Agricultural Production Systems

Starter Do the following images show a farming INPUT, PROCESS or OUTPUT?

To summarise key information and describe the different agricultural production systems. To apply the systems model theory to farming examples. Learning objectives

Agriculture is a system with inputs, processes and outputs. The farming system The following system model can be applied to all types of farming, regardless of scale or location.

Physical Temperature Precipitation Relief Type of soil Drainage Cultural Tenure Inheritance Farm size Economic Transport Markets Technology Governments Capital Labour Behavioural Age Ambition Knowledge Experience Perception INPUTSPROCESSESOUTPUTS Decision-making Individual farmers Groups of farmers The state Methods Ploughing Planting Spraying Harvesting Feeding Milking Breeding Crops (e.g. wheat, sugar beet) Animal products (e.g. meat, milk, wool) Outputs exceeds inputs = profit and wealth Income from outputs equals cost of inputs = stability Outputs less than inputs = loss and poverty Most important in areas where agriculture is less developed

Your task is to gather information on each type of farming. Make bullet point notes of the key information on your recording sheet. Your task is to gather information on each type of farming. Make bullet point notes of the key information on your recording sheet. Activity: Information hunt Agricultural production can be classified into seven systems. These classifications clearly show the contrasts in different types of farming.

Your task is to create a systems diagram for each of the case studies, to show how food is produced. Your diagram should display the inputs, processes and outputs that are suggested by the text. Your task is to create a systems diagram for each of the case studies, to show how food is produced. Your diagram should display the inputs, processes and outputs that are suggested by the text. Activity: Systems diagrams Read the three case studies on pages in AQA AS Geography: Soy farming in Argentina Land reform (cattle farming) in Botswana Commercial farming in HIC’s

Growing enough to feed a household or community Plenary Subsistence farming Intensive farming Arable farming Rearing animals Livestock farming Growing produce for sale Commercial farming Maximising return from land using high inputs of labour, capital, machinery and fertiliser Low inputs of labour and capital on a large scale Extensive farming Growing crops and rearing animals Mixed farming