Class XIV international seminar trip Reports February 16-March 1, 2010

The views and opinions expressed by contributors to this publication are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University, and/or any affiliated center, department, group, individual, institution, organization, section, or unit. Furthermore, all opinions expressed in this publication should not be considered absolute fact or necessarily representative of most people’s opinions.

Scott Neufeld “Spain and Morocco’s Geography and Climate” page 2

Dana Bessinger “Pre-Tour Information” page 5

Allen Entz “Morocco” page 7

Jackie Roberts “Spain and Morocco’s Geography and Climate” page 9
Agriculture of Spain/Morocco page 11

Brent Thompson “Agriculture Economics of Spain and Morocco” page 12

Burton Harmon “Real Estate in Spain and Morocco” page 15

Scott Sproul “Livestock Production in Spain and Morocco” page 17

Tim Taylor “Grain Crop of Spain and Morocco” page 20

Charles Rohla “Horticulture Crops of Spain and Morocco” page 23

John Cothren “Spain’s Government” page 27

Annette Riherd “Morocco’s Government” page 30

Mary Steichen “Spain and Morocco’s Government” page 32

Carol Cowan “The People, The Heritage, Entertainment and Architecture of Spain and Morocco” page 37

Rose Bonjour “Family Structure, Life and Ordering Dinner in Spain and Morocco” page 42

Kent Switzer “Religion and Cultural Priorities” page 45

Chad Selman “Business Etiquette” page 48
Health and Education in Spain/Morocco page 49

Lisa Blubaugh “Health and Education in Spain and Morocco” page 50

Wesley Crain “Education and Health in Morocco” page 52
Spain/Morocco’s Economics and as Global Competitors page 55

Michael Marlow “Overview of Spanish and Moroccan Ag Trade and Trade Agreements

Ryan Luter “Monetary Policy and Banking in Spain and Morocco” page 58

Daniel Skipper “Economic Base, Industry and Workforce of Spain and Morocco” page 61

David McMullen “Imports, Exports, US Compliance and Doing Business in Spain and

Morocco” page 63

Daniel Skipper “Tourist Trade: Suggestions for Spending Money in Spain and Morocco”

Gary Kafer “Spain and Morocco Transportation and Communication” page 68

Brandon Winters “Transportation and Communication in Spain and Morocco” page 70

Jared Cullison “Infrastructure of Spain” page 71

John Leonard “Current Events of Spain and Morocco” page 74

Mechelle Hampton “Current Events of Spain and Morocco” page 77

SPAIN AND MOROCCO’S GEOGRAPHY/CLIMATE AND TRIP PREPARTION
Submissions by:

SCOTT NEUFELD

DANA BESSINGER

ALLEN ENTZ

JACKIE ROBERTS


Spain’s/Morocco’s Geography/Climate - Trip Preparation

Scott Neufeld
As we divided up the assignment into segments to report, my written document will include the topics of the Spain’s geography, topography, landscape, natural resources, wildlife, water and soil, environment, land use, and changes that are happening in the country today with these areas.

Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula and includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. It is bordered on the west by Portugal, to the northeast by France, the Mediterranean Sea to the east and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest and southwest. The Canary Islands are a group of 13 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of African mainland. They are mostly rugged mountains with some fertile valleys. Spain’s highest mountain, Pico de Teide, which reaches 12,198 feet is on the island of Tenerife. The Balearic Islands are a picturesque group and also combine steep mountains with rolling, fertile ranges in the Mediterranean Sea. Ceuta and Melilla are also parts of Spain but are located on the northern tip of Morocco. The country of Spain is roughly the size of Texas minus the panhandle in land mass and has a population of 45.6 million people. ¹

