Mixed Crops and Livestock
by: Nick Richter
Mixed farming exists in many forms depending on external and internal factors. External factors are weather patterns, market prices, political stability, technological developments, etc. Internal factors relate to local soil characteristics, composition of the family and farmers' ingenuity. Farmers can decide to opt for mixed enterprises when they want to save resources by interchanging them on the farm - because these permit wider crop rotations and thus reduce dependence on chemicals, because they consider mixed systems closer to nature, or because they allow diversification for better risk management.
Where:
Central North America, Europe, Southeast Africa, and East South America
Who:
Family owned farmers, used for profit.
Importance:
Two ecosystems thrive off eachother, helps farmers waste less and produce more.
MDC or LDC?
Mainly MDCs because the cost and work it takes to have both Livestock and Crops is too much for most farmers in LDCs.
Effects:
Helps farmers have higher yields and produce more goods.
Interesting Facts:
In Sweden, pigs helped wheat yields go up by 64%.
Personal Connections:
Whenever I would go over to Jared Fischer's house, I would help out on their farm.