Types of Agriculture

1. Types of Agriculture Grade 10: Food from the Land

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

3. Mixed Farms..

4. 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.

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

6. 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.

7. Dairying • The business of owning and operating a dairy farm.

8. 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.

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

10. 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)

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

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

20. 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