Topic 1 Nature of agriculture production Term 1 Aboriginal agriculture Before 1788 - Aboriginal people traditionally has systems of inherited responsibility for looking after the land. Maintaining a knowledge of resource and the balances and change its undergoes In European culture the use of technology is important, and this has influenced an attitude in which other cultures are judged according to their technological level. Europeans considered Aboriginal land management as non-existent, it was though that Aboriginal people wandered around collecting food that was there, without an input into the production of food. Europeans declared that the land was not owned (Terra Nullius), because they could not see the signs of ownership that they were used to, and assumed that the landscape was natural The taking of Aboriginal land has led to modern land rights issues where the original legal concept of terra nullius in Australia has been successfully challenged in court. Firestick farming - Fire was the management tool most widely used by Aboriginal people. The term ‘firestick farming’ was coined to describe deliberate burning of areas of vegetation for specific purpose. Fire was used seasonally to burn areas to encourage growth of food germination. The extinction of a number of Australian mammal has been linked to stopping traditional Aboriginal burning regimes after European settlement. Fire has greatly influenced the evolution of the flora and fauna in Australia Water management - In some areas there is evidence that the Aboriginal people dammed watercourses to promote survival of plants and preserve fish populations during dry periods. Young fish were sometimes carried to these dams and released Animal management - Many aboriginal groups set aside, areas (often were these sacred texts) as ‘sanctuaries’ where wildlife were not hunted. These areas were often important breeding or nesting areas for fish, birds or mammals Plant management - The soil of the Australian continent is extremely poor in nutrients. The style of land management used by Aboriginal people was appropriate as it did not cause undue stress to be placed on the soils of any location. After 1788: European arrival Farm cove - - The beginning of what we call conventional or traditional western – style agriculture began with the arrival of the first fleet in 1788. The first western – style farm was established by the first governor, Arthur Phillip in approximately four hectors at farm cove where the Sydney Botanical gardens are now located. The farms was soon declared a failure Contributing factors were: Soil/nutrition – the soil was sandy, in fertile and held little water. The local grass species were unsuited to grazing animals such as sheep and cattle Climate – rainfall was unpredictable Disease – happy humid, coastal conditions encouraged plant fungal diseases Management – happy the settlers (mostly convicts) had little or no knowledge of agriculture or experience with farming. The tools they brought with them were of poor quality and were unsuited to local conditions. This made clearing and cultivation of the land difficult. Environmental impact since European settlement - Clearing of land for settlements and agriculture removed habitats of native animals The open grazing land maintained by fire was replaced by thickened bush. An accumulation of unburnt fuel caused occasional very severe fires. The hard hoofs of introduced sheep and cattle caused damage to the soil. The soil lost structure and became hard, so water could not penetrate properly. Removal of trees next to rivers and watercourses allowed erosion of banks, flooding and erosion of soil from nearby areas. Overgrazing by sheep and cattle, as well as the impact of rabbits, caused large areas to be stripped of vegetation. This meant there was nothing for the stock to eat, and the soil was not protected by vegetation from physical damage or erosion. Sheep and cattle selectively ate plants and grasses and changed the local plant population. Inputs – materials a farm requires e.g. cattle, grain, yards material. Outputs – end product materials produced e.g. milk, eggs, beef, Lucerne Boundaries – factors that affect your inputs and outputs e.g. money, rainfall amount, stock prices. Boundaries are the limitations of the system Subsystem – each individual parts of the system on a farm. Black box model Shows the inputs and outputs of a farm or enterprise (black box example for a dairy farm) Static display model Provides information about the subsystems of the farm and their interaction with one another, and the boundaries. (static display example for a dairy farm) Climate classification Indigenous culture has developed by regarding all things past and present, including the weather, as interrelated. However, Europeans have generally tried to classify climate more discretely by the: - geometry of the earth and sun: the ancient Greek scholar Aristotle divides the earth's climate into zones according to the sun's elevation. - connections between climate and vegetation: Köppen (1918) chooses climate boundaries with a combination of natural landscape features and aspects of the human experience in mind. - annual water budget: Thornthwaite (1931) groups climates according to precipitation and evaporation. - processes that cause climate: Strahler (1969) relates climates to the air masses that produce them. The Bureau of Meteorology classification modifies Köppen's scheme, dividing some Köppen climates, and combining other Köppen climates, in order to better reflect human experience. Farm case study Farm management ad Key roles - collecting facts y researching and making accurate observations formulating a plan of action specifying clearly the required outcome putting a plan effectively into action effectively countering adverse conditions that may lead to production losses taking responsibility for the outcomes of management decisions careers in agriculture level 1 – skill level equal to year 10 cert 1 or 2 - farmhand, stable hand jackaroo level 2 – skill level equal cert 3 or 4 years’ experience - farrier horse trainer level 3 – skill level equal to diploma or advanced - farm manger level 4 – bachelor’s degree - Agronomists Farm business structure Business structure Family farm Owned and operated by a family Farming corporations Public or private company: e.g. Kidman and vestys beef Cooperatives Many family farms are together, to sell their produce. E.g. Riverina rice Advantages Intimate knowledge of the farm. Motivated to pass a sustainable and successful farm