Von Thunen's model of agricultural land use proposes a concentric model with six assumptions, including a single central market and uniform physical environment. The main concept is that land rent or value decreases as distance from the central market increases. Agricultural products that require intensive land use, have high transportation costs, or were in high demand would be located closest to the urban market to maximize profits. While the original model was simplistic, the concepts of transportation costs and land use intensity determining crop location based on proximity to markets remain relevant frameworks for understanding spatial patterns of agriculture.

1. Von Thunen’s Model ofVon Thunen’s Model of
AgriculturalAgricultural
Land UseLand Use

2.  The first locationThe first location
theorytheory
 A concentricA concentric
modelmodel

3. Contains six assumptionsContains six assumptions
1.1. There isThere is only one market availableonly one market available, self-, self-
sufficient with no outside influence.sufficient with no outside influence.
2.2. AllAll farmers are market orientedfarmers are market oriented, producing, producing
goods for sale. (Not subsistence.)goods for sale. (Not subsistence.)
3.3. TheThe physical environment is uniformphysical environment is uniform; there are; there are
no rivers or mountains.no rivers or mountains.
4.4. All points at equal distancesAll points at equal distances from the marketfrom the market
have equal access to the market.have equal access to the market.
5.5. All farmers act toAll farmers act to maximize profitsmaximize profits..
6.6. TheThe dietary preferencesdietary preferences of the population areof the population are
those ofthose of Germanic EuropeansGermanic Europeans..

4. Land rentLand rent
 The main concept is land rent or land value,The main concept is land rent or land value,
which willwhich will decreasedecrease as one gets farther awayas one gets farther away
from central markets.from central markets.
 Rent is highest in the closest proximity toRent is highest in the closest proximity to
urban markets. (urban markets. (Bid-Rent TheoryBid-Rent Theory))
 Thus, agricultural products that have intensiveThus, agricultural products that have intensive
land use, have high transportation costs and wereland use, have high transportation costs and were
in great demand would be located close to urbanin great demand would be located close to urban
markets.markets.

5. Major concepts:Major concepts:
 Distance from the cityDistance from the city
 Preservation of foodPreservation of food
 Amount of spaceAmount of space

6. Why?Why?
 Some products spoiled more quickly,Some products spoiled more quickly,
needed more sensitive transportation, orneeded more sensitive transportation, or
generate higher prices at marketgenerate higher prices at market
 These products mean the farmer canThese products mean the farmer can
afford higher land rent.afford higher land rent.

7. It doesn’t always look theIt doesn’t always look the
same:same:

8. Inference of Von Thunen’s Model to Continental United
States
Vegetables
Dairy
Cotton and
Tobacco
Corn and
Soybeans
Wheat
Beef Cattle
and Sheep
Forest
Corn and
Soybeans
Wheat
Beef Cattle
and Sheep
Cotton and
Tobacco
Forest
Specialty
Crops
Specialty
Crops
Dairy
Vegetables
Assumptions
1. New York City the only market
2. Crops ranked by rent paying ability
3. No terrain or climatic variation
Assumptions
1. New York City the only market
2. Crops ranked by rent paying ability
3. No terrain variation
4. Climatic variation consideredA B

9. Inference of Von Thunen’s Model to Continental United
States
Vegetables
Dairy
Cotton and
Tobacco
Corn and
Soybeans
Wheat
Beef Cattle
and Sheep
Forest
Corn and
Soybeans
Wheat
Beef Cattle
and Sheep
Cotton and
Tobacco
Forest
Specialty
Crops
Specialty
Crops
Dairy
Vegetables
Assumptions
1. New York City the only market
2. Crops ranked by rent paying ability
3. No terrain or climatic variation
Assumptions
1. New York City the only market
2. Crops ranked by rent paying ability
3. No terrain variation
4. Climatic variation consideredA B