Industry and agriculture

farmingChanging patterns of British agriculture

Patterns of agricultural land use are primarily determined by physical constraints: soil, climate, relief and aspect. On a global scale, climate is the key determinant. Especially important are precipitation levels (annual levels and seasonal variability) and length of the thermal growing season. In Europe, for instance, the climatic margins of cultivatable land are found at around 60 degrees North. Beyond this limit, even very extensive forms of cereal farming or animal husbandry become mostly impractical.

Local factors such as relief, aspect, soils and parent material - as well as the degree of continentality - may additionally determine exactly where productive land reaches its natural limit. For instance, the warming effect of the Gulf Stream mean that agriculture is possible in higher latitudes along the seaboards of western Europe than it is further inland.

Physical factors are not the only influences on patterns of agricultural land use, of course. Systems of land tenure, inheritance laws, accessibility, market preferences and government subsidies (along with other forms of support or interference) can all play a role.

How is climate change influencing the distribution of different farming types?

Looking at the national pattern of farming, the Department of the Environment anticipates a general northward and westward shift in the location of crop types currently grown in the UK. This reflects an emerging trend of drier summers in southern and eastern parts of the country as climate begins to change.

A spread of novel crops such as soya, sunflower and grain maize can be expected, along with greater success for viticulture (wine growing). There are already over 400 commercial wine-producers in the UK and many, such as Yearlstone Vineyard in Devon, reported record yields during 2006. In the event of significant warming in excess of 2C, even olive growing could become a profitable business.

More general impacts on agriculture could include:

  • Increase in some crop yields with further rises in atmospheric CO2
  • Increase in soil erosion on lighter soils during more frequent heavy precipitation events
  • Increase in demand for irrigation especially for horticulture in southern counties
  • Change in timing of farm operations, e.g. cultivations, spraying and harvesting
  • Increase in incidence of some agricultural pests and diseases

Climate changes will bring challenges and new opportunities to the farming community. Whether the net profitability of the sector increases or decreases remains to be seen. For instance, warmer temperatures may increase yields in potato growing regions in Pembrokeshire. However, increased temperature and a longer growing season would also cause changes in the water balance of the region, resulting in predicted falls of 5-10% in wheat yields.

Further Reading:

Student Practice Question:

Examine the factors responsible for changing patterns of agricultural land use in the UK.

In addition to economic factors, such as EU subsidies or changing consumer demand, a good answer might also consider the physical challenges and opportunities that climate change is bringing for different types of farming activity and the impact on distribution that this could have.