Von Thunen's model of agricultural land use proposes that the type of agriculture at a given distance from the central market will depend on transportation costs and how perishable the crop is. Higher value crops that are perishable or expensive to transport, like dairy and vegetables, will be grown closest to the market. Lower value crops that can withstand longer transport times, like grains and ranching, will be farther from the market. The model makes simplifying assumptions about uniform land quality and a single central market to demonstrate this concept. It has been applied to predict agricultural patterns on national scales but modifications are needed to account for additional factors like terrain, climate, and multiple urban markets.

1. Von Thunen’s Model
of Agricultural
Land Use

2. 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.

3. Bid-Rent Theory
 Hard concept!!
 The further you are from the “best
location” the more the rent is
 So, beach front hotels cost more than hotels
2 blocks from the beach
 Retail locations close to Hanes Mall are
more expensive
 Distribution centers close to the airport have
higher rent

4. Von Thunen
Model:
 The first
location theory
- 1826
 A concentric
model – same
center with
larger
diameter
circles

5. 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.

6. Contains six assumptions
By definition – models are simplified to illustrate a
concept. Most models make assume certain
factors to be uniform.
1. There is only one market available – which
is the city (defined as center of trade)
2. All farmers are market oriented – selling
their goods in the one market
3. The physical environment is uniform – no
rivers or mountains to disrupt trade. Later is a
drawing showing the effect of rivers and a 2nd
market

7. Contains six assumptions
By definition – models are simplified to illustrate a
concept. Most models make assume certain
factors to be uniform.
4. All points at equal distances to make
condition equal for everyone
5. All farmers act to maximize profits. – no
morals or values difference
6. The dietary preferences of the population
are those of Germanic Europeans. – von
Thunen was German. The model doesn’t account
for non-German diets or customs

8. Major concepts:
 Distance from the city
 Think Bid-rent and
transportation cost
 Preservation of food
 Can the crop be
transported with spoiling
 Amount of space
 Bid-rent – closer is more
expensive

9. 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. 1826
– wood is needed constantly for warmth and
cooking
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.

10. 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.

11.  How does relative location affect land-use
patterns
Von Thunen
Effect Explanation
Intensive land – use near market High Profit needed to pay rent
Wood and perishable / fragile products
near market
High (Frequent) transportation to nearby
market
Extensive agriculture (grain / grazing
land) at the periphery
Low land rent or low transportation costs

12. Reasons
 Profitable options decrease with
distance from the market
 Rent differences reflects different
values of distance
 Production Costs + Transportation
Costs = economic margin for a crop
 Greater the transport cost the less rent
a farmer can afford

13. Contemporary Variables
 More efficient transportation
 Transportation cost no longer
proportional to costs
 Firewood not a factor for heating
 Technology has reduced perish-
ability refrigeration

14. It doesn’t always look the same:
Modifications
to the model
to account
for a
physical
disruption or
second
market
center

15. 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 considered
A B
Assume: NY is the only market – The above is 2 examples of how the US
would satisfy the von Thunen model on the national scale.

16. 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 considered
A B
Compare the national von
Thunen model to the Whittlesey
agricultural regions

17. How would this look for
Europe?
 If London was the only market, what
crops would be grown in which
countries? – see Whittlesey’s regions on
the next slide