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Environmental Science CP > W5 - L2 - Cereal Production Systems and Profitability of Cereal Production > Flashcards

W5 - L2 - Cereal Production Systems and Profitability of Cereal Production Flashcards

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1
Q

what was conventional production systems evolved from

A

evolved from ‘basic’ husbandry for the
production of cereals
- low and variable yield levels
– no / low levels of artificial fertiliser
– high labour requirements
– no / minimal crop protection

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2
Q

what are the Milestones in the evolution of production systems to date

A
  • rotation
  • plough
  • trials showing benefits of
    fertilisers
  • Jethro Tull and the seed
    drill
  • tractor
  • combine harvester
  • seed health / certification
  • replicated trials
  • herbicides / sprayers
  • nitrogen programmes
  • improved varieties
  • insecticides
  • 1st generation fungicides
  • growth regulators
  • intensive production
    systems
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3
Q

what are the principles of commercial cereal production

A
  • profits must be generated through grain production
  • management decisions are made based on the maximum likelihood of success
  • new cost-effective technologies are adapted to increase profit
  • yield increase has been considered the most effective way to improve farm income
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4
Q

what are the 3 Crop Production System Options

A
  1. high input
  2. reduced input
  3. organic
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5
Q

what is high input system

A

Intensive : high input and high output

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6
Q

what is reduced input system

A

Less-intensive with Integrated Crop Management (ICM)

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7
Q

what does ICM stand for

A

Integrated Crop Management

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8
Q

what is organic system options

A

– low / minimal input : – no chemicals (fertilisers /sprays)

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9
Q

what is the most precious resource in all systems

A

Land

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10
Q

Conventional high input v Lower Input
(Integrated / IPM-based) v Organic

A
  • in this context the ‘conventional’ is usually understood to be a
    high input : high output system
    – intensive winter cereal (w.wheat) system
  • Integrated is an umbrella word for a range of lower-input less-intensive production systems using IPM principles
    – have considerably reduced chemical inputs with alternative
    practices instead
    – using rotations / sowing dates / non-ploughing / cultivar
    selection / pest and disease thresholds etc
    – LIFE project / Boxworth project /
  • knowledge replacing inputs
  • more management required with less inputs
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11
Q

Historical Success of Intensive Production Systems – 1970s- Schleswig Holstein (German) / Laloux (Belgium) system

A
  • motivated by requirement for increased production
  • complimentary use of inputs / technologies
  • recognised high yield potential
  • understanding of crop physiology
  • dramatic yield advancements / broke yield barriers
  • increased profitability in medium term as price:cost balance was okay
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12
Q

factors in crop production

A

Yield Quality –> net return
1. rotation
2. climatic factors
3. soil factors
4. nutrient supply
5. husbandry
6. variety
7. disease, pest, weed control
8. growth regulation
9. Harvest Technique
10. Post-Harvesting handling

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13
Q

what are the disease control challenges

A

demanding climate and evolving pathogens

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14
Q

applications on a High Input System : Winter Wheat

A
  • Seed dressing : fungicide (insecticide)
  • Slug pellets (optional)
  • Fertiliser
    – P and K
    – Nitrogen (200 kg/ha plus )
  • Herbicide – autumn and spring , pre-harvest
  • Growth Regulator – 1-2 applications
  • Fungicides
  • Aphicide – 3-4 applications with 5-6 products
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15
Q

environment problems with intensive systems

A

Environment
* Rachel Carson’s Silent
Spring’ book in the
1960’s - DDT legacy
* Nature of farming
* Pesticide loading over
time
* Nitrate in water
* Issues of Scale
* GMO’s etc

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16
Q

overproduction problems with Intensive systems

A

Overproduction
* On/Off since mid-1980’s
* price : cost squeeze
* systems use a lot of
expensive external inputs
* primarily yield driven
* depend on yield increase
over time

17
Q

Problems with reduced input systems

A
  • replace agrochemicals with higher operation costs
  • problems with integrated rotations
  • ‘break’ crops having low profitability
  • problems with reduced chemical rates
  • developing a disease control strategy
    -consideration of uncertainty and risk is an
    integral part of the decision-making process
18
Q

what are the objectives of Integrated Crop Management(4)

A
  • To encompass good farming practice alongside new techniques
  • Highlight aspects of environmental management
  • Improve food safety
  • To improve public perception of farming
  • Be economically viable
19
Q

what are the aspects of environmental management (3)

A

– Water quality
– Soil erosion
– Wildlife and conservation

20
Q

what are the aspects of being economically viable - 2

A

– Reduce inputs
– Protect environment

21
Q

define crop rotation

A

Growing different crops in a planned sequence across a farm area over a period of time (3-6/8 years)

  • cereal crops : combinable
  • non-cereal crops (break crops)- combinable
22
Q

crop nutrition for an integrated crop management 5

A
  • Adoption of crop rotation
  • Regular soil analysis
    – Adjust nitrogen according to previous cropping
  • Better understanding of the soil : influence of soil type and OM on
    soil fertility and risk of leaching
  • Better knowledge of nutrient requirements of crops
  • Proper utilisation of organic manures
23
Q

what is the main thing you need to reduce the reliance on for crop protection in integrated crop management

how can you overcome this reliance? (7)

A

Reduce reliance on chemicals
– Rotation
– Choose disease resistant varieties
– Increase crop diversity
– Knowledge of disease / pest lifecycles
– Forecasting systems (expert systems)
– Correct evaluation of problem
– good agronomy / crop walking

24
Q

what are the two times of year work is carried out for winter cereal crop

A

autumn
spring

25
Q

Outline of the autumn work of a winter cereal crop

A

autumn work
* stubble cultivation
* ploughing
* pressing / rolling
* autumn fertilisation
* sowing date
* sowing rate
* sowing method
* autumn herbicide
* autumn aphicide

26
Q

Outline of the spring work of a winter cereal crop

A

spring work
* first nitrogen appl.
* first fungicide -T1
* growth regulator
* trace element appl.
* main nitrogen appl.
* second fungicide -T2
* late nitrogen appl. ?
* third fungicide appl. -T3
* aphicide
* harvest / drying
* sale of grain and straw

27
Q

what is level of profitability directly related to ?

A

grain price level

28
Q

what is the key to profitability

A

key to profitability is a balancing of input : output appropriate to the expected grain price level

29
Q

what do you combine together to increase profitability

A

combining profit margin/tonne with tonnes/ha

30
Q

what is key to high grain price

A

tonnes/ha

31
Q

what is key to low grain price

A

key is profit margin/tonne

32
Q

slide 26 &27

A
33
Q

what can short term reactions result in

A

Short term reactions can make for very bad decision making e.g. poor grain prices before spring sowing

34
Q

how long should a cereal production farm plan be ?

what sort of plan is it?
and explain plan

A

Three year / five year
* Rotation plan is critical - need other crops in sequence with wheat and barley
* Option of break crops, non-cereal crops

35
Q

what is there concerns over with the rate of yield improvement in high output productions

A

Concerns over the rate of yield improvement
- genetic improvement
- technical advances : soil / plan

36
Q

what is an example of a high production cost

A

Variable yields in difficult growing seasons

Environmental Science CP (10 decks)

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