“Pastoralism” is the name given to nomadic animal husbandry. A pastoral society is one that wanders in search of food or to follow its flock. Pastoralism is most commonly practiced in barren mountainous or arid terrains, particularly in Africa, Asia, and some parts of South America.

The practice of “pastoralism,” or nomadic animal husbandry, is decreasing worldwide. It was once a widely practiced means of sustaining human populations, but has been replaced throughout most of the world by more refined and sustainable agricultural practices. It is still practiced in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America, but its influence continues to wane as agricultural technology continues to advance.

“Transhumance” refers to the movement of livestock from one region to another to take advantage of different seasons. It is distinct from “pastoralism” because “pastoralism” involves following the herd, rather than directing it. The movement of livestock from valleys in the winter to mountainous regions in the summer is the classic example of “transhumance.”

The term “ranching,” particularly in reference to American agriculture refers to a type of commercial farming in which the livestock (usually cattle) is allowed to roam over an established area. The fact that the animals roam, but the farmers remain settled, separates this term from “pastoralism.”

“The Chisholm Trail” was a path taken by cowboys and ranchers in Texas during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It involved the transportation of cattle from the ranches of Texas up to the rail yards of Kansas from where the cattle could be shipped to the urban centers of the East Coast.

Due to rising concerns about overfishing and the ability to control the supply of fish, aquaculture has become the main source of fish and shellfish in the world. Aquaculture typically happens in manmade ponds or sections of rivers and seas that are bracketed off to keep the fish under control. Aquaculture is now one of the largest sectors of agriculture in most advanced nations.

A salmon farm in Scotland and a kelp farm in southern California are two examples of the raising of fish and marine plants in controlled environments. This is called “aquaculture.”

“Aquaculture” is the name given to all farming and rearing of fish and marine plants that does not fall under the category of fishing. A salmon farm in which the salmon are reared and harvested in a controlled environment is an example of aquaculture.

The term used to describe a man-made system whereby water is spread from its natural source (such as a lake or river) over a much larger geographic range to aid in agricultural production is “irrigation.” The invention of “irrigation” has been fundamental the growth of human societies by ensuring that a community can farm enough food to support an ever-growing population. It was first developed roughly six thousand years ago in China and Mesopotamia.  

A “sawah” is an irrigated, or flooded, field used to grow rice. Sawahs are commonly found in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Rice is instrumental to sustaining the massive population of east and south Asia and much of it is grown in flooded fields in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.