Module Identifier
RS10610
Module Title
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Iwan G Owen
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 2 x 1 hour lectures per week
Practical 2 x 3 hour visits
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Seminar Presentation  Working in pairs, an enterprise is selected, studied and reported on orally.  Outcome assessed: 3  30%
Semester Exam 1.5 Hours   Outcomes assessed: 1, 2  70%
Supplementary Exam 1.5 Hours   100%

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Identify and describe the range, distribution and scale of farming systems in the UK.

2. Identify and describe the influence of agricultural policy on farming practices.

3. Discuss the essential components of livestock and crop systems.

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 List


Haines M (1982) An Introduction to Farming Systems Primo search Soffe R J (ed) (1995) The Agricultural Notebook Primo search Spedding C R W (ed) (1992) Fream's Principles of Food and Agriculture Primo search Spedding C R W, Walsingham J M, Hoxey A M (1981) Biological Efficiency in Agriculture Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4