The country is divided into several different geographical regions. The heartland is the Meseta, which is a broad central plateau at approximately ½ mile above sea level. This area is mostly used for the cattle ranching and grain production in Spain. The city of Madrid, the Spain’s Capital city, is found in this central region. In the country’s northeastern region lies the broad valley of the Ebro River, the mountainous region of Catalonia, and the hilly coastal plain of Valencia. Large areas of this region are covered with pasture for grazing and much of it is covered with forest area as well. The Pyrenees Mountain range almost serves as a border between Spain and France. To the northwest is the Cantabrian Mountains which are rugged, heavily forested, with interspersed tall peaks. In the southern region are the irrigated lands of the valley of the Guadalquivir River which are rich in citrus and orchard production. In this area we will also find miles of olive trees in the poorer soils that are not irrigated as well as some extensive grazing lands dotted with stone oak trees. To the south and southwest is Andalucia with Sevilla as it’s largest city. To the south of the river valley are the snowcapped Sierra Nevada. The southern portion of the country is an extension of the Sahara desert of which areas have been made extremely productive by the greenhouse plasticulture. The region of Andalucia is where we will spend most of our time touring, viewing the agriculture in the Mediterranean Valley growing region. This region includes the cities of Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Motril where we will be stopping. From Cordoba we will board the AVE and head northward to Madrid. The Levante is on the Mediterranean coastal belt with Valencia as its chief city. The Balearic Islands attract millions of visitors and retirees especially from northern Europe.

The official language in Spain is Castilian Spanish but in the various regions of the country other dialects are spoken including Catalan, Galician, and Basque. Many will be able to speak enough English to be able to communicate adequately. The religion is predominately Roman Catholic. The currency is the euro of the EU.

Natural Resources in Spain are plentiful with coal mining accounting for a significant proportion of the total mineral production. Other minerals include iron, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, uranium, mercury and gold. European Union regulations have significantly changed mining in Spain recently. They do not have much natural gas potential as we are familiar with in Oklahoma but they do rely heavily on hydroelectric power provided by many of the northern rivers in Spain. In the early 2000’s Spain became the European Union’s leader in promoting renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and thermoelectric plants. Many wind farms like we see here in the U.S. are beginning to pop up around the mountain tops of Spain along with solar panels being used as a growing source of renewable power. We were able to witness some of Spain’s initiative in building new dams to reservoir their water resources to secure future water needs. We were able to hear and visit enough to know that water is still the top priority here and the battles over rights and usage are common there also.

Land use in Spain is diverse with about a third of it being arable or farmable land. Another third is considered forests and woodlands. Twenty-one percent is used in permanent pastures with the remaining 9 percent in permanent crops such as citrus, olive, and tree crops. Their irrigated land consists of 13.7 million acres.

Spain’s wildlife is diverse although influenced heavily by their close proximity to Africa. This has caused many of their wildlife species to be more African than native to Spain. The European wolf and the brown bear are found in the scarce wild areas of the northeast. The Barbary ape is indigenous but survives under protection at Gibraltar. The wild boar, wild goat(ibex), and red and fallow deer are common. More than half of the bird species of Europe are found in Coto Donana National Park at the mouth of the Guadalquivir and the Spanish imperial eagle, the eagle owl, the buzzard and several varieties of pheasant are native to the high Pyrenees. Desert locusts have been known to invade southern Spain from North Africa. The country’s waters are diverse as well especially where the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters mix. Species include the red mullet, mackerel, tuna, octopus, swordfish, pilchard and anchovy. Bottom dwelling species such as hake and whiting are also plentiful. Striped dolphin and the long finned whale inhabit the waters off southeastern Spain and the bottlenose dolphin is found off the Ebro delta. Over fishing has been a problem and tended to change the balance of the species.

