Intensive farming

Intensive farming, also called industrial or conventional agriculture, is a method of producing food and fiber. It focuses on achieving high levels of input and output per unit of land. This means farmers aim to get the most possible crops or animals from a specific area. Most commercial agriculture used today is intensive in at least one way. This system is essential for supplying the meat, dairy, eggs, fruits, and vegetables found in supermarkets.

To achieve high yields, farmers use various mechanical and chemical mechanisms. They often plant multiple crops per year to maximize land use. They also reduce the number of fallow years, which are periods when land is left unplanted to rest. Modern techniques involve detailed analysis of weather, soil, water, weeds, and pests. Farmers apply non-biotic inputