Rural Farming (Developed)

Question 1

• What are the 3 different types of farming, and where are they found in the UK?

Answer 1

1.) • ARABLE farms 🌽
➞ found in the south and east of the UK
↳ (e.g. East Anglia/East Coast of England)

2.) • SHEEP farms 🐏
➞ found in Highland areas in north and west of the UK
↳ (e.g. NW Scotland, areas of Northern England/Lake District)

3.) • BEEF/DAIRY farms 🐄🥛
➞ found in lowland areas in the central regions & the south of the UK

Question 2

• Why is hill/sheep farming found in upland/highland areas? 🐏 (5)

Answer 2

1.) • Sheep
➞ can cope with cold temperatures found at higher altitudes ❄️
↳ due to their thick fleece 🐏

2.) • Sheep
➞ can cope with higher rainfall found at higher altitudes 🌧️
↳ due to their oily fleece that repels water and being less prone to foot-rot 🐏🐾

3.) • Sheep
➞ are adapted to cope with steep slopes 🏞️
↳ as they are sure footed 🐾

4.) • Sheep
➞ can cope with poor quality grass found on upland area’ thin soil 🌿
↳ as they need less nutrients ✨

5.) • Sheep
➞ can be kept further from farm 🧑‍🌾
↳ as they require less input from farmers 🐏

Question 3

• Why is dairy farming found in lowland areas? 🐄🥛 (8)

Answer 3

1.) • Cattle
➞ need flatter land
↳ as they are less sure-footed 🐄🐾

2.) • Cattle
➞ need warmer weather found at low altitudes ☀️
↳ due to their lack of thick coat 🐄

3.) • Cattle
➞ need drier weather found at lower altitudes ☀️
↳ as they more prone to foot-rot 🐾

4.) • Water source 💦
➞ required to ensure milk production 🥛

5.) • Close to settlements 🏘️
➞ due to lack of milk refrigeration in the past & good transport routes to get milk to market 🥛🏪

6.) • Higher quality grass (found on thicker lowland soil)
➞ more nutrients needed for milk production ✨

7.) • Space for farm buildings 🏢
   ➞ to:
        ↳ take in cattle for the winter ❄️
        ↳ feed storage 🌾
        ↳ milking parlours 🥛

8.) • Kept close to the farm 🚜
➞ as they require more attention from the farmer
↳ (e.g. milking twice a day)

Question 4

• Why is arable farming found in lowland areas? 🌽🌾 (5)

Answer 4

1.) • Flat land (required)
➞ due to the use of machinery 🚜

2.) • Roads (required)
➞ to move machinery between fields and transport goods to market 🛣️🏪

3.) • Trees & hedges 🌳
➞ around the edges of fields acts as “windbreaks” to protect crops from wind damage 🌬️

4.) • Large fields (required)
➞ to allow large modern machinery to turn 🚜

5.) • Drier and warmer weather found at lower altitudes ☀️
➞ for crop growth 🌽

Question 5

CHANGES TO FARMING:

• What are the impacts of increased/improved technology on people? 🧍(9)

Answer 5

🟢1.) • Using GPS
➞ to manage field operations or animal feedings
↳ helps to save time 🗺️

🟢2.) • Polytunnels
➞ can improve crop yield and quality 🌽

🟢3.) • Computerised water management/irrigation
➞ increases production 💦

🔴 4.) • Less labour is required (due to machinery) 🚜
➞ so people become unemployed and leave the area 🏃💨
↳ (rural depopulation)

🟢5.) • Less labour is required (due to machinery) 🚜
➞ helping increase farmer’s profit margins 💵

🟢6.) • Satellites/computer controlled applications of fertilisers
➞ improve yields and decreases waste 🌽🚮

🟢7.) • Chemical fertilisers/insecticides
➞ improve production on farms 🚜🌽

🟢8.) • Drones
➞ used to survey fields
↳ helps farmers to quickly identify problems ⚠️

🟢9.) • Machinery
➞ (e.g. combine harvesters)
↳ speeds up harvesting
➜ produce reaches markets faster 🏪⚡

Question 6

• What are the impacts of increased/improved technology on landscape/environment? 🌳

Answer 6

🔴1.) • Loss of habitat and biodiversity
➞ (e.g. hedgerows)
↳ due to increased field size to accommodate large machinery 🚜

🔴2.) • Agricultural and chemical fertilisers/insecticides
➝ can harm wildlife
↳ (e.g. loss of bees 🐝)
➝ can damage the environment
↳ (e.g. eutrophication in ponds 🌊 - due to excess fertilisers)

🔴3.) • Increased noise & air pollution
➝ due to large machinery 🚜💨

Question 7

• What are the impacts of diversification on people? 🧍

Answer 7

🟢1.) • Non-farming activities
   ➝ such as:
        • accommodation 🏡
        • farm-shops 🏪
        • quad-biking 🚵‍♂️
        • farm attractions 🚜
        • agricultural exhibits🌽
        • wildlife tours 🌳
        • country sports 🏀
        ↳ allows famers to make extra income 👩‍🌾💵

🟢2.) • Visiting farms
➝ means
↳ tourists experience rural landscapes & outdoor activities 🌳🌳

🟢3.) • Farmers become more independent
➝ as they are less reliant on subsidies 💸

🟢4.) • Wind farm developments
➝ on farm land
↳ generate extra income 💵

🔴5.) • Higher tourist numbers
➝ cause
↳ traffic congestion & increased air pollution 🚗💨

🔴6.) • Tourists litter
➝ causing eyesores and are harmful to animals
↳ livestock can choke 🐏
➜ increasing vet bills for farmers 💵

🔴7.) • Tourist facilities
➝ (e.g. campfires)
↳ detract from the natural look of the countryside 🏞️

8.) • Dry stone walls
➝ damaged by tourists climbing over

Question 8

• What are the impacts of government policy on people? 🧍 (5)

Answer 8

🟢 1.) • Government funds and supports research 🧪
➞ (e.g. new fertilisers
↳ which benefit farming practices
➜ increases profits)

🟢 2.) • Government insists on disease control 🪰
➞ to maintain high standards of produce.

🟢 3.) • Department for Food & Rural Affairs (DeFRA) or the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP)
➞ provides subsidies to support farmers income 💵

🟢 4.) • DeFRA
➞ regulates animal health and welfare regulations
↳ to ensure food quality 🍎✨

🟢 5.) • CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)
➞ helps farmers maintain steady income 💵

🔴 • However, due to Brexit
➞ UK farmers may lose EU funding/grants as they are now no longer apart of CAP 💸📉

Question 9

• What are the impacts of government policy on the landscape/environment? 🌱 (2)

Answer 9

🟢 1.) • Grants 💵
➞ are available for environmental improvements
↳ (i.e. wetlands/afforestation 🌳)

🟢 2.) • Set aside land 🏞️
➞ prevents overproduction while maintaining farmers income 💵