to the children. labour needs supplied by family. Have the resource to draw on, can negotiate prices and reduce inputs costs by buying in bulk corporation properties can share resource and machinery Monopoly can set prices processing and packing plants and produces value added products. Scientist make new breeds/ products buys input in bulk Disadvantages Tradition discourages innovation and change setbacks limit reinvestment. Farmer has little bargaining power. Board of directors and shareholders. All property mangers are employees, some may lack motivation. Large staff turnover new staff need to be trained Famers lose independence in terms of how to mange their farms. Can’t sell outside cooperative; set prices Calendar of operations The timing on a property is governed by: - Type of enterprises on the property Decisions made by the operator Climate Production length of the enterprise Availability of labour Farm budget Budgets are summaries of probable financial outlays and incomes over a specified time. Budgets can assist farmers in a number of ways Determining the optional rates for production factors, such as level of fertiliser usage on a farm Calculating the profitability of various farm practices Determining the advantages of adding extra enterprises or changing the combination of enterprises on a farm Assessing the need for hiring additional labour or machinery rather than purchasing or employing permanent additions to the farm Assessing the profitability of expanding the entire farm or improving various farm subsystems, such as pastures. A WHOLE FARM BUDGET A whole farm budget is constructed to estimate entire farm expenditure and income over the financial year. Useful for Calculating tax Applying for bank loans Assessing the impact of a future radical change to whole farm Introduce new technology Assess future risk Capital value of the property value – infrastructure, improvement Assumed annual return – post financial records and existing market prices Profit / loss – total return – total loss returns on capital investment Examples of a budget 1. Capital invested in property Land Buildings Stock value Total $970,000 $560,000 $412,500 2. Anticipated income Sale of sheep Sale of cattle Sale of wool and skins Contact work in the area Milk sales Total $6,000 $875,000 $2,750 $ 14,500 $118,500 3. Anticipated expenses a) Fixed or overhead costs Equipment depreciation Rates, land tax Salary 1nsurence interest Total $15,750 $22,000 $57,500 $ 3000 b) Variable expenses Fodder, seed, fertiliser Causal wages Cartage Fuel Vet fees Light, power Total 4. Profit/Loss statement $37,500 $37,500 $5,000 $7,500 $6,250 $1,875 Profit = total return – total costs = 229,250 – 193,875 = $35,375 5. Return on capital invested 34375÷n1942500 x 100% = 1.82 Capital invested Soil profiles - Vertical section of soil A soil profile is divided into sections called horizons The main soil horizons are A, B, C and D A Horizon - Were most soil life occurs Called topsoil Can be divided into A1, A2 or Ao (organic) B horizon - Were clays and materials wash down form the A horizon accumulate C horizon - Weathering rock D horizon - Bedrock Finance 1. Finance Simplified and streamed book work Better budgeting Improved the ability to: - Communicate with banks - Tax agencies - Financial planners Financial processes take less time 2. Farm management Monitoring livestock movements Trading reporting Forwarding planning NLIS (National Livestock Identification Scheme) - Provides lifetime trackability on o Disease responses o Market access o Reputation o Identification 3. Gps + vehicle operation tracking Machinery and crop tracking technology Fuel consumption Relieves strain on the farmer Monitor yield + quality Communication through cloud technology Topic 2 Plant Production Term 1 & 2 The structure and function of the leaves, stem and roots The stem 3 main functions - Provides support for the plant Transports water from the roots to the leaves and rest of the plant Transports glucose from the leaves to the parts of the plant that need it. Xylem and phloem make up the transportation system of the plant Xylem - The xylem carries water and dissolved minerals Xylem is a one-way route to the leaves Phloem Throughout entire plant, transporting the sugars and other molecules Phloem is always alive Phloem is a two-way process Formula for photosynthesis The roots Function - Hold plant in position Absorb water and minerals form the soil Have specialised cells to increase surface area for water intake 1. 2. 3. Rot hairs: increase surface area foe water and mineral absorption Meristem: region where new cells are produced Root caps: protects tip of growing root. 1. Fibrous roots: branching roots hold soil in place to prevent soil erosion. E.g. grass 2. Tap roots: larger central root reaches deep water sources underground. E.g. trees, carrots and dandelions Leaf functions 1. main photosynthetic organ 2. broad, flat surface increases surface are for light absorption 3. have systems to prevent water loss - stomata open in day but close at night or when hot to conserve water - waxy cuticle on surface 4. system of gas exchange - allow CO2 in and O2 out of leaf Gas change - leaves are designed to allow carbon dioxide to get to the main chlorophyll layer at the top of the leaf Flowers – reproducetive organof plant Seeds- nourishment of the embryo Parts of a flower Filament Anther Ovary Stigma Petal Stamen Carpel Stem Sepal Supports & holds anther. Part of stamen. Part of stamen, contains pollen. Eggs stored here, join with pollen. Sticky to catch pollen. Brightly coloured Male part of flower. Makes pollen. Made up of anther & filament. Female part, seeds made here. Consists of stigma, style, ovary. Green stalk. Provides support. Special leaves form ring around bottom. Protect the buds. Style Receptacle Supports stigma Top part of stalks where flowers attached. Pollination – The union of the male and female gametes to form a seed. Seeds – consist of an outer coat, embryo and food reserves. Monocots Vs Dicots Angiosperms flowering plants - 110 million years ago formed two groups – monocots and dicots Monocotyledons (monocots) Examples - Palms Grasses Orchids Onions - Oaks Roses Mustards Sunflowers Cacti Dicotyledons (dicots) Examples Features Cotyledons Vein in leaves Flower parts Vascular bundle in stems Mono 1 Usually parallel Usually in multiples of 3’s Scattered Dicot 2 Usually net like Usually in 4’s or in 5’s In a ring Vascular bindles of monocots In monocots vascular bundles in the stem are usually scattered or more complex