In Spain there are five major soil types. Alluvial soils are found in the major valleys and coastal plains which are widely distributed. Mountain soils are more poorly developed. Brown forest soils are restricted to humid Galicia and Cantabria areas while acidic southern brown soils are prevalent on the crystalline rocks of the western Meseta which lead to a more limited diversity of crops. Gray, brown, or chestnut soils are prevalent in the eastern Meseta and the eastern seaboard. Saline soils are found in the Ebro Basin and coastal lowlands. Calcretes are a hardened calcium carbonate which are developed in the arid regions of the east.²

Soil erosion is a major problem in Spain and has created extensive badlands, reduced soil cover, downstream alluviation and more recently the silting of dams and irrigation works. This is most prevalent in the high areas of the central plateau and southern and eastern parts of Spain. One of the main threats to modern Spain is desertification. This is defined as the impoverishment of arid, semiarid, and even some humid ecosystems caused by the joint impact of drought and human activity. It is estimated that nearly half of Spain is moderately or severely affected. The government has adopted policies of afforestation but some authorities believe that natural vegetation regrowth would yield more speedy and permanent results. As we visited we were able to witness some of the erosion issues facing them but also were able to see their several year drought being broken by beneficial rainfall in all of this region with dams filled to the brim and rivers flowing bank to bank. There was concern about the integrity of some of the new dams that had been constructed within the last ten years that had not been properly tested yet.

I read one article from the New York Times about the fact that Spain is running out of water. They believe in global warming as the cause along with poor land planning. Farmers are fighting developers over water rights. A province in southeastern Spain, Murcia, has witnessed changes over the past few decades. Land that once yielded wheat and barley watered only by rainfall has now converted to growing almonds. About ten years ago the almonds were converted to organic peaches and pears and most recently have been converted to figs and olives which are more resistant to drought and less sensitive to temperature swings. As you can see, they have their challenges as well dealing with climate and government issues.³

Our second report to the larger group consisted of a day by day agenda of our itinerary in Spain. Allen Entz and Jackie Roberts presented this part of the report and I interjected information about the individual hotel accommodations and amenities at each stop. Dana Bessinger presented the potential temperatures and weather we could anticipate at the various regions we will be visiting and the clothing choices as far as raingear, umbrellas, and warm jackets. I concluded the report with some parting thoughts about how we should strive to conduct ourselves as representatives of OALP and the greater Oklahoma and as Americans in a foreign country. I stressed to be aware of our surroundings and the personal humor and how that is perceived from others. Being helpful and courteous in the airports and shopping areas we will find ourselves in can help break the stereotype others will put on us. I also emphasized our need to follow the customs of the areas we will visit when it doesn’t compromise our own country’s values and standards. This was especially felt in our visit to Morocco as they served us with green tea and a small snack upon arrival at our host. We also felt the Muslim impact of this culture with the calls to prayer five times a day. I stressed that we want to have a good time but to be conscious of whom we represent and who is watching us at all times.
REFERENCES:

¹ Books, Time Life. LIBRARY OF NATIONS SPAIN. New York City: Time Life Books, 1987. Print.

² Topography - Spain - average." Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about countries of the world, United Nations, and World Leaders. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Spain-TOPOGRAPHY.html#ixzz0VMuVV1Sh
³Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground ." The New York Times [Europe] 3 June 2008: 1,2. Print
PRE-TOUR INFORMATION

DANA BESSINGER
1. Do NOT eat with your left hand.

2. Women cannot drink alcohol.

3. Men are the only ones that can drink alcohol in public.

4. Do not extend your hand to a man.

5. It is going to be cold.

6. It is going to be warm.

7. You need at least seven shots, including one for malaria.

8. All you need is a flu shot, if your tetanus is up-to-date.

9. You can get by with two pair of underwear.

10. You won’t need your OALP coat.

11. I’m taking my OALP coat.

12. All your money should be exchanged before we leave OKC and you better do it before January.

13. Getting Moroccan money in the USA is very difficult.

14. All I’d take would be a couple hundred dollars and a credit card.

15. Make sure all you money is new, crisp bills.
Facts, fiction, and important information regarding Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XIV’s international trip to Spain and Morocco have been running rampant for several months throughout the class. The truth and the answers are about to be discovered for ourselves as we embark on our International Seminar on February 15^th!
Our group, Group 1 was assigned the report on pre-tour information needed. We met as a group during Seminar X through southeast Oklahoma. We divided up the research, e-mailed info, graphs, charts, and photographs to Jackie and Allen to put together in a power point. Allen and Jackie were to report on Morocco, Scott and myself reported on Spain.
Each of us discovered information though various Internet sites to pass on to the group. We have also heard from speakers such as Barbara Charlet, an ODAFF employee and Dr. Sue Williams who travel worldwide. Dr. John Caddel and Dr. John Wagner who lived in Africa years ago. Each person had something to add to information we have already received, with a different spin on the information.
Information we presented to the group during Seminar XI included the geography, topography and landscape of Spain:

