Geography Presentation Report

Farming in Europe

Christy Chong (10) Sue Fong (12) Joanne Kou (16) Michelle Wu (31)

Leaders report:

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Christy Chong (10)

Finding Information

Sue Fong (12)

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Joanne Kou (16)

Finding Information

Michelle Wu (31)

Doing PowerPoint

Types of farming
(1)Arable farming
Basically means growing of crops and cereals.

(2)Pastoral farming
It is the rearing and production of animals including pigs, chickens, hill farming sheep, beef and dairy cattle etc.

(3)Mixed farming
It is just a combination of arable and pastoral farming, it also known as sustainable farming.

(4)Horticulture
It is the production of flowers, fruit, vegetables or ornamental plants.

(5)Market gardening
Market gardening is the production of fruit and vegetables. The biggest requirement is the transport routes needed to take the products to shops and supermarkets for sale. The products have to be sold within 24 hours of being produced.

(6)Viticulture
It is the production of grapes.

Factors that affecting the farm type

(1) Labour
Farming becoming mechanised, the numbers of people working on farms has diminished. Many of those people tend to be more like farm managers.

(2) Climate
It might occur in a certain area. Number of the hours of sunshine, the average temperature and the amount of rainfall are very important.

(3) Politics
Government and International farming policies have had a huge impact on many farms around the world. Farmers are protected and that their produce will be bought. Some farmers have to completely change what they are growing to suit the new regulations.

(4) Relief
It is a very important factor in determining the type of agricultural activity. Flat, sheltered areas are usually best for crops. Steep slopes are more likely to be used for sheep and cattle farming.

(5) Soils
Thick, well-irrigated soil is usually the best for crop farming. In Britain the best soil for arable farming can be found in Norfolk. In hilly areas the soil tends to be thinner and less fertile, so it is more suitable for pasture farming.

Commercial farming
The farms are large. A certain amount of paid labour is usually employed, but most of the farm work is done by using modern machinery. Almost all of what is grown on the farm is sold. Methods are generally scientific and efficient, with much use being made of artificial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. A variety of different crops are grown on the farm.

Impact of Commercial Farming

A drought or flood can wipe out. If the farmers want to earn more money and make more profit, they will grow as much as they can on their farmland. In order to make the crops grow faster, the farmers will put a lot of chemical substances into the farmland. The farmland becomes less fertile, overcultivation will occur, and finally lead to a drought.

Farming in Britain
Different types of farming occur in different regions of Britain. This is due to the influence of relief, climate (especially precipitation and temperature), soil type and to an extent closeness to the market. Upland areas generally lend themselves to sheep farming. Flat areas to crop production and wet/warm areas to milk and beef production. Some parts of Britain have excellent soil for crops, while others are used for cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.

In the north-west of England, Wales and Scotland, farmers keep cattle and sheep. Sheep can survive the cold winters on the hills and moors. In the south-west of England, the rich grass is ideal for feeding dairy cows.

 In the south-east of England and the lowlands of Scotland, grain, potatoes and sugar beet are grown.

In the east of England (East Anglia), wheat, barley and vegetables grow in enormous fields.

The main types of farming Britain are arable, dairying and hill farming. Many farms are actually mixing some or all of these so as to make more money.

Why these types of farming are used in UK?

It is because the Common Agricultural Policy and other regulations encouraged arable farming.

The map below shows where these main farming types occur:

Farming in Portugal

Portugal produces a wide variety of crops and livestock products. The main
agricultural products in Portugal include figs, mushrooms, tomatoes, wine, grapes, sunflower etc.

There is a poor agriculture performance: - The level of investment in agriculture was very low. - The number of tractors and the quantity of fertilizer used per unit area was one-third of the European Community average in the mid-1980s. - Farms in the north are small and fragmented, and they are usually very small. - Distribution channels and economic infrastructure were inadequate.

Organic farming in Portugal has steadily increased in the past years. The farmers are interested in organic agriculture because of the financial support offered by the European Union and higher market prices.

Trend of farming
As farming has become less important as a way of life, it has become more important as a business enterprise. Scientific methods and labor-saving machinery have made farming increasingly productive.

Today's successful farmers are expert not just in agriculture but also proficient in accounting, marketing, and finance. Farms that are not run in a businesslike fashion are hard to survive. At the same time, the use of tractors and other modern farm equipment has reduced the need for farm labour.