Agriculture - 3.5.1.4 Social/economic/political factors which infuence agricultural production

Social factors that effect agriculture

Cultural
Social
Religious
Ethical

Cultural example

Horsemeat is not eaten in the UK but is in other european countries.

Religious example

People of certain religions may avoid some foods.

Jewish people and Muslims do not eat pork.

Ethical issues examples.

- Local food / food miles
- Seasonal food
- Free range livestock
- Organic food
- Fair trade

Economic factors

Farm size
Technology availability
Survey technology
Computer based monitering

Farm size

Low profit small farms can't invest in new production methods.

Availability of technology

Machinary for ploughing, sowing, spraying, harvesting may be expensive.

Pesticides

Fertiliser

Breeding programmes

Survey technology

GPS mapping and satellite surveys used to monitor wide range of factors:
- photosynthesis rate
- soil water content
- spread of pests and disease

computer based monitoring

Computer based monitoring of yields produced in other areas of a field can be used to better control fertiliser application.

How were grants used to help farmers with financial assistance?

Hedgerow removal

purchase of machinary

drainage of fields

improved livestock

How were guaranteed markets used to overcome the problem of market price drops during WW2?

The government would buy harvest from farmers if there was a surplus.

It would then be stored (E.g cheese, milk powder)

However food that could not be stored, e.g fruits and veg, were destroyed.

How were food surpluses caused by guaranteed markets reduced?

Quotas - farming were given limits on what they could produce

Farm diversification

Alternative crops / livestock

Set aside - farmers with surplus were paid for taking farmland out of production and keeping it in a condition where it could be farmed again.

Agrienvironmental schemes legislations

Environmentally sensitive areas

Countryside stewardship scheme

Environmental stewardship scheme

Countryside stewardship

Agrienvrionmental schemes examples

Hedgerows
Ditches
Dry stone walls
Trees
Beetle banks
Livestock density
Planting

Hedgerows

must be 1.5 metres tall
at least 2 year interval between cutting

to maintain habitats for birds n insects

ditches

No cultivation within 2 metres
no fertilisers or pesticides applied within 2 metres

important habitat for wetland invertebrates and plant species

dry stone walls

protection of them

important for livestock management

trees

conservation of in field trees

to conserve soil, energy, wildlife and to protect ancient indigenous trees

beetle banks

at least 2 metres wide
to provide habitats for natural pest predators