RS10610 - AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Module Identifier	RS10610
Module Title	AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr John Harries
Semester	Semester 1
Assessment	Seminar presentation	Working in pairs, and enterprise is selected, studied and reported on orally.	20%
	Exam	1.5 Hours	80%

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:

identify and describe the range, distribution and scale of farming systems in the UK

identify and describe the influence of agricultural policy on farming practices

discuss the essential components of livestock and crop systems

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.