•Located on Iberian Peninsula

•Includes Balearic and Canary Islands

•Bordered by Portugal to west

•Bordered by France to NE

•Mediterranean Sea to East and SE

•Atlantic Ocean to NW and SW

•Population of 45.6 million

•Size of Texas, less the panhandle

•Country is organized into autonomous communities

Each having its own regional customs

3 have their own official language

Official language is Castilian Spanish

Christianity is the main religion, predominately Roman Catholic

The latitude of each of the cities in Spain was compared to favorite cities in Oklahoma. Madrid is on the same latitude as Central Park in New York City.
Other information passed on to the class included the important information needed to spend money and get beautiful.

•€0.67=$1 Euro to U.S. dollars

• 
  Regarding a Blow Dryer/Flat Iron/Electric Razor:
  
  • 
    Spain uses 220 volt, 50 cycles, AC for its electricity
    
  • 
    Travelers will need electrical converters to operate American appliances.
    
  • 
    A plug adapter is needed because the electrical plugs have a different configuration than those in the US.
    

Madrid is on of the major cities we will visit. Pretour information of Madrid included:

–Stately surroundings

–A city of majestic plazas, grand avenues, and the Retiro Park in style hotels and hip restaurants

–Spain's exalted artistic history covered in three great museums: Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia

–Wonderful walking city

–Official residence of Spain's royal family
Another major city we will visit includes •.Sevilla. The following are some expectation from that area:

• 
  Extravagant Moorish architecture of the Alcazar the Spanish royals' pad
  
• 
  Yearning rhythms of flamenco
  
• 
  The splendor of the Catedral de Sevilla, the world’s largest Gothic building
  
• 
  Exceptional Renaissance and medieval art in the equally impressive setting of the Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
  
• 
  In February be sure to bring an umbrella. Almost everybody carries an umbrella.
  

Other pre-tour information will be left to the traveler to discover. Our international trip to Spain and Morocco has been well planned and anticipated for some time. We are ready to discover if the statements at the beginning of this essay are fact or fiction!

Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east, Morocco boasts 1,140 miles of shoreline. The majority of Morocco’s land border is shared with Algeria to the east and the remainder being shared with Western Sahara to the south. Morocco is a close neighbor to Spain, separated by the 9 mile wide Strait of Gibraltar off the northern section of the country. Located in the Strait, the Rock of Gilbraltar stands 1,396 feet high. The Rock was transferred to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1713 after the War of the Spanish Succession. With a population of approximately 30,000, the Rock attracts many tourists each year for its wildlife and large network of underground tunnels. The land area of Morocco is 172,413 square miles, compared to 69,957 square miles in Oklahoma and is most comparable in size to the state of California. (Cia.gov)

When you think of natural resources in the state of Oklahoma, the obvious come to mind: Oil, natural gas (we are the third largest gas producing state in the nation), wind, wheat and cattle. The natural resources in Morocco are: phosphates, fish, citrus, manganese, lead, silver and copper. OALP Class XIV has gained firsthand knowledge of the affects of lead mining after our tour of what was once the largest lead mines in the world located in Picher, Oklahoma. (John Sparkman, Picher Housing Authority) With this knowledge and recent experience, it will be interesting to observe the environmental and health impact, if any, of lead mining in Morocco. With phosphate being an important natural resource of Morocco, fertilizer is obviously a product of the country. Morocco utilizes the power of cooperatives to benefit their citrus production, very similar to coops in the States.

