Types of Agriculture Grade 10: Food from the Land

Mixed Farming The use of a single farm for multiple purposes, as the growing of cash crops or the raising of livestock.

Mixed Farms..

Mixed Farms.. Advantages Disadvantages Reduce risk of losing money Keeps soil from being exhausted Can plan crops based on variable factors (including demand, climate etc.) Farmers must divide their attention between multiple endeavours.

Grain Farming The growing and harvesting of wheat, corn, rice, and other grains.

The Grain Farm Industry The Grain farming industry includes about 240,000 farms with an annual grain revenue of $70 billion. Major grain seed production companies are Monsanto, Syngenta, and DuPont. Average annual total revenue per grain farm is $300 000. Top 10% or farms generate 1/3 of total industry revenue.

Dairying The business of owning and operating a dairy farm.

Crucial Cow Content: More than 60,000 U.S. dairy farms provide milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products to the U.S. and other countries. About 99% of all U.S. dairy farms are family-owned and operated. The average herd size on a dairy farm is 135 mature cows. A cow will produce an average of 6.3 gallons of milk each day.

Ranching An extensive farm focused on raising a specific kind of livestock; usually large herds of cattle or sheep for meat and wool.

Ranch Information: People who own or operate a ranch are called stockgrowers or ranchers. Ranching is also a method used to raise less common livestock such as elk, bison, ostrich and emu Some ranches cater exclusively to tourists; these are called guest ranches or dude ranches. (not included in Ag. Industry)

Intensive Farming Also called “intensive agriculture”, is an agricultural production system characterized by the high inputs of capital, fertilizers, labour, or labour-saving technologies such as pesticides. In Contrast with Extensive Farming, which involves a low input of materials and labour, with the crop yield depending largely on the naturally available soil fertility, water supply or other land qualities.

That’s INTENSE!! Advantages Disadvantages Increased yield Leads to cheaper products because of large quantity Less space for animals means less energy, and less food required to feed them Some feel it’s necessary for adequate food production and cost efficiency. Alters the environment Limits natural habitats of animals and wildlife Can lead to soil erosion Fertilizers can alter biology of rivers and lakes Pesticides can kill useful insects Not very sustainable

Plantation Farming A plantation is a large area of land that is usually privately or government owned and employs resident labour to cultivate a single commercial crop. Plantation agriculture is generally found in tropical and subtropical regions. This type of agriculture has achieved new degrees of efficiency in Central and South America.

Problems with Plantations - If a natural forest is cleared for a plantation, there is a loss of biodiversity and habitat. + BUT creating plantations for wood could eliminate the need to exploit natural forests. In past times plantations have been associated with slavery.

Rice Farming Usually exists on a “paddy field”, which is made up of a flooded area of arable land. Rice can be grown in dry-fields, but from the 20th century, paddy-field agriculture became the dominant form of growing rice.

Rice continued... Paddy Fields can be built adjacent to rivers or marshes constructed on steep hillsides. (high cost) Require large quantities of water for irrigation. Rice Farming is very dominant in East, South, and South-East Asia.

Subsistence Farming Self-sufficient farming in which farmers grow only enough food to feed the family, and to make a living. Typical subsistence Farms have a range of crops and animals needed by the family.

Modern Subsistence Farming Largely Subsided in Europe by the start of WWI, and in North America by the 1930’s and 40’s Small percentage of North Americans would still be subsistence Farmers. (Eg: Hutterites) Exists today in large parts of Africa, Asia and South America In areas which are sparsely populated, can be sustainable for a long time.

Nomadic Herding The act of bringing individual animals together into a group, maintaining the group and moving the group from place to place.

Nomadic Herders In the drier parts of Asia, especially Southwest Asia, most rural people make a living by raising livestock. Many are nomads who move with their herds of animals over large territories constantly seeking good supplies of grass and water people live simply and carry their tents and belongings with them Goats Sheep Camels Yaks