Rural Geography

Starter In groups, come up with two of each of the following: Changes in farming Reasons Examples

Learning intentions: To define biofuels, GM crops and Organic farming To describe the reasons for and against biofuels I will be able to: Add information relating to biofuels to a report on the Great Plains

Biofuels There have been many changes in the Great Plains in recent years but some of the most controversial changes include growing biofuels, using genetically modified crops and organic farming

Biofuels – definition A fuel derived immediately from living matter.

Biofuels Biofuels are seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to petrol and diesel They are made from living matter such as corn, sugarcane and rapeseed The crops that are grown are fermented to produce ethanol Worldwide, more and more modern vehicles are being designed to run on ethanol and biodiesel In the Great Plains corn and soybeans are two of the main crops grown to produce biofuels

Biofuels The US government set up the Renewable Fuel Standard programme in 2005 to ensure that the country produces its own biofuel It sets minimum targets each year e.g. in 2012 it insisted that 13 billion gallons (59 billion litres) of biofuel had to be produced in the USA and that 40 per cent of all the corn grown must be used in biofuel production But as biofuel crops become more common, people are also aware that they bring problems as well as benefits

The problems with growing biofuel crops in the Great Plains are: The increased demand for corn (and other biofuel crops) causes the price of biofuel crops, and consequently food, to increase Corn is used to feed livestock so this is increasing the costs of livestock farmers and as a result increasing the price of meat and dairy products Corn has a very high water requirement, water supply in the Great Plains is already limited and so scarce water is being used up quickly

The problems with growing biofuel crops in the Great Plains are: Biofuel crops need a lot of fertilisers to grow well, particularly in the Great Plains where growing conditions are not always suitable. Therefore, farmers use more chemicals which has damaging effects on the environment, particularly on water sources

The UN has called for the USA to suspend its production of ethanol because it is believed to be leading to a food crisis around the world

The advantages of growing biofuel crops in the Great Plains are: Producing more of its own fuel, rather than importing it, saves the USA a lot of money Thousands of jobs have been created in the biofuel industry, reducing unemployment rates Billions of dollars are made from the biofuel industries each year. In North Dakota alone, $300 million is made from the production of ethanol Farmers in the Great Plains have greatly benefited from the biofuels industry. Farming went from being unproductive in many states to being very profitable

The advantages of growing biofuel crops in the Great Plains are: When burned, biofuels emit less pollution than fossil fuels, which should reduce global warming The number of vehicles run on ethanol in the USA has been increasing steadily each year and so benefiting the environment

Genetically Modified (GM) Crops GM crops are plants that have been genetically altered by scientists so that they will grow better (the plants have had genes from other plants put into them) The use of GM crops in the USA is a controversial issue. Some argue that GM crops are a danger to people’s health, while others feel that they are hugely beneficial to the economy

Advantages Disadvantages Crops are being modified so that they can tolerate drought. In the Great Plains long summer droughts in many states can ruin crops for an entire growing season. Growing GM crops would ensure that yields are reliable each year. One of the largest arguments against GM crops concerns people’s health. Many scientist believe that altering crops from their natural state could pose significant problems to people’s health. In some of the northern states of the Great Plains, such as North Dakota, low temperatures and spring freezes can lead to crop failure. GM crops have now been altered so that they can withstand low temperatures and can grow regardless of how hot or cold it is. There are concerns about the cost of GM crops. Some believe that GM crops could be too expensive for many farmers and therefore the wealth gap between rich and poor farmers will widen.

Advantages Disadvantages Farmers have many problems to contend with when growing crops. Disease caused by fungi and bacteria can ruin crops. GM crops have been designed to resist diseases, therefore reassuring farmers that their crops will be successful. New types of crops entering the food chain could be very damaging to other organisms such as caterpillars Many crops are lost each year due to insect pests, tis can lead to huge financial loss for the farmer. Farmers can use pesticides to try to minimise the problem but many consumers are put off eating crops treated in this way. GM crops can be engineered so that they are resistant to pests. Scientists are worried that insects may become resistant to GM crops. Due to the difficult climate in the Great Plains, there have been very few varieties of crops grown. Crops that have never been able to grow in regions before are now being grown at huge financial gain for the farmer.

Organic Farming Organic farming can be both arable and livestock. Organic arable farmers do not use synthetic (artificial) pesticides and fertilisers to help them to grow crops, and livestock farmers do not use growth hormones and antibiotics. Organic farming in the Great Plains has seen a massive increase in recent years as demand for organic produce free from chemicals has soared. There are many arguments for and against organic farming.

Many people argue that organic food tastes better Advantages Disadvantages Many people argue that organic food tastes better It stops people taking chemicals into their body Organic farming is sustainable – it is the future It means we have no need to buy pesticides and fertilisers There is less pollution of the air and of our water Organic food is more expensive – will many people buy it? We need to employ more workers on organic farms Organic farmers cannot grow GM crops It is more time consuming growing organic produce

Task – answer the following questions: What are biofuels and what are they used for? a) what are the three main arguments for growing biofuels in the Great Plains? b) what are the three main arguments against growing biofuels in the Great Plains? What are genetically modified crops? Do you support the use of GM crops? Give reasons for your answer. If crops are grown organically, what does this mean? If you were a farmer, do you think you would be an organic or a conventional farmer? Give reasons for you choice.