Agricultural Systems (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Agricultural Systems
To obtain food humans use and modify the ecosystems through farming
There are four groupings commonly used to categorise farming:
Arable and pastoral
Commercial and subsistence
Extensive and intensive
Nomadic and sedentary
A farm that has both livestock and grows crops is a mixed farm
Factors influencing the type of agriculture
Physical Factors | Human Factors |
|---|---|
Temperature - all crops have a minimum temperature below which they will not grow or will not produce a good yield - wheat grows best between 21-24oC | Tradition - many farms simply grow the crops or raise the livestock that have been on the farm for generations |
Growing season - the length of the growing season affects the type of crop grown - barley needs about 90 days from sowing to harvest whereas rice takes about 120 days | Subsidies - farmers may change crop or livestock dependent on the money available from the government |
Precipitation - both the average annual rainfall and the distribution over the year affect the types of crops grown | Transport - the cost of transporting the product may affect what is produced. Livestock transport is more expensive than grain transport |
Relief and slope aspect - the altitude of land affects temperature and the steepness affects the suitability for crops. in local areas different crops may be grown on south facing slopes which get more sunshine and are warmer | Farm size - due to economies of scale larger farms are able to afford more in terms of feed, fertiliser and machinery, this may affect what is produced |
Soil type and fertility - in areas with thin, infertile soils grazing is likely to dominate as crops need deeper, more fertile soil | Market demand - the changing demand for produce. There has been an increase in demand for meat such as buffalo and ostrich which may affect the choice of what is produced |
Drainage - for most crops to grow the land needs to be well drained so that roots do not get waterlogged | Capital - the amount of money a farmer has to invest will affect the machines and artificial inputs (irrigation, pesticides, fertilisers) they can afford |
Farming systems
All farms are systems, they have inputs, processes and outputs
A Farming System
Impacts of farming systems
All farming systems impact the ecosystem in which they are located
Some have more impact than others, such as:
Monocultures which reduce diversity because the animals have no access to a wide range of foods
When nutrient cycling is often dependent on fertilisers added to the soil, this may be natural (manure) or artificial fertilisers
When the ecosystem is modified with inputs of seed, fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides and the use of machines
Where food webs are reduced
Reducing the amount of biomass
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember farms do fit into more than one category. For example, a sheep farm in Cumbria. UK would be categorised as arable, commercial, extensive and sedentary.
Worked Example
Insert the following words into the table below to show examples of inputs, processes and outputs of a mixed farm.
[3 marks]
Choose from the words below
milk wheat harvesting
ploughing water pesticides
Inputs | Processes | Outputs |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Answer:
Inputs | Processes | Outputs |
|---|---|---|
water | harvesting | wheat |
pesticides | ploughing | milk |
Case Study: Sheep Farming
The relief of the land in Cumbria limits the type of farming
Lowland areas are used for cattle grazing and limited amounts of crops
Sheep farming dominates, with approximately 3 million sheep farmed in the area
An example of extensive, commercial, pastoral and sedentary farming
Characteristics
Sheep farms usually have three land use zones:
The fell - these are the hills over 300m and is used for grazing
The intake - the lower slopes which are divided into fields
The inbye - land close to the farm buildings used to bring the sheep in for lambing and shearing. Some crops may also be grown here for animal feed (turnips/hay)
Inputs
Inputs can be divided into physical and human
Physical | Human |
|---|---|
Climate - Short growing season means the area is unsuitable for most crops as well as high rainfall. In many areas over 1500mm | Machinery, fuel and buildings - quad bikes and sheds for lambing |
Soils - in the upland areas' soils are thin and acidic | Labour - low labour requirements. Farms often worked by one person with additional help when needed |
Relief - many steep slopes with large areas of upland | Subsidies - without subsidies many farmers would make a loss |
| Feed - needed for winter months when uplands are snow covered and grass doesn't provide the nutrients needed |
Processes
There are not large numbers of processes on a hill sheep farm, but they do include:
Monitoring the sheep
Lambing
Dipping - to reduce parasites and maggots
Shearing
Outputs
Lambs are bred for meat and sent for slaughter before they are 1 year (usually 6-8 months)
Wool from shearing (this often costs more than the farmer gets for the fleece)
Mutton - this is meat from sheep over 1 year
Challenges
Hill sheep farming is often not profitable, and farmers rely upon subsidies or diversification
Disease - foot and mouth outbreaks. In 2001 nearly 500,000 sheep had to be killed to prevent further spread of the disease
Fuel, machinery and feed costs have all increased
Lamb prices fluctuate depending on the market and this affects income
Wool prices average about 32p for a kilo this is less than the cost of shearing the sheep so shearing costs the farmer money
Fewer people want to become sheep farmers
Since leaving the EU, the UK is intending to phase out subsidies and replace them with payments for environmental work
Impacts
Many sheep farmers are diversifying into areas such as campsites and holiday cottages
Conversion to organic such as Low Sizergh Farm in South Cumbria can increase profits as people pay more for organic meat and wool
Farmers taking on additional jobs and farming part time
Changing of breeds to those that shed their fleece and don't require shearing though this may not be suitable for the upland areas
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