Unit 4 - Primary

Resource Activities

Agriculture

Objectives 4.1, 4.2, & 4.4

Agriculture Chapter 9, Outcomes 4.2 and 4.4

What makes a natural material a

potential resource? 4.1.1

Three Conditions must be met

1) Need or Want

2) Technological Development

3) Profitability

System’s Model 4.2.1

A system’s model includes 3 components

1. Inputs (Natural & Human)- Factors put

into a system, that are operated upon by the

system’s processes. EX: fertilizer

2. Processes- Procedures or operations

performed on inputs to produce outputs. Ex:

Ploughing a field for crops

3. Outputs- The products leaving a system,

that result from the systems processes. Ex:

crops growing

Farming Inputs,

Processes, and Outputs

Inputs Processes Outputs

Climate Ploughing Meat

Topography Sowing Seed Livestock

Seeds Weeding Crops

Water Harvesting

Sunlight Spraying pests

Labor Fertilizing

Plants

Fertilizer

Inputs

Natural Inputs in a farming operation

These are provided by the environment.

Examples: Climate, Topography, soil.

Human Inputs in a farming operation

Inputs provided by humans.

Examples: Labour, Fertilizers

Processes

These are the activities used on farms to help grow the crops.

Example:

Situated near Sussex in Smith Creek, Keohanlane Farm, is a dairy farm.

Processes they use include:

Manure management: Store manure in Manure Storage to prevent it from entering the water. They also use it on their crops.

Use strip cropping to prevent soil erosion.

Plant clover in the winter to prevent soil erosion.

Processes

Inputs Processes Outputs

The inputs you have determine the processes you use

both the inputs and processes affect what kind out outputs you get.

So…

Insect

infestation

pesticides good harvest

Dry Climate water crops •good harvest

You’ve got insects in your crops…

Use processes like pesticides to get them out!

There… now you’ll have a decent harvest

Input, Process, or Output?

Pick either input, process, or output for the following statements. Vegetable Stand

Output

A piece of cheese Output

Climate Input

Labour Input

Irrigation Spray Process

Commercial and

Subsistence Farming

Commercial Farming- Any agriculture

system that is geared towards the sale of

its produce.

Subsistence Farming- A form of

agriculture where almost all the produce

goes to feed and support the household

and is not for sale.

Commercial and

Subsistence Farming

Extensive vs Intensive

Extensive Farming: Low Inputs, Labor, and Capital

Low Yields of Crop (Outputs)

Cheap Land

Ex: Cattle Ranching, Grain and Oil Seeds

Intensive farming: Large amounts of labor, inputs and capital

High yields of crop

Ex: fruits. Dairy Farms

Extensive farming vs. Intensive Farming

VS

Terms

Shifting Cultivation- Uses a technique called Slash and Burn Cultivation.

An area of land is cleared. Bark is tore from the tree trunks to dry it out.

Later the area is burned. Crops are then planted in the ashes, which serve as a fertilizer.

Once the soil becomes infertile (2-3 years), the area is left for a period of years allowing native trees (Climax Vegetation) and shrubs to re-grow.

Shifting Cultivation

Terms

Agribusiness- Is a large self-sufficient farming operation that produces its own inputs, maintains its own processing facilities, and determines its outputs, which it markets through its own marketing divisions.

Nomadic Herding- The wandering, but controlled movement of livestock, solely dependent on natural forage – is the most extensive type of land use system.

Terms

Agribusiness Nomadic Herding

Example:

Food Inc.

Example:

Texas ranch

Climate Map

Agricultural Map