Unit 3 Chapter 11 -

Agriculture

Agriculture Definition:

the land-based cultivation of living organisms for the benefits of humans, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of livestock

Agriculture was not common in NL until 1700s

Introduced by Moravian missionaries Only 1% of our island’s land is suitable

for agriculture (over 640 farms)

Major crops in Newfoundland

Berries (eg. blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, bakeapples)

Vegetables (eg. turnip, carrot, potato)

Turf grass (lawn sods)

Forage (grass and legumes used for animal feed)

Christmas trees

Livestock (horses, cows, goats, also heritage animals like NL pony, NL dog, NL sheep, Labrador Husky)

Dairy (cows milk)

Poultry (chickens, eggs)

Land & sea – videos

The Berry Belt

Harvesting the Bog (worksheet)

Challenges to agricultureA) Climate

Agrometeorology is the study of the interaction between meteorology (the weather) and agricultureTwo important factors determine what crops can grow in an area:

- moisture

- temperature (higher temp = faster plant growth)

GDD Growing degree-day (GDD)

- method of calculating the heat available for plant growth

Daily GDD = ((Tmax + Tmin)/2) - Tbase

Tmax = daily maximum air temperature

Tmin = daily minimum air temperature

Tbase = GDD base temperature for the plant being grown

FrostB) Number of frost free days:

A day when the temperature does not fall below 0OCFrost damage is a major threat to crops in NLFruits/berries are very sensitive to frost, which can destroy the entire cropThe average number of frost free days in NL is between 40-180

Prevent Frost DamagePlant crops on sites

less vulnerable to frost

Use heaters or open fires

Cover plants with insulating materials (plastic mulch)

Using water sprinklers

C) Day Light

Daily TemperaturesPhotosynthesis

D) Soils Composed of (when healthy):

- mineral particles (45%)

- organic particles (5%)

- water (25%)

- air (25%)

Porosity is a measure of the air & water content of soil – there are spaces between soil particles where air and water mix

Impacts of Climate change on agriculture:

Higher levels of carbon dioxideHigher temperatureAvailable waterSoil fertility and erosionPests and diseasesRising sea levels

Livestock in Newfoundland

Cattle

largest agricultural sector in NL

expensive to start & operate

Milk (primary), cheese, butter, fresh cream, ice cream

Local beef accounts for 5% of beef consumed in NL

Goats

Milk and meat (feta cheese)

good for lactose-intolerant people

Inexpensive (less land needed)

Sheep

- first livestock raised in NL

- wool & meat

- minimal cost Swine (pigs)

- meat (pork, bacon, ham, sausages)

- can move meat to market quickly (fresh) Fur Species

- pelt

- fox, mink, lynx

Impacts of livestock on the environment

Water quality

- run off from manure storage

- manure deposited on fields

- livestock access to water bodies

Reduction of biodiversity

- clearing of land for livestock farms

Climate

- Approx. 5-10% of greenhouse gases are produced by livestock and livestock waste, which contributes to global warming.

Livestock Waste - Manure Agricultural wastes include manure,

animal parts, and crop residue Great fertilizer for crops; can cause

environmental damage when not disposed of properly

Can also be used as a source of fuel called biogas – a mixture of gases (50-60% methane and carbon dioxide)

Produced by anaerobic digestion (breakdown of organic matter in absence of oxygen)

Biogas Benefits A renewable resource An alternate source

of energy Provides a way of

managing manure in large operations

Reduces odours from manure

Anaerobic digestion destroys harmful bacteria in manure and reduces land & water pollution

http://www.greenenergyfutures.ca/blog/poop-power-story-biogas

Newfoundland Poultry Strong and growing

industry – 8 chicken producers

Our mild climate is ideal

Our poultry industry has 3 parts:

Broiler chickens: raised indoors for meat

Layers: caged to provide eggs

Turkeys

Soil: A Renewable Resource

Good soil needs to be managed and protected

Factors that influence soil formation: Parent material (weathering of rock) Climate (temp. speeds

decomposition) Drainage (water movement) Time (soil fertility improves with age) Living organisms (microorganisms,

earthworms) Cultivation (farming techniques)

Newfoundland & Labrador Soils

Almost all of our province’s soils are sandy loam

High in silt and sand, low in clay

Pores are large so water passes through easier, meaning less erosion

Our cool climate causes organic material to decay slower

Newfoundland & Labrador Soils

Many crops do not grow well in acidic conditions (pH level 1-7)

In NL, pH is increased by adding limestone (calcium & magnesium)

Sometimes ashes or decomposed seaweed

Soil Conservation Soil management includes:

Tillage (cultivation for seeding) Prevention of erosion & compaction Fertilizers (add minerals – nitrogen,

potassium, etc.) Inorganic & organic

Rotating crops Drainage improvements Pest control

Land Degradation Processes

Soils can degrade from poor agricultural practices such as: Erosion Compaction Acidification Loss of organic matter

Erosion Most serious form is by water and wind How bad the erosion is depends on:

The slope of the land (main concern in NL). Steeper = more erosion

Organic content – high content soils act like sponges

- low content soils are sandy and hold less water

Cultivation practices and crop types (forage crops like hay hold soil together; crops like potatoes do not because of their roots when pulled out)

Impacts of Erosion Reduces the capacity of soil to support

agriculture Plants are more vulnerable to disease Contamination of waterways through

the addition of pesticides, fertilizers, etc.

