Farmland habitats and biodiversity

what have been key factors in changing agricultural production systems?

government policies

what did grants do?

encourage mechanisation and the development of larger more intensive livestock buildings

what did the government pay for?

the clearance of land, extensive drainage schemes, subsidised the cost of artificial fertiliser and helped farmers mechanise

when did the UK join the European economic community?

1973

what did the European economic community include?

joining the common agricultural policy (CAP)

what was the focus of the CAP between 1973 and 1984?

increase production which involved incentives to intensify production and guaranteed basic prices for production

what was there by the 1980s across Europe?

over-production

what were farmers paid to do by the 1980s?

to take land out of production

what have international origins?

many policies that deal with nature/the environment

what’s a historical example of policies?

UN conference on environment and development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992

what is Kyto Summit 1997?

climate change targets for reducing greenhouse gases including methane and nitrous oxide

How have agricultural systems changed?

they have specialised, intensified and mechanised

what’s happened to the number and proportion of mixed farms?

decreased substantially

what does the presence of weed seeds cause for?

seed cleaning and herbicide use

what does greater sowing of autumn sown cereals cause for?

less over-winter stubble

what has specialisation on farms led to?

widespread use of monocultures with shorter rotations (often with lower number of crop types in total)

what does specialisation on farms reduce?

diversity of crops and resources for biodiversity

what are granaries better proofed against?

pests or grain in transported off farm during harvest

what has hay ricks given way to?

sealed silage clamps or silage/haylage bales

what areas of farmland are particularly sensitive?

farmland that neighbours watercourses

why and when were agri-environment schemes 1st developed?

as a policy tool in the mid 1980s