Module Identifier RS10610  
Module Title AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Peter D Jenkins  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Basil T Wolf, Dr Michael T Rose, Mr Nicolas H Lampkin  
Course delivery Lecture   22 Hours 22 x 1-hour lectures  
  Practical   6 Hours 2 x 3 hour visits  
Assessment Semester Exam   1.5 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2   80%  
  Semester Assessment   Seminar Presentation Outcome assessed: 3 Working in pairs, an enterprise is selected, studied and reported on orally.   20%  
  Supplementary Exam   1.5 Hours   100%  

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

Aims

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.

Content

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.

Transferable skills

.4 Writing in an academic context
   This is assessed in the written examination

.5 Oral discussion and presentation
   This will be tested in the seminar presentation

.8 Group activity
   This will be developed in preparation for the seminar presentation

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.