Farming Information
Farming in the United Kingdom
Farming
well means making the best use of natural conditions, land, crops, livestock,
machinery and all other things which have to be put together to make the
farming system work. Some important considerations are:
Height of Land
The higher the land, the poorer it becomes and the heavier the
rainfall. There may be extremes of temperature. Only a limited type of
farming is possible.
Rainfall
Prevailing winds from the west carry moist air from the Atlantic Ocean.
Rainfall is therefore heavier in the west than in the east of the United
Kingdom. Wet western districts grow more grass. As a consequence more
dairy cattle will be found on the lowland areas. Sheep will tolerate districts
that are more exposed and where temperatures are generally lower i.e.
mountainous regions of Wales. Annual rainfall varies from 2000mm in the
Welsh mountains to 500mm on the Essex coast.
Temperature
The higher and wetter a district, the colder it is likely to be. Coastal
areas are unlikely to be affected by extremes of temperature, however.
Indeed, in some parts of the country (even in the north) early crops can
be grown because of the influence of the Gulf Stream (warm sea currents).
Farming on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight often suffers from strong winds and salt spray.
The agriculture and horticulture industries are very important on the
Isle of Wight giving work to well over 1000 people. The total area of
the Island is 38 000 hectares (146 square miles) of which 28 000 hectares
(74%) are used for agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The Isle of
Wight has high light intensity, good sunshine levels and little frost.
Annual rainfall is 790mm most of which falls between October and March.
The Island often suffers from strong winds and salt spray.
Most agricultural and horticultural products are exported to the mainland.
This means that most Isle of Wight meat, meat products and processed food
is brought back. However, it does supply its own milk and most of its
fresh vegetables.
Geology and Soils
Chalk Downs run lengthwise from the Needles at the western end of the
Island to Culver Cliff in the east. Clay soils lay to the north with sandy
loams to the south. Blue Slipper clays along the south-western shores
are partly responsible for continued coastal erosion.
Cropping and Livestock
The arable lands south of the chalk Downs support a range of vegetables
together with cereals. Glass houses for tomato production are to be found
in the Arreton valley where light levels are good. Dairy farming tends
to be found to the north of the Island on the heavy clay soils where grass
grows best. Sheep farming is preferred on the chalk Downs where the animals
can cope with both the cold winter winds and the poorer quality grass.
