Module Identifier | RS10610 | ||
Module Title | AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS | ||
Academic Year | 2000/2001 | ||
Co-ordinator | Dr John Harries | ||
Semester | Semester 1 | ||
Assessment | Exam | 1.5 Hours | 80% |
Seminar presentation | Working in pairs, and enterprise is selected, studied and reported on orally. | 20% |
Aims of the module
To provide a basic understanding of livestock and crop production systems in the UK and the interaction of biological, physical and economic factors that influence them.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
Syllabus / Curriculum design
The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and farm visits and will cover the following aspects:
Introduction to agriculture, structure of the UK industry, the policy framework and its impact, consumer influences, farming systems and their distribution, influence of environment on agriculture and choice of system, manipulating basic resources, sustainable agriculture, examples of crop systems, grassland systems, milk, meat and egg production, trends in farm incomes, diversification of farm businesses.
Reading Lists
Books
Haines M. (1982)
An Introduction to Farming Systems.
Soffe R J (ed). (1995)
The Agricultural Notebook.
Spedding C R W (ed). (1992)
Fream's Principles of Food and Agriculture.
Spedding C R W, Walsingham J M, Hoxey A M. (1981)
Biological Efficiency in Agriculture.