Primary Resource Activities Farming

Systems Model A Systems model is a chart used to track the inputs, processes and outputs of an operation, in this case, farming. It’s basically all about understanding that there are inputs, processes and outputs in any system. Something goes in, an action is done to it, and then something comes out of the system. Tracking farming systems have allowed farmers to develop soil as a resource, using expertise and technology to create profits.

Example:

Inputs Inputs – the factors put into a system that are operated upon by the system’s processes. For example, in a farming system the seeds are an input. There are certain inputs that are involved in all farming processes. Some are natural and some are human. It is important to know the difference.

Inputs continued Classify each of the following natural or human: Climate - Topography - Soil - Labour - Seeds - Plants - Fertilizer - Natural Natural Natural Human Natural Natural Natural

Processes The actions of a system that take inputs and turn them into outputs. For example, in a farming system sowing the seeds so they can grow is a process. Farming operations require many processes to create a saleable output. Four basic processes are: Ploughing Sowing seeds Weeding Harvesting

Processes continued Each of these actions takes a raw material such as soil, seeds, or plants, and turns it into a saleable product such as vegetables, wheat or hay. Other processes include: Cleaning animal housing Collecting eggs Baling hay Raising cattle Milking cows Making cheese Irrigation spraying Pesticide/herbicide spraying

Outputs The products leaving a system that result from the system’s processes.

Farming Systems The two basic types of farming systems are commercial and subsistence: Commercial farming – Farms that are operated with the goal of producing more than the owners need for personal use. This excess in outputs is sold for profit. Commercial farms are often involve large tracts of land. An example would be the large wheat farms of the prairies. Commercial farms are capital intensive, meaning they use more money and machinery than humans.

Subsistence farming – Farms that are operated to meet the needs of the owners with little or no extra produced. Subsistence farms usually involve small tracts of land. An example would be a backyard garden. Subsistence farms are labour intensive. They use people more than money or machinery (capital).

Types of Farming Practices Extensive farming – Farming with low inputs of capital and labour, generally with low yields per hectare. It is associated with regions of cheap available land where high revenues are unimportant. Intensive farming – Farming with a high level of inputs (capital and labour) and high yields. Outputs are valuable and often perishable. Intensive farming is usually found in regions of dense population and high land values.

Crop rotation – A farming practice that farmers use to protect the soil. Fields are divided into sections with a different crop planted in each section and one section left fallow. Each year the type of crop planted in a section is changed so that no one nutrient is drawn out of the soil completely and one area gets a break.

Shifting cultivation – Also known as “slash and burn” farming Shifting cultivation – Also known as “slash and burn” farming. This is a farming method used in tropical and warm temperate areas where there is thick vegetation and a good growing season. The vegetation is cut down and burned by the farmer and the burned out area is used for a few years until crops don’t grow well and weeds begin to take over. Farmers then move to a new site and repeat the process.

Agribusiness – A unique, self-sufficient farming system, much larger than a single farm. Agribusinesses produce all of their own inputs, maintain their own processing facilities and market their outputs. They are large enough to form partnerships with international corporations and have vast capital resources to be able to afford to consistently update to newer technologies.

Nomadic herding – A farming practice of raising livestock where the farmer has no home base but rather moves around with the herd to different grazing areas as suits the farmer. This practice is found most often in underdeveloped countries where land ownership is not well defined, or is defined on a cultural rather than personal level.

Agriculture and Climate There is a connection between the climate of a region and the type of agriculture carried out there. Certain types of crops grow better in certain climatic conditions.

Examples: Arid or Semi-Arid areas in China and Africa tend to have a lot of nomadic herding. These areas produce a climax vegetation of grasslands so they are good for feeding livestock and grazing animals such as sheep and goats. Developed nations like the U.S. and Canada that have this climate zone area areas where you find cattle ranches like in Alberta and Montana.

Subtropical Regions are good for growing rice. Marine West Coast and Continental Warm Summer regions are suited to mixed farming and dairy farming. Commercial farming tends to be done in Temperate climates. Small holding and subsistence farming is generally carried out in Tropical and Dry climates.