Download Chapter 8 Extensive Farming –Mixed/Wheat

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)
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(ii)
extensive farming, and
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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
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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)
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(b)
Suggest some possible measures to overcome these constraints.
(6 marks)
SLCSS/Form 5/GEOG/Chapter B8/P. 7
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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