map comments.doc” and review a few highlights.
Activity 3: The Boat activity on coarse grains (corn), soybeans, wheat, and sugar.
Open “ExportandImport.ppt” and review where the commodities are exported from and imported to.
Activity 4: Open “Everything Depends1.ppt” and go through the questions and answers.
Activity 5: Review the file “Tradeterms.doc”.
Activity 6: View the abbreviated video “futurist”.
References:
The materials developed in this unit are the team effort of Jon L. Anderson, Iowa State University Communication Specialist, Craig Chase, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Field Specialist, Kelvin Leibold, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Field Specialist, Jean McGuire, Iowa State University Extension Communication Specialist, and David Pavlik, Iowa State University Extension Communication Manager.