Agricultural Systems and Productivity Flashcards
What is agriculture
The science or practice of farming
What does agriculture inculde
- Cultivation of soil for the growing of crops
- Rearing of animals to provide food, wool and other products
What type of system is agriculture
Agriculture is an open system
What are the PHYSICAL inputs of an agricultural system
- Climate
- Precipitation
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- Soils and drainage
What are the HUMAN inputs of an agricultural system
- Labour
- Transport costs
- Machinery
- Fertilisers / pesticides
- Seed / livestock
- Energy
- Market demand
What processes happen within an agricultural system
- Ploughing
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Milking
What are the positive outputs of an agricultural system
- Crops (wheat, oats etc.)
- Meat
- Milk
- Wool
What are the negative outputs of an agricultural system
- Pollution
- Soil erosion
- Waste products
What is the definition of cooperative
A group of people that works together to share costs and maximise profits
What are agrochemicals
Artificial pesticides and fertilisers that are used in farming
What are the advantages of cooperative farming
- Legal support
- Higher farm profits
- Improved quality of products and services
- Larger markets and better competition
What are the disadvantages of cooperative farming
- Conflict and lack of understanding
- Lack of communication
- Low financial sustainability
- Low adoption of new technologies
What are the 11 types of farming
- Sedentary
- Nomadic
- Subsistence
- Commercial
- Arable
- Pastoral
- Mixed
- Extensive
- Intensive
- GM
- Organic
What is sedentary farming
Farming that occurs in one place
What is nomadic farming
When a farmer moves from one place to another to find water supplies and better pasture land
What is subsistence farming
Farming for personal consumption. Small inputs of capital but large inputs of labour. Often associated with LICs
What is commercial farming
Farming for a profit
What is arable farming
Farming that produces crops
What is pastoral farming
Farming using livestock to produce meat
What is mixed farming
Farming that produces crops and uses livestock to produce meat
What is GM farming
The act of genetically modifying plants to improve their characteristics. Food produced will have a higher yield, more nutritious and have better disease resistance
What is organic farming
Farming with sustainability in mind. Inputs include natural fertilisers and pest control.
Does not use artificial pesticides or fertilisers.
What is extensive farming
Low inputs in relation to the amount of land farmed, i.e. low amounts of
labour, capital investment or stock needed to produce a sufficient yield, but without too much investment.
Yields are lower per area
What is intensive farming
High inputs in relation to the amount of land farmed, i.e. large amounts of
labour, capital investment or stock needed to maximise yield.
Negative outputs can be high due to intensive use of agrochemicals
What is capital investment
Funds invested in a firm or enterprise for the purposes of furthering its business objectives
What are cash crops
A crop produced to sell rather than the farmer to consume
