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Interactions Between Crop and Livestock Activities in Rainfed Farming Systems

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Rainfed Farming Systems

Abstract

The organisation of crop–livestock systems, both on farms (mixed farming) and between farms (integrated businesses), is explored from a world perspective. Over a continuum from semi-arid to humid regions, mixed farming is favoured in intermediate areas, with specialised crop and livestock businesses at the extremes. Tradition, land tenure, government policies and management complexity add further constraints and benefits to both mixed and integrated farming systems. Natural synergies and skilful management produce positive interactions between crops and livestock, at both the farm and regional levels. These interactions are described for a range of countries. Mixed and integrated farming systems provide options for coping with potential future shocks such as climate change and fuel shortages. However, these systems are potentially complex and many managers prefer the apparent simplicity of specialisation. In response to future challenges, there is scope for farm managers and policy-makers to promote business partnerships and social adjustments that enable simultaneous specialisation and diversification in mixed and integrated crop and livestock businesses.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In Australia, ‘ley farming’ is a generic term that was commonly applied to the short and long forms of the crop–pasture rotation. There is a recent trend towards the use of ‘ley’ to denote a 1-year self-regenerating pasture between crops and ‘phase’ to denote several consecutive years of re-sown pasture after a sequence of crops.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Dr JB (Hans) Schiere and the editors of this book for their interest in and contributions to the production of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries, 58 Henwood Avenue, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia

    Edwin C. Wolfe (Emeritus Professor and Member)

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  1. Edwin C. Wolfe
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Correspondence to Edwin C. Wolfe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gawler, South Australia, Australia

    Philip Tow

  2. Alexander Avenue, Bibaringa, 5118, South Australia, Australia

    Ian Cooper

  3. Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

    Ian Partridge

  4. Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Rese, Leader, Vegetable Centre, Burnie, 7320, Tasmania, Australia

    Colin Birch

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Wolfe, E.C. (2011). Interactions Between Crop and Livestock Activities in Rainfed Farming Systems. In: Tow, P., Cooper, I., Partridge, I., Birch, C. (eds) Rainfed Farming Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9132-2_11

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