With the diverse terrain and climate that Morocco has, the country naturally has an interesting lineup of wildlife. The Gregarious Barbary Macaque, also known as the Barbary Ape, is considered an Old World monkey and is found in Morocco. The tailless animal weighs between 10 and 25 pounds and ranges between 15 and 30 inches in length. They are a yellow brown color and their front limbs are longer than their hind limbs. The well known cheetah also calls Morocco home. This spotted cat is decreasing in numbers and is listed as a ‘vulnerable species’. Decrease in the availability of prey and overly-aggressive hunting has led to this classification. Though most visitors never encounter the renowned Egyptian Cobra, they are present in Morocco. Though the Egyptian Cobra does not go out of its way to make contact with humans, when threatened the snake does raise its’ hood. These snakes are more likely to be found in cultivated farmland, open fields or arid landscapes.

Despite most people having an impression of Morocco as being desert country, it is known for having a tremendous fishing territory in the Atlantic Ocean. The fishing in the area is not just limited to ocean waters, but also many rivers, streams and lakes. These waters not only attract tourists, but are also a way of life for many Moroccans. Some of the fish found in Morocco are similar to that of the United States and even Oklahoma. These fish include: trout, pike, perch, black bass, carp, barbells and eels.

The very same waters that produce such abundant and diverse type of fish have suffered greatly in the recent past. Over-fishing has contributed to this problem, but changes are being made. Authorities have implemented restrictions on fishermen, including permits and limits. The continuous battle of over-fishing is not just the result of Moroccan fishermen, but also from fishermen from nearby Spain. Another real and present threat to the countries fish supply is the contamination of the country’s inland water supplies. This contamination is caused by waste dumping, litter and lack of soil conservation efforts. However, in recent years, conservation practices along with educating the public have been implemented. These efforts are proving to be beneficial to Morocco’s important resource. (www.morocco.com)

Over the course of traveling across the state of Oklahoma, we have learned of many different types of tourism and the need for it. Our educational opportunities have ranged from the Thomas P. Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford, learning about the Peanut Shoppe in Durant or touring the Wild Horse Gallery and Art Center in Guymon and many places in between. These stops along our path have proved that there are development opportunities no matter the location. On a much larger scale, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI saw the need in 2001 to launch a tourism policy for the country, known as Vision 2010. The King recognized that his country had been underachieving in the tourism sector. With this observation, the King believed the combination of the country’s climate, culture and beautiful scenery would make Morocco a world traveler’s destination. Spain, the close neighbor to the north, is the third most visited country in the world by international tourist. France is first, followed by The United States then closely by Spain. (Eduardo Vandoorne, Malaga Guides) With Spain being a main tourist destination, all Morocco needs to do is entice those same travelers to cross the narrow Strait of Gilbraltar and discover their beautiful country.

Vision 2010 aimed at significantly boosting the number of annual visitors to the country from 2 million in 2001 to 10 million by the end of 2010. Seven million of these visitors are international visitors. This plan would have a significant impact on the country because tourism makes up 20% of the country’s GDP. In addition to a boost in GDP, this plan has created over 600,000 new jobs.

In order to achieve this vision, six “Plan Azur” areas were identified. These areas were all established on stretches of beautiful coastline with untapped tourist potential. Each of these areas was given a theme to be the centerpiece of development in the area. Entertainment in each of these areas range from golf courses, sports, casinos, local arts and crafts to luxury spas. The plan has moved along with impressive efficiency and Morocco has been identified by a London agency as the second largest desirable area in overseas travel. (www.essentialmorocco.com)

Realizing untapped resources, whether it’s within a rural Oklahoman town or along the beautiful coasts of Morocco, is key to long term sustainability and well-being.

