BIOL20050 - introduction to irish agriculture

define agriculture

the purposive raising of livestock and crops for human needs

define UAA

utilised agricultural area (land use)

how much UAA does ruminant livestock systems account for?

87%

name the farming system that uses the most land in ireland?

specialised beef production (47% UAA)

what is the average amount of cycles a dairy farmer would put a cow through?

4-6 cycles of mating, gestation, lactation then drying

how long does a cow usually lactate for?

9-10 months

how long is a cows drying period?

2-3 months

how long is a cows gestation period?

285 days

list the 4 stages of a beef herd calves life

1. birth + suckling for 6 months

2. weaning off mother

3. finishing

4. slaughter at 18-30 months @ 450-550kg

list the 4 stages of a dairy herd bull calves life

1. birth + milk replacer for 5 weeks

2. weaning + rearing for 3-6 months

3. finishing starts

4. slaughter at 14-20 months @ 450-550kg

what is intensive agriculture?

Any kind of agricultural activity that evolves effective and efficient use of labor on small plots of land to maximize crop yield.

- use of fertilizers and reseeding

what is the percentage of farmers that grow silage for farm needs?

>85%

name the months where no silage or concentrate is fed to livestock

jun-sept

what does HNV stand for

High Nature Value land

what portion of irish UAA are HNV?

33%

where is HNV most common?

50% HNV is in upland areas

what are ecosystem services?

the benefits people obtain from ecosystems (pollination, recreation, food, water, climate regulation)

list the 4 key ecosystem services that AFOLU provide (agriculture, forestry and other land use)

1. REGULATING SERVICES: climate, noise, pollution, disease/pest, pollination

2. SUPPORTING SERVICES: primary sector, decomposition, soil formation, nutrient cycling, evolution

3. PROVISIONING SERVICES: food, fibre, water, energy, biodiversity

4. CULTURAL SERVICES: recreation, tourism, spiritual, religious

what part of agri-food sector supplies the most employment?

agriculture, forestry and fishing 65%

name the sector of irish agriculture that provides the most income per hectare of land

dairying (1,200EUR/hectare land)

what is the CAP?

common agricultural policy

name the 2 pillars of CAP

Pillar 1: income support and basic payment scheme.

pillar 2: agri-environmental measures

west vs east of ireland in relation to CAP

west: less average CAP payment per head and more extensive farming

east: more average CAP payment per head and more intensive farming