1. End of Unit Revision – Agriculture
AQA “A” GCSE
Geography
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2. Main Menu Changes in Farming Types of Farming Diversification
The Green Revolution
Farming Systems
Factors Affecting Farming
Subsistence Farming in the Ganges Delta
Farming in the Developing World
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3. Changes in Farming Increase in Population Government & EU Policies
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4. Changes in Farming – Increase in Population
Mechanisation
Agribusiness
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5. Return to Changes in Farming
Mechanisation
Mechanisation is the high use of machinery, particularly in Arable farming or Market Gardening.
Machines are labour saving and efficient cutting down on labour.
Combine Harvesters are best on Large fields, hedgerows are in the way and therefore inaccessible by tractors, hedgerow removal must take place for efficiency, this is mainly a feature of arable farming.
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6. Return to Changes in Farming
Agribusiness
Agribusiness is large companies buying up arable farms. Companies like Birds Eye are buying up farms and even financial companies like Scottish Widows. Agribusiness plays a huge part in arable farming, particularly in East Anglia.
Companies often own large scale farms, these are capital intensive.
“Farm Managers” run each farm.
Agribusiness uses high technology and agrochemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides to obtain maximum yields from the land.
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7. Government & EU Policies (Including C.A.P)
Agriculture now has a lot of financial support from the Government because of the UK’s membership to the EU. The government can alter which crops are grown buy increasing subsidies for a particular crop and lowering subsidies for other crops. Farmers closely monitor subsidy prices.
The C.A.P has been very costly for the E.U, and over produce can lead to Grain Mountains or Milk Lakes.
Farmers now use more pesticides and Herbicides to obtain the maximum yield from their crops.
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8. Types of Farming Types of Farming Return to Main Menu
Dairying – This is mostly found in the West. Good relief is desirable for cows.
Sedentary – The farmer stays in one place.
Arable – Crop growing mostly found in the South East because of the flat relief
Types of Farming
Nomadic – The Farmer moves around.
Pastoral – Sheep Cows Pigs etc. Mostly found in North & West because of the Poor Relief
Subsistence - For the farmer and his family ONLY
Hill Sheep Farming - Mostly found in the North because of the poor relief, the less profitable type of farming.
Commercial – Produce sold for a profit
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9. Diversification
Diversification is a farmer branching out into other activities.
Other Crops/Animals
Llamas – Very Valuable Coats
Power Generation – e.g. Elephant Grass
Tourism
Organic Farming
Popular – Higher Prices
How can I
Diversify?
Forestry
Environmental Initiatives
Maintain Dry Stone Walls – LARGE PAYMENT
Sporting Activities
e.g. Quad biking, Sailing, Paintballing
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10. The Green Revolution Overview Pro’s & Con’s Comparison HYV’S
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11. The Green Revolution - Overview
The Green Revolution was brought in in the 1960’s by the Indian Government, at the time India was experiencing a rapid population growth.
THE RICH GOT RICHER, THE POOR GOT POORER
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12. HYV’s (High Yield Varieties)
Drought Resistant
Fast Growing
More fertilisers were needed.
Grants/Loans were widely available.
Crops were irrigated Causing the soil to become salty.
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13. The Green Revolution – Pro’s & Con’s
Good Points
Yields Increased
Other crops could be grown, e.g. sweet corn, adding variation to diet.
More money could be earned.
Higher standard of Life
Bad Points
Not very cheep.
HYV’s were not available to peasants.
People got into mass debt and were unable to repay it
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14. The Green Revolution Comparison
Feature
In Sustainable Development
In The Green Revolution
Labour
Uses Local People and Skills
Needs new skills and displaces workers with Machinery
Capital
Uses limited amounts of Money
Large amounts of money are needed to buy seeds and fertilisers and machinery
Technology
Uses low cost technology e.g. hand tools, hand operated pumps
Uses diesel pumps and diesel driven tractors which are expensive
Environment
Protects Environment e.g. kitchen waste, encourages natural predators to eat insects
Uses fertilisers/pesticides, damage water supply
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15. Farming Systems Farming Systems Definition Farming System Diagram
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16. Definitions – Farming Systems
Inputs = Physical and Human raw materials that go into the Farming system
Processes = The activities required to turn inputs into outputs. Usually end in “ing”
Outputs = The end products of the farming system
Click to see a Farming System
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17. Farming Systems - Diagram
Physical Inputs
Climate
Relief
Soils
Processes
Ploughing
Sowing crops
Weeding
Crop spraying
Grazing
Lambing
Sheering
Milking
Fencing fields
Outputs
Cereal crops
Vegetables
Flowers
Fruit
Calves
Lambs
Wool
Milk
Lamb
Beef
Human Inputs
Labour
Vet
Farm Size
Technology
Markets
Transport
Animal Feed
Chemicals
Fertilisers
Seeds
Subsidies
Animals
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18. Factors Affecting Farming
Physical Factors
Human Factors
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19. Factors Affecting Farming - Physical
Rainfall
Climate & Temperature
Sunshine Hours
Soil Type
Relief
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20. Factors Affecting Farming - Human
Labour
Finance
Market
Government Policy
Tradition
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21. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Physical
Rainfall
All crops and animals require a reliable source of water. Cereal crops need some water e.g. 700mm
Dairy farms are found in the west because this is a dry part of the country and there is no big demand for rain.
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22. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Physical
Climate & Temperature
Most plants get cold and don’t grow under 6°c. They need to grow mostly in the South East England where it is warmest.
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23. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Physical
Sunshine Hours
Sunshine has a major part in the growing of crops for example grapes need lots of sun and therefore grow well in Mediterranean conditions.
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24. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Physical
Soil Types
Crops grow well in deep fertile soils. Less fertile soils are prone to water logging and are best used for pastoral farming.
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25. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Physical
Relief
Mountainous areas are harder to farm on e.g. arable. Pastoral farming takes place on mountainous areas because there is no need for machinery to be used on the land.
Arable farming takes place on lowland as it is flat.
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26. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Human
Labour
Work= Labour.
Labour is widely available in LEDC’s because there is a high population and no machinery. Where as MEDC farming requires low labour inputs as machinery is available
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27. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Human
Finance
The profit a farmer makes, depends on the amount of money that can be invested next year.
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28. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Human
Market
If a farmer is to make a profit there must be a market close by, otherwise perishable goods will not last. Pastoral farms do not need to be close to a market.
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29. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Human
Government Policy
In LEDC’s there are loans to buy machinery.
In the EU subsidies or grants are available
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30. Return to Factors Affecting Farming - Human
Tradition
Many farmers have been operating for generations, it would be very costly to change from a cereal farm with combine harvesters to a dairy farm with electronic milking parlours
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31. Subsistence Farming in the Ganges Delta
The Ganges delta is in Bangladesh and some of India. The land Is mainly used for subsistence, sedentary, arable and intensive farming.
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32. Farming in the Developing World
Three quarters of the worlds population live in the developing world and are farmers.
Shifting Cultivation is a traditional form of subsistence farming, today it is an extensive form of agriculture and is only found in inaccessible areas. The soil quickly looses its fertility.
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