Describe and explain the distribution of farming across the UK

Market Farming: this is the growing and selling of food and flowers for the public. They can often be exported to other countries. The temperature and water is usually controlled carefully by being in huge greenhouses. The soil that it is gown in is not always the soil from the ground, Soil is brought in to provide the best nutrients for the crops. Fertilisers are used extensively. The greenhouses themselves need flat land on which to be built, this means the ground needs to be flat. Often the biggest requirement of market gardening is the transport routes needed to take the products to shops and supermarkets for sale. Often products have to be sold within 24 hours of being produced.

n the UK many farmers combine a number of different farming types in one farm. This is to get the maximum profit out of the farming land.

The type of farming that a certain farmer grows depends on the location of the farm and the land that it is on.

There are many physical and human factors that depict what a farmer will grow on his land

the farmer may have a number of choices over which type of farming he is going to do. Normally this is determined by the climate, soils and the relief. However farmers are increasingly having to turn to farming crops or animals that will bring them the most money, Rather than which ones may be best suited to the area.

Money is vital when setting up a farm, or trying to run one. Subsidies and government policies have helped in some cases. As prices fall for farm products, so the farmer's profits also fall, meaning he can employ less people and buy less seeds and animals for the following year. It is a downward trend that goes on in many farms

One of the most important factors in deciding what type of farming might occur in a certain area is climate. The farmer has to consider the hours of sunshine, the average temperature and the amount of rainfall per year.

The market is very important for a farmer. He must know that he is going to be able to sell his produce at a good price, In order to make a profit they have to be close to a market or have a deal with a large company or supermarket such as Waitrose or Tesco. Farmers increasingly have to decide exactly what they are going to grow by the price that they will get for their produce.

The relief of the land is a very important factor in determining the type of crop that they grow or rear on that farm. Flat, sheltered areas are usually best for crops as it is easy to use machinery and there will be the climate conditions will be good. Steep slopes are more likely to be used for sheep. However in countries such as Indonesia the steep slopes have been terraced.

Soil condition also play a major part in the crop that is grown. Thick, fertile soils are usually best for crop farming. In Britain the best soil for arable farming can be found in Norfolk and other Eastern areas of the country (see map). In hilly areas the soil tends to be thinner and less fertile, meaning it is more suitable for pasture farming such as in the hills in Wales. (see map)

Over all the type of farming in the Uk is very varied. It is distributed evenly over the Uk. Many factors effect farming, All of them have to be taken into consideration when a farmer is deciding what to grow on his land.

Will Creech