References:

The World Factbook, Africa-Morocco; www.cia.gov; Accessed January 13, 2010

John Sparkman, Picher Housing Authority, personal/class communication, November 12, 2009

The Morocco Channel, Wildlife – Discover the Barbary Macaque or the Camels of Morocco; www.morocco.com; Accessed January 13, 2010

Eduardo Vandoorne, Malaga Guides, personal/class communication, February 20, 2010

Essential Morocco, Morocco Investment Brief ; www.essentialmorocco.com; Accessed January 13, 2010

Morocco is located in northwest Africa and has a diverse climate and weather pattern. Morocco’s climate is Mediterranean with the more extreme environment toward the interior of the country. The climate resembles California and northwestern Mexico in nature. Splitting the landscape from north to southwest are two mountain chains; the Middle Atlas and the High Atlas. The land between the two mountain chains has rolling hills and is very beautiful. The land to the south and east of the mountain chains becomes very arid the closer it is to the Sahara Desert. (CultureGrams) The coastal areas, in the north and west have much milder winters and the temperature is more pleasant. The coldest time of year in Morocco is during February; however, temperatures can be quite pleasant depending on which area of the country you are visiting. Temperatures have a high average of 71˚ Fahrenheit and an average low of 47˚ Fahrenheit in the subtropical areas of the country. February is considered part of the rainy season and rainfall averages four inches during this time of year. (Morokko-Info) While in Morocco, the rainfall was much higher than average. They have experienced mudslides from all the rain and many of the fields we drove by were flooded; however the landscape was very green and beautiful due to the rainfall.

In comparison, Oklahoma’s climate is continental. Air from the Gulf Coast moves north into Oklahoma and has a large influence on the humidity and precipitation of the southern and eastern portion of the state. The western and northern portion of the state is drier in comparison. Temperatures of 90˚ Fahrenheit or more occur anywhere from an average of 60 days per year in the northern part of the state, an average of 115 days per year in the southwest and 85 days per year in the southeast. In the winter months, temperatures of 32˚ Fahrenheit or less have occurred an average of 60 days per year in the southeast and an average of 110 days per year where the panhandle joins the rest of the state. (Arndt, 2003)

Oklahoma’s terrain consists primarily of plains, varying from flat in the west to rolling in the central and eastern parts of the state. The state does feature mountainous areas, including the Wichita Mountains in the southwest, the Arbuckle Mountains in the south-central and the Ouachita Mountains in the southeast. The two main rivers flowing through the state are the Arkansas river, in the northern two-thirds of the state, and the Red river, in the southern section of the state. (Arndt, 2003)

Morocco’s terrain ranges from coastal, in the northern and western portion of the country, to mountainous, in the middle and flatter in the southern border closer to the Sahara Desert. The primary mountains in Morocco include the Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti Atlas. Temperatures in the Atlas Mountains can go below zero degrees and remain snow capped throughout the year. (Focus Multimedia)

The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (Dh or MAD) and is worth 0.12827 US Dollar (USD) per 1 MAD. The larger cities do have ATM’s to convert money and recommended to use while in Morocco. Coins are available in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, Dh 1, Dh 2, Dh 5, Dh 10 although coins smaller than 20c aren’t seen very often. Paper money is available in denominations of Dh 10, Dh 20, Dh 50, Dh 100 and Dh 200. If you decide to bring US currency into the country, it is recommended to bring the new $100 and $20 bills as some exchange offices may refuse to exchange the old style currency. (Wikitravel)

Electricity and voltage differ in Spain and Morocco as to the United States. The voltage in Spain and Morocco is 220 volts alternating at 50 cycles per second and the outlets have a two-pin plug known as the Europlug. Equipment or appliances that require heat and a motor, such as a hair dryer, will require a power converter as well as an adapter. (Wikitravel) The plugs in Morocco look like the following depiction:

Morocco is six hours ahead of Oklahoma and flight schedule and time difference may cause jet lag; however, several tips can be used to prevent exhaustion. It is highly recommended to drink plenty of fluids and stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks. When your body is hydrated it does not get as tired or worn out and drinking plenty of water will help deter sickness. It’s also recommended to stay on your regular sleep schedule as close as possible to prevent jet lag. The departing flight to Spain is overnight and will land in the morning in Madrid, therefore sleeping during the flight would be optimal. In correlation with this, you should try staying awake all day once landing in Spain. This will help you sleep better your first night of arrival and help your body adjust to the time zone. It’s also recommended to try to go to sleep around the same time that you would normally at home. In comparison, the returning flight to Oklahoma City is during the day and it is recommended to stay awake as much as possible so that your body can adjust back to normal schedule. To adjust to mealtimes, it’s a good idea to eat several small meals throughout the day rather than big meals if possible. Eating several smaller meals or snacks will help keep your body energized and adjust to different meal times. Remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes on the flight as this will help you relax. You may also want to get up and walk around the plane to stretch out your legs.

Baggage should be limited to one checked bag per person. The maximum size of each checked bag is 62 inches (length + width + height). The maximum weight per checked bag is 50 lbs. One carry-on bag is permitted and you may also carry a coat, umbrella and purse. Please heed the baggage restrictions and don’t pack more than you will need. Visit the following website to help with baggage packing. www.TSATravelTips.us (Agrotours, Inc.)

References:

Agrotours, Inc. (© 1999-2009) Agrotours Travel Hints – 2010.

Arndt, D. (2003, January 1). The Climate of Oklahoma. Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://cig.mesonet.org/climateatlas/doc60.html.
CultureGrams World Edition 2010. Kingdom of Morocco. Retrieved from ProQuest LLC on October 2009, from www.culturegrams.com.
Focus Multimedia. Geography and Climate of Morocco. Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.focusmm.com/morocco/mo_geog1.htm.
Morokko-Info. Morocco’s Climate – There is a season. Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.marokko-info.nl/english/climate-of-morocco.
Wikitravel. Morocco Travel Guide. Retrieved October 2009, from http://wikitravel.org/en/Morocco.


AGRICULTURE OF

SPAIN AND MOROCCO
Submissions by:

BRENT THOMPSON

BURTON HARMON

SCOTT SPROUL

TIM TAYLOR

CHARLES ROHLA


Agriculture Economicsof Spain and Morocco

Brent Thompson
In analyzing the basic economic factors of the agriculture products of the countries of Spain and Morocco, one will find that the overall impact on the respective country’s total economy is somewhat different. I will attempt to point out these differences and also how they compare with the United States.

Both Spain and Morocco have similar types of agriculture products that they produce. These products include olives and olive oil, oranges, mandarins, fish and wine.

In terms of land mass, Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe and ranks second in elevation after Switzerland. In total, Spain has 50.5 million hectares (123,500,000 acres) of which only 20.6 hectares or roughly 40% is suitable for cultivation. In comparison to other Western European countries, Spain’s land devoted to agriculture is relatively low. Of the land that is cultivated, only about 17% of it is irrigated. However, of this irrigated land, it is estimated that it supplies between 40%-45% of the gross value of crop production and 50% of the value of agriculture exports.

Agriculture in Spain has made such an impact on me because just as in the United States, Spain has seen a decrease in the number of farms over the past couple of decades. In 1990, Spain had nearly 1.6 million farms and this number has fallen to just over 1.0 million farms in 2007. I also found the statistics of the average age of the Spanish farmer interesting as well. In 1986, 58% of the farmers fell in the category of 25-54 years old. However, in 2005, this number increased to nearly 71% showing that a younger generation is becoming more interested in agriculture. During that approximate same time frame, average annual farm revenue had increased by almost 250%. So even though there has been a noticeable loss in actual farm numbers, their agricultural industry has exploded in revenue while drawing in a younger generation of farmers. I believe this resurgence of a younger generation of farmers and increase in agricultural revenue is directly correlated to their fruit and vegetable production within their greenhouses. The upsurge of greenhouses in Spain was very inspiring to me as a fourth generation family farmer. I can see the use of greenhouses expanding within the United States as a potential way to bring our youth back to farming while providing an efficient and fresh product that meets the needs of the consumer.