Case Study of Commercial Farming - Cereal Farming in East Anglia

COMMERCIAL FARMING IN EAST ANGLIA - Lynford Hall Farm (Ely, Cambridgeshire)

Why is the area around Lynford Hall Farm ideal for arable farming?

CLIMATE - average annaul rainfall is approx 650mm , summers are warm around 26oC, ideal for ripening, cold winters break up the soil and kill off bacteria.
LAND - the land is very flat in this area, ideal for machinery
SOILS - well drained and fertile boulder clay - this area of the UK is often known as the 'bread basket of the UK' with its rich soils which are glacial in origin
MARKET - the area is close to a densely populated region (just North of London), with a large market for selling crops, supplying many major supermarkets of the East and South East.
COMMUNICATIONS - there are major road links, including the A1 and M11 which enable the rapid transport of crops to market.

What are the characteristics of the farm?

- crops grown include wheat, potatoes and peas
- it is a large farm with 570 hectares in area (it is an example of extensive farming - with relatively few inputs compared to size of farm)
- high output per hectare
- highly mechanised - uses large and specialist machinery and specialist buildings (e.g. grain store, with drying faciltiy and environmental cold stores for potatoes), there are a small number of full time workers

- uses good quality, hybrid seeds which are used to maximise the yields produced
- there is a heavy use of fertilisers and pesticides
- the output is cash crops which are produced and sold for profit
- profits are invested back into the farm - the farm is run by the family partnership, Sears Bros Ltd.

Changes to the System (for more info follow this link):

- a reduced labour force
- forced to streamline operations to save money
- have become increasingly computerised

Diversification:

- There are a number of bungalows on the land some of which have been sold, others are rented
- The farm has looked at the option of wind energy and the possibility of situation wind turbines on the land - however this has been met with objections and has not been undertaken

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT LYNFORD HALL FARM INCLUDING SPECIFIC DETAIL ON THE FARMING SYSTEM, CHANGES etc. SEE THE FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) CASE STUDY PAGE

Photo Credit: Sarahpetherbridge http://www.flickr.com/photos/25890036@N07/3150728496/

Farming - An Introduction: The Farming System

An Introduction to Farming

Types of Farming:

Knowing your key terms is important, make sure you learn the following:

1. Commerical Farming - the growing of crops / rearing of aniamls to make a profit

2. Subsistence Farming - where there is just sufficient food producted to provide for the farmer's own family

3. Arable Farming - involves the growing of crops

4. Pastoral Farming - invovles the rearing of animals

5. Intensive Farming - where the farm size is small in comparison with the large amount of labour, and inputs of capital, fertilisers etc. which are required.

6. Extensive Farming - where the size of a farm is very large in comparison to the inputs of money, labour etc.. needed


FARMING SYSTEMS

A farm is a system in that it has INPUTS, PROCESSES and OUTPUTS

INPUTS - these are things that go into the farm and may be split into Physical Inputs (e.g. amount of rain, soil) and Human Inputs (e.g. labour, money etc.)
PROCESSES - these are things which take place on the farm in order to convert the inputs to outputs (e.g. sowing, weeding, harvesting etc.)
OUTPUTS - these are the products from the farm (i.e. wheat, barley, cattle)


Depending on the type of farming e.g. arable/ pastoral, commerical / subsisitence, the type and amount of inputs, processes and outputs will vary.

You need to make sure you are able to define and give examples of Inputs, Processes and Outputs in farming systems. You also need to be able to give the characteristics of two different types of farming system. Consequently, there are two Farming case studies you will need to learn:


1. Case Study of Commercial Farming in an MEDC - Arable Farming in E Anglia (Lynford Hall Farm - Cambridgeshire)


2. Case Study of Subsistence Farming in an LEDC - Rice Farming in India.

Distribution of Farming in the UK

The type of farming dominant in a particular area will depend on the climate, relief and soil type of an area. Within the UK different farming types are dominant in different areas (see the diagram below)

Links
Farming as a System (BBC Bitesize) - external link


Photo Credit - Paul Keleher http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkeleher/2746648333/