How can erosion be reduced?

Cover crops protect the surface of the ground from weathering (In NL include: oats, ryegrass, fall rye)

Contour ploughing - ploughing across the slope of the land, rather than up and down

Reducing the depth disturbed by ploughing; traditional machines would disturb 20 cm, but today’s methods only disturb 5 cm

Leave crop residue on the land (husks and stems of corn to be decomposed as nutrients in the soil)

Strip cropping; planting alternate rows of plants ex. Turnip in one (harvesting the root), cabbage in the next (harvesting only the top)

Physical barriers, like trees or berms (low hills made from building up soil) can protect from wind erosion

How can erosion be reduced?

Compaction

pressure on the soil so that air and water is squeezed out

often caused by heavy machinery, especially in wet soils

can be reduced by:

Minimizing the number of trips the machines takes over the ground

avoid working on wet days

limit driving to same lanes and routes

Use 4-wheel drive vehicles and lighter vehicles

rotate crops

Acidification Soils become acidic when too much sulphur and

nitrogen enter the soils, through:

Acid rain - caused by fuel combustion, power plants, factories

Poor decomposition of organic matter (as in peatlands)

Soil can be treated with limestone, to neutralize the pH to an acceptable level (usually pH 5 or 6; less than that limits plant growth)

Loss of organic matter Organic matter made up of dead and decaying

plant/animal material

Contains essential nutrients for plants to live

Loss results from:

excessive tillage

soil erosion

poor crop rotation

the harvesting of a crop

Runoff from drainage and irrigation

Silting (sediments)

Fertilizers

Bacteria

pesticides

Pest Control

A pest is an organism, plant or animal that reduces yields, impedes production, or negatively affects the health of a crop or livestock

Animal pests include insects, rodents, and moose

Weeds are any nuisance plant

Common agricultural pests in NL:

Three categories are: 1. Insects 2. Weeds 3. Diseases

1. Insects Some are useful in pollination, as decomposers,

etc., but some are pests Flies - parasites and disease carriers for

livestock Many moths and butterflies feed on crops

Common insect pests in Newfoundland & Labrador:

Cabbage maggot (turnip)

European corn borer (corn)

Black Vine weevil (strawberries)

Managing Insect Pests There are a number of tools which help

manage insect pests, including the use of rotation, row covers, predators, parasites and insecticides.

Common agricultural pests in NL:

2. Weeds:

any plant growing in an area where it is not wanted

it competes with the crop for light, moisture, space and nutrients

can reduce yield or impede crop germination and growth

certain weed species can carry plant diseases and insect pests

Common weeds in NL:lamb’s quarters and corn spurry.

Common agricultural pests in NL:

3. Diseases:

Disease causing organisms are called pathogens

fungal, bacterial, or viral

The fungal disease commonly known as potato wart or potato canker has resulted in a quarantine of all plant and soil products from the Island of Newfoundland that has remained in effect since the early 1900’s.

2001 outbreak of hoof‑and‑mouth disease in Great Britain (viral disease of cattle, pigs, deer, sheep, etc): around 7 million animals were slaughtered in an effort to halt the spread of the disease

Common agricultural pests in NL:

Common methods of control:

view article on potato canker briefly describe common methods employed

to control agricultural pests, using the potato canker as an example (p.389-90 of text): quarantine methods biological control chemical control use of resistant strains

Potato Canker Questions Quarantine - Ferry visual inspection and car wash stations

Biological control – add crushed crab shells to soil to reduce potato wart

Chemical controls – copper sulphate and formaldehyde would destroy wart spores but they ruin the soil and pollute water

Resistant strains – developing resistant strains prevents the disease from infecting the potatoes

Environmental Impacts of Pesticides:

A. Mortality of non-target species

Wind can carry pesticides away from intended plants onto flowers and crops

Non‑target insects can be exposed to insecticides(honey bees, birds and other species can ingest these poisons)

Environmental Impacts of Pesticides:

B. Aquatic ecosystems: Bioamplification

results when a dangerous chemical enters the food chain of an aquatic ecosystem

small organisms may ingest small amounts As larger organisms feed on smaller organisms,

they begin to accumulate larger amounts of the chemical

the top feeders tend to have the largest concentration of chemicals

Ex. Tuna (heavy metals)

Environmental Impacts of Pesticides:

C. Groundwater: important source of clean water around

the world. pesticides can drain through the soil and

enter the groundwater supply that we need for clean drinking water.

Assignment - Pests

• Create a wanted poster using the points below as a “criminal profile” of an agricultural pest in this province. Use the internet to put together a one page fact sheet that includes:

• A photo of the pest

• Life cycle

• Impact on the crop or crops

• Management of the pest

Types of Pests - p.388-89

Flies

Butterflies

Moths

Cabbage maggott

European corn borer

Elm spanworm

Black vine weevil

Lamb’s quarters

Corn spurry

Potato wart