Farming- Unit 1

how does a farmer decide what to grow

their expertise

what they prefer

weather and land conditions

economic and political situation

what is arable farming

the growing of crops

what is pastoral farming

the rearing of animals

what is mixed farming

pastoral and arable farming together

what is commercial farming

the growing of crops or rearing of animals to make profit (outputs exceed inputs)

what is subsistence farming

when just a sufficient amount of food is provided for the farmers family (ouputs are less than or equal to inputs)

what is extensive farming

where the farm size is large in comparison to the amount of money put in or the number of people working there

what is intensive farming

where the farm size is small in comparison to the amount of money put in or the number of people working there

what is shifting/nomadic farming

where farmers move from one area to another

what is sedentary farming

when a farm and settlement is permanent

what type of inputs are there

physical

human/economic

what are some examples of physical inputs

rain amounts

temperatures

relief

soils/drainage

what are some examples of human/economic inputs

labour

transport costs

government control

accessibility to markets

what are processes

the patterns and methods of farming

what are some examples of processes

growing crops

ploughing

harvesting

rearing animals

feeding

what are outputs

the products for sale

examples of outputs

income

crops/animals and animal products

physical factors affecting farmers decisions

relief and altitude

soils

temperature/sunshine

rainfall/water supply

human/political factors affecting farmers decisions

land ownership

size of land

land competition

transport/markets

capital

mechanization

government/EU policies

most desirable factors for arable farming in England

warn/ sunny summers

less rain

low-lying or flat land

deep, fertile soil

good transport systems

large urban markets

most desirable factors for cattle farming in England

cool summers and mild winters

plenty of rain

low-lying and somewhat flat land

good transport

nearby urban markets

most desirable factors for hill sheep farming in England

poor soils

lower temperatures

heavy rainfall

poorly developed transportation

most urban markets aren’t in good distance

most desirable factors for mixed farming in England

between east (arable farming) and west (animal rearing)

most desirable factors for market gardening in England

large urban areas

good transport

how does farming change in the EU

political → changes in regional or global economies

social pressures in farming communities

environmental factors (affect climate change)

5 main aims of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

1. create a single market where agricultural good can easily be transferred

2. make the EU self-sufficient by giving preference to produce grown within member countries

3. give financial support to EU farmers, mainly through subsidies and markets

4. help to maintain jobs and improve the standard of living in famring areas

5. keep consumer prices stable

what were 3 growing concerns of CAP

1. overproduction of certain products due to subsidy payments and technological improvements

2. decrease in the number of farms

3. insufficient care for the environment

what were some changes made since 2000 in farming

subsidies were introduced

quotas and set-asides were introducts

definition of subsidy

a sum of money granted by the state or a public body to help and industry or business keep the price of a commodity or service low

definition of quotas

a fixed share of something that a person or group is entitle to recieve/contribute

definition of set-asides

a policy of taking land out of production to reduce from surpluses

advantages of CAP

higher income for farmers

created higher yields due to input of capital for machinery and fertilizer

subsidies have reduced the risk of even higher unemployment in rural areas

subsidies to farmers reduced rural depopulation

disadvantages of CAP

increase of food prices → net importing EU countries of Germany and the UK

tendency to overproduce → creates surplus

Destruction of hedges to create fields → destroys wildlife and increases risk of soil erosion

what is pesticide

all chemicals applied to crops to control pests, diseases and weeds

what is fertiliser

a mineral compound containing 1+ of the main six nutrients needed for successful plant growth

what is phosphate

releases from farm slurry and untreated human sewage → can pollute water supplies

why are hedgerows removed

costly and time-consuming to maintain

take up space that could be used for farming

limit the size of field machinery

what is organic farming involve

the intensive use of both land and labour and the use of fallow land

what are the problems with organic farming

lower yields → no chemical fertilizers

more weeding

more expensive for shoppers

how to make genetically modified crops

taking genes from one species and inserting them into another to give it new qualities

characteristics of marasmus

hair may be normal

old mans face

anxious look

like a skeleton with skin

thin muscles and little fat

very underweight

characteristics of kwashiorkor

hair changes to ginger

moon face

miserable expression

thin muscles and fat present

swollen extended belly

skin change

usually underweight

why do some people in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from malnutrition?

high birth rate and falling death rate → more people to feed

overused soil → less nutrients causes desertification

not enough protein

political instability

pests/disease destroy crops and stored grain

Successes of the Green revolution

HYVs increased food population

Yield increase led to fall in food prices

HyVs allowed the production of some commercial crops

failures of the Green Revolution

HYVs need large amounts of fertilizer and pesticides → increases cost

farming have become less stable

mechanization has increased rural unemployment and migration to towns

appropriate technology definition

the technology suited to the needs, skills, knowledge and wealth of the local people

appropriate sustainable techniques in Lower Ganges Valley

building simple water pumps

low-cost irrigation schemes

animal manure rather than fertilizer

why are the appropriate sustainable techniques sustainable?

because they are affordable and help improve people standard of living without damaging the environment