An Introduction to Farming
There’s a whole lot of life on the farm!
What is Farming?
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Farms are important
for everyone.
We get all of the food
we eat from farms –
some fresh, some
processed.
Farms also supply a
lot of the fibres and
other materials that we
use every day.
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Food examples:
Meat, Dairy (milk,
cheese), Oils Fruits
and Vegetables
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Fibre examples:
Cotton, Wool, Silk,
Hemp
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Other examples:
Leather, Wood,
Rubber
A farmer’s life
Farmers are very
important for growing the
produce that we use.
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Sowing Cotton
Photo courtesy of Northern Tablelands LLS
Farmer’s don’t just
harvest crops or breed
stock.
Farmers need to know
about the land, crops,
animals, selling the
products and
managing money.
Farmer’s need to be a
mechanic, plumber
and even a vet when
needed.
Types of Farms in Australia
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There are a lot of different types of farms in
Australia.
We have a wide range of climates, soil types and
available water (when not in drought).
This gives us different types of farming, depending
on the local conditions.
Learn about some of the different types of farming
that you can find in Australia by going through the
following slides.
Food, Fibre or Other
On your worksheets, you need to mark which of the
following farms provide us with food, fibre or other
use. There can be more than one use.
Write down in the space provided what you think that
use is. For example:
Animal
Cattle
Farming
Food
✓
Fibre Other
✓
✓
Describe the use
Meat – steak, veal
Hair – brushes, felt
Skin – leather
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Photo credit: K. Coleman
Cattle Farming
Beef Cattle Farming
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In Australia, around 90% of all cattle are used for
beef.
Beef cattle are raised for use as meat.
All parts of the animals have a use:
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Meat - eating (e.g. steak and veal)
Skin - leather and hide coverings
Hair - felts, yarns and brushes
Bones and Scraps - beef stock.
Australia is one of the largest cattle exporters in the
world.
Dairy Cattle Farming
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Dairy farming is another major cattle industry in
Australia.
Dairy cows are raised for their milk.
The cows are taken to a dairy where suction cups
are attached to the teats on their udders to extract
the milk.
Products produced include cheese, milk,
evaporated milk, yogurt and cream.
Dairy products are a great source of calcium which
gives us strong bones.
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Cotton Farming
Cotton Farming
Cotton farming is found across central NSW & QLD.
 Cotton is a natural fibre that is grown on the cotton
plant and can be woven or knitted together.
 The fibre is processed and turned into fabrics like
corduroy, jersey, velvet, flannel and chambray.
These fabrics are used for clothing, furnishings,
tents, bandages and cotton swabs.
 Cotton seeds are crushed for oil or used as animal
feed.
 The stalks and leaves can be used as mulch or to
make ethanol (for petrol).
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Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Grain Farming
Grain Crops
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Over 15 million hectares of Australia is planted with
grain crops each year.
Grain crops include cereals, legumes and oilseeds.
◦ Cereals - wheat, barley, sorghum and oats.
◦ Legumes - lupins, field peas and chick peas.
◦ Oilseeds - canola and sunflower.
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A lot of the foods we eat contain some sort of grain.
Grain crops also provide feed for farm animals.
Some grain crops (like legumes) are grown to help
return important nutrients to the soil.
Wheat Farming
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Wheat is farmed from the seed grains of the wheat
grass.
It is Australia’s largest grain crop and most of our
wheat is sold to other countries.
Foods made from wheat include flour, bread, pasta,
cereals, biscuits and cakes.
Wheat is one the most eaten foods in the world.
The stalks and other parts of the wheat plant are
used for making hay to feed to livestock.
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Sheep Farming
Sheep (meat) Farming
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Farming sheep for meat is a major part of
Australian farming.
Australia is one of the world leaders in growing
sheep for food.
Sheep meat is known as either lamb (less than 2
years old) or mutton (older than 2 years).
Lamb is the most preferred type of sheep meat.
Sheepskins are very sought after. They are used
for ugg boots, car seat coverings, gloves, coats,
rugs and linings for a large variety of products.
Sheep (wool) Farming
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The wool is harvested by shearing (cutting) it from
the sheep’s fleece.
Wool is a very useful natural fibre that is warm,
water resistant and fire resistant.
Some things you might find made from wool are
jumpers, socks, coats, suits, Fire-fighters uniforms,
tennis ball coverings, doonas, sleeping bags,
insulation, blankets, furniture coverings and
carpets.
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Photo credit: K. Coleman
Fruit and Vegetable Farming
Fruit and Vegetable Farming
Fruit and vegetable farming involves the growing of
crops mainly for human consumption.
 A large variety of fruit and vegetables are grown all
over Australia depending on the suitable climate
and soil conditions.
 They are usually grown on rich, fertile soils that
contain a lot of nutrients.
 Fruits and vegetables can be taken from all parts of
the plants (stem, root, flower, fruit and leaves).
 Most things that you find in a green grocer can be
grown in Australia.
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Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Photo credit: K. Coleman
Poultry Farming
Poultry Farming
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Poultry farming involves the raising of birds for use
of their eggs, meat or feathers.
Poultry includes chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys,
pheasants, fowls, ostriches and emus.
Chickens are the main type of poultry in Australia.
Poultry is one of the most widely eaten meats
throughout the world.
The feathers of some poultry are widely used
because of their warmth to make doonas, pillows,
sleeping bags and other things that need good
insulation.
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Photo credit: K. Coleman
Viticulture (wine grapes)
Viticulture (wine grapes)
Viticulture is the growing
of grapes to make wine.
 Australia has developed
a very strong wine
industry and exports its
wine all over the world.
 Wine is made by the
fermentation of the
grapes.
 Wine can be made from
one or a combination of
grape varieties.
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Photo credit: K. Coleman
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Photo courtesy of Northern Tablelands LLS
Goat Farming
Goat Farming
Goats are used for their meat, fibre and milk.
 Australia is the largest exporter of goat meat
(called Chevon) in the world.
 Goats thrive in Australia due to their resilience and
ability to adapt to a wide range of conditions.
 Goat fibres are called cashmere or mohair.
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◦ Mohair - very strong and often mixed with other fibres to
give texture and luster (shininess) to a fabric.
◦ Cashmere - a premium fibre that is soft, warm and light.
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Goat dairy products, like fetta cheese, provides an
alternative to cow’s milk products.
Can you think of
what food, fibres
or other uses I
am farmed for?
Pig Farming
Pig Farming
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Pigs are raised for their meat, skin (leather) and
bristles.
We commonly know pig meat as pork, ham, bacon
or gammon.
All parts of the pig is used in some way.
◦ Bristles - used for brushes or even in dartboards.
◦ Skin - used for leather that makes hand bags and shoes.
Traditionally footballs are made from pig leather.
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Pigs are very clever animals that make great
pets…if you have enough room!
Other Farming Industries
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Aquaculture
◦ Fish, crustaceans,
molluscs and plants
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Agroforestry
◦ Wood, mulch
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Sugar Cane
◦ Sugar, alcohol, mulch
Now that you are inspired about farms,
it is time to get writing for the
2014 Farming Families Enviro-Stories
competition! GOOD LUCK