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SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 1 Chapter B8 Extensive Farming – Mixed/Wheat-sheep Farming in Southern Australia For answers of CE questions, refer to attached marking scheme. 8.1 Extensive Wheat-Sheep Farming What is mixed farming / extensive farming? CE 1990 Study the following figure show the layout of an Australian farm. Using map evidence, prove that (i) mixed farming, (4 marks) ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ (ii) extensive farming, and (4 marks) ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ are being practised on this farm. SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 2 8.2 Wheat-sheep Farming in Australia 1. Australia is the world’s third largest wheat exporter. 2. She is also the world’s leading wool producer and exporter. The Wheat-sheep Belts in Australia Perth Wheat sheep belt The Australian wheat-sheep belts lie mainly in : a. b. Southeast Australia (1) It extends southwestwards from the state of New South Wales to Victoria and South Australia. (2) The most important wheat-sheep area is the Murray-Darling Basin. Southwest Australia 8.3 Factors Affecting Wheat-sheep Farming in Australia and their Resultant Characteristics. Physical Factors Resultant farming characteristics 1. Land Extensive and undulating relief 2. Climate a. Warm temperature climate b. Summers are warm c. Winters are mild d. Unreliable rainfall e. Occasional droughts occur from time to time a. Extensive farming b. Favour the use of machinery a. The warm temperate climate is suitable for both wheat and sheep farming. Wheat Farming (1) To make full use of the winter rain, winter wheat is widely grown. (2) It is usually planted in autumn, grows during winter and is harvested in summer Sheep rearing SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 3 (1) Merino sheep which produce fine wool are most widely reared. (2) In warm seasons the sheep are allowed to graze on open pasture (3) Put into the wheat fields where they graze on wheat stubbles b. To combat the droughts, irrigation is practised. Rich lands are usually used for wheat growing while the less fertile ones are left for sheep rearing. 3. Soil Cultural Factors 1. Labour Low population density (1-10 persons per square kilometer) shortage of labour 2. Capital Abundant capital 3. Technology and Management a. most farmers are educated more willing to accept new ideas on farming’ b. Researches on new farming techniques are conducted by the Australian government Resultant Farming Characteristics a. Farm machines are widely used b. Additional farm worker are hired during busy periods 4. Market Small local market Capital-intensive Scientific farming methods are employed, e.g. (1) the application of chemical fertilizers (2) the use of pesticides and insecticides (3) the selection of high-yield seedlings (4) the practice of soil and water conservation methods (5) the construction of irrigation (6) the breeding of cross-bred sheep Most of the farm produce are sold in foreign markets. ∵ Small population size 5. Transport Efficient road and rail networks Most farm buildings are located near main roads for easy communication 8.4 Advantages of Wheat-sheep Farming in Australia 1. Less Risky and A More Stable Income Farmers often suffer from loss due to: a. price fluctuation of farm products b. crop failure Mixed farming allows diversification of farms production, the danger of farm loss is reduced. If the price of one product falls, or if one product fails in production, income can still be supplemented through the sale of other produce. 2. Wheat cultivation and sheep rearing are mutually beneficial SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 4 a. After harvest, the stubbles left on the wheat fields serve as a good feed for the sheep b. The sheep provide manure to fertilize the soil as they graze on the fields 3. Labour and farm equipment can be fully utilized a. In mixed farming, the various farm works are complementary. b. The slack time of wheat growing is coincident with the busy time of sheep rearing, and vice versa. c. Farm work goes on throughout the year and this maximizes the utilization of both farm labour and farm equipment. 4. Maintain soil fertility and prevent soil erosion a. Crop-pasture rotation is practiced. b. After 1-2 years of wheat cultivation, the farmland will be used for pasture growing. This can enables the soil to regain its fertility. c. As the fields are always covered by vegetation, the possibility of wind or water erosion is much reduced. 5. Lower cost of production a . Less money is spent on fertilizers because soil fertility can be naturally improved by sheep manure or through crop rotation b. The feeds for sheep can also be obtained from (1) the growing of fodder crops and pasture (2) wheat stubbles 6. More efficient use of farmland Areas with steeper slope and poorer soils can be used for sheep rearing., Areas with gentle slope and fertile soils can be used for wheat cultivation. SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 5 8.5 Constraints and Solutions to Wheat-sheep Farming in Australia Murray-Darlin g Basin Land over 500m Farming constraints River Mountain ranges Measures to overcome the constraints Physical Constraints 1. Climate a. Opening artesian wells a. Unreliable rainfall b. Constructing large-scale b. Ineffective rainfall irrigation projects Southeast Australia is located in c. Dry farming rain shadow area 2. Soil a. Contour ploughing Soil erosion is common b. Crop rotation (1) heavy thunderstorms c. Windbreaks in summer (2) strong wind and desert storms from the interior 3. Animals, Pests and Diseases a. Set up electric fences b. Use of insecticides and pesticides Human Constraints 1. Shortage of Labour a. Use of farming machines cost of labour is high b. Temporary labour are employed in times of busy work 2.Market a guaranteed floor price of wheat Great fluctuations in the price of is set by the Wheat Finance Fund both wheat and sheep products in Australia SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 6 8.6 Roles of Australian government in the development of agriculture 1. Provide financial assistance This can help farmers buy advanced machines to improve the farming productivity. 2. Build multi-purpose water schemes e.g snowy mountain scheme This can provide irrigation water during dry period and solve the problem of insufficient water supply of Australia. 3. Promote marketing of wheat and wool This can enlarge the market area for wheat and wool and therefore the income of farmers become much stable. 4. Build roads linking farms to ports As most of the farm produce are for sale, good transport is a necessity . Consolidated Exercises 1990 CE The following table shows the climatic data of a farm. January July Annual mean Annual total Mean monthly temperature (oC) 24 9 16 --Sunshine (h) 323 151 --2720 Relative 31 65 46 --humidity (%) Mean monthly rainfall (mm) 34 49 --450 Potential evapotranspiration* (mm) 227 31 --1360 * The highest amount of water that could be evaporated or transpired from a given area if the plants had an unlimited water supply. (a) Account for the main climatic constraints that the farmer may face. (6 marks) ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ (b) Suggest some possible measures to overcome these constraints. (6 marks) SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 7 ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 8 Summary Farming Systems Farm size Intensive Farming Any form of farm practisce which involves high-density inputs per hectare small Extensive Farming Any form of farm practice which involves low-density inputs per hectare large Field size Small Large Main source of power Manual labour Machinery Labour input high Low Technological input low High Capital input low High Yield per hectare high Low Yield per man low high Definition