unit 4

agriculture

practice of cultivating plants and animals (aka farming)

physical factors influencing agriculture

• topography (surface characteristics, slope, relief, aspect)

• climate (precipitation, temperature)

• soil (fertility, structure, depth, texture)

topography

ubac: shady

adret: sunny

relief: altitude

slope: gradient

human factors affecting agriculture

• political (ownership, organization, government policy, war)

• economic (size, demand, capital, tech, infrastructure)

• social (culture, education, training)

subsistence agriculture

farming for consumption from cultivators

intensive agriculture

high inputs and outputs (yield) per unit of area

• uses high inputs of labour, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area behind farmed

• obtaining a relatively large crop from a small area with much attention and expense

extensive agriculture

low inputs and outputs per unit of area

• uses small inputs of labour, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed

• obtaining a relatively small crop from a large area with a minimum of attention and expense

commercial agriculture

products sold for profit

nomadic agriculture

farmers move seasonally w herds

gdu

growing degree unit

(not exact science) used to predict growth of crops

systematic approach to agriculture

farms = modified ecosystems

inputs examples

land, labour, raw materials, building

processes

things that need doing to make the product (plowing, sewing seeds, storage, packaging)

outputs examples

finished product and waste (chicken, egg, crop, manure)

transpired moisture

evaporation of water from inside plant leaves

topography

• plants adapt to diff topography

• elevation, mountain, valley

• ex: okanagan, BC good for grapes bc hills

climate

• determines length + temp of growing season

• arid, mediterranean, snow, equatorial, polar, tempearte

• in ont. growing season is period between last killing frost and first killing frost

water

• groundwater = water beneath surface

• irrigation

• places w/o rainfall need irrigation to grow crops

soil quality

organic matter, soil health, structure, water, holding capacity

holland marsh has good soil quality bc it used to be a swamp

natural disasters

destroy crops due to effect on environment

hurricanes, flash floods, hailstorms, mudslides

march 2011 tsunami + earthquake in japan

conventional farming

not dedicated to other methods such as organic or genetic engineering (general type of farming)

relies on chemical intervention to fight pests and weeds and provide plant nutrition

includes monoculture and economy of scale

monoculture

• growing a single crop every hear

• bc of continuous depletion of nutrients in soil and erosion scientists believe that monoculture isnt best farming method

economy of scale

large scale mass prod. of particular item will decrease unit cost to maximize profits

measure what happens if all inputs are increased by the same proportion

organic farming

• use of natural systems to enhance production

  • soil mgmt and using fertilizers like green manure/compost

  • crop rotation, companion planting

  • biodiversity within system

  • renewable resources

• free of additive hormones, gmo, animal byproduct

sustainable agriculture 3 goals

• environmental health

• economic profitability

• social fairness

green manure

• crop grown for organic matter and ability to improve soil

• cowpeas and buckwheat

cover crops

• crops not grown for harvest but to protect soil fertility + suppress weeds

• grasses + cereals

intercropping

2 or more crops planted in same field at same time

• maximize space

• prevent outbreaks

• balance nutrient use

companion growing

form of intercropping when crops are planted in close proximity of each other to support growth (corn, beans, squash)

• Corn provides structure for beans to climb and attach

• Beans provide nitrogen for the soil

• Squash grows along the soil blocking out weeds and keeping in moisture

crop rotation

• growing diff crops in same field over successive yrs

• control weeds, reduce erosion of soiil and maintain nutrient lvl

• fallow field: leaving 1 field vacant for 1 yr to replenish soil nutrients

no-tillage agriculture

tilling: turning over soil

no tillage: machine drills holes in ground, drops seeds into holes

by not turning land, soil holds more moisture and benefits wildlife

saves time + money

integrated pest management (ipm)

• natural methods to cntrl pests on farms by

• using pest resistant crops

• mulch to suppress weeds

• fans to create mild breezees

• netting over plants

• insect traps

greenhouse

ecosystem w controlled temp, light, moisture, nutrients

hydroponics

grown w/o soil (nutrient-rich water solution)

aeroponics

growing plants with air/mist w/o soil or aggregate (formed medium)

subsistence agriculture (desc)

• shifts crop location

• large land area for small amt of food

• limited market access

• little/no cash income

• immediate food access

aquaculture

• Controlled production of aquatic species 

• Fastest growing food production activity in the world

• Produced on land in inclosed systems or suspended in water in net pen systems 

• Canada’s top aquaculture production is Atlantic Salmon

free trade agreements

2+ nations agree to trade w/o tariffs

peaches, pears, plums, etc negatively impacted yb increased fruit imports

increased competition, pressure to commercialize

increasing protein consumption

• high income = high protein consumption

• demand for protein is stressing resources, higher input cost, rural poor lose access to food

food security 4 a’s

accessibility: physical and economic access to food

availability: get food consistently

adequacy: nutritious food prepared safely + sustainably

acceptability: meet cultural, religious, dietary requirements

canada food security

food secure = 74.5%

moderately food insecure = 12.4%

severely food insecure = 6.7%

country food

foods that make up traditional indigenous foods

food deserts

areas w few or no options to food/to particular food

northern inuit communities have inflated prices

food literacy

understanding impact of food choices on health, environment, stability

methods of enhancing food security

• community supported agriculture (stop’s farmers market, wychwood barns on)

• urban gardens (mason st, city farm, victoria bc)

• preserving food

• greenhouses in north (kuujjuaq)

• promoting traditional aboriginal foods (arivat)

• comm food centres

• food sovereignty (indigenous)