Rural (UK) Flashcards
5 main changes in farming in DEVELOPED countries
(UK)
Positives and negatives
Diversification- The farmer chooses to offer something else on their farm in order to make more money and in return more profit.
New technology - Massive increases in the use of farming machinery has both positive and negative impacts on rural areas.
Chemicals (fertiliser & pesticides) - Increase in the use to try and improve crop yields and farmer er profits.
Organic farming - Organic farming involves arable farmers producing crops without artificial chemicals.
GM crops - Farmers use seeds which have been altered by scientific techniques.
Advantages of changes in farming in UK
Chemicals - fertiliser and pesticides
Increases crop yeild as fertiliser makes crops grow better.
Fewer plants being eaten by pests so more crops to sell.
Disadvantages of changes in farming in UK
Chemicals - fertiliser and pesticides
Increased river pollution due to chemical run-off - when it rains the chemicals wash off the crops and pollute the river water.
Polluted river leads to problems such as algea bloom which starves the river of oxygen affecting wildlife.
Advantages of changes in farming in UK
Organic farming
Chemical free food grown to meet customer demands.
Decreased river polluriin due to no chemical run off.
Wildlife in rivers protected.
Disadvantages of changes in farming in UK
Organic farming
More labour intensive which means it takes more time and effort for farmers to grow the crops.
Farmers need to be more skillful to cultivate poorer soils.
Productivity is lower on organic farmer which means less crop yeild.
Advantages of changes in farming in UK
Diversification
Increase profit due to more activities to do.
Increases employment in local areas because more staff is needed to run the extra activites.
Boost local economy because more people are attracted to the area.
Disadvantages of changes in farming in UK
Diversification
Stone walls damages because people climb of them.
Footpath erosion because of more people in the area.
Increase litter because of more people with damages landscape.
Tourist facilities make the natural countryside look less attractive
Tarffic congestion because of more cars in the roads.
Increases noise and pollution in villages becayse of the tourism.
Lakes and rivers used for water sports become polluted.
Advantages of changes in farming in the UK
New technology
Increased crop yeild as work can be done faster and more efficiently.
Increased profit for the farmer because of increased crop yeild
Less physical work for the farmers
Fewer workers needed so less wages to pay which means more money for the farmer.
Crops are harvested faster so they are fresher.
Disadvantages of changes in farming in the UK
New technology
Loss of animal habitats and shelter belts, as hedgerows were removed to increase field size and accommodate larger machinery.
Increase in noise pollution
Increase in air pollution because the machines require fossil fuels to run.
Fewer jobs available because the workers have been replaced by the machines because the machines are faster and cheaper.
Rural depopulation because because unemployed workers moved away to find work.
Machines are expensive to buy and repair.
Advantages of changes in farming in the UK
Genetically modified crops
Could reduce global hunger because of increase crop yield.
Could create crops resistant to disease and weather which could increase profit.
Increased profits because the crops are growing faster and better.
Disadvantages of changes in farming in the UK
Genetically modified crops
Very expensive for the equipment and knowledge required.
Super crop could overtake natural crop population and kill of natural ways of of growing food.
Bioaccumulation because we don’t know if the chemicals we are eating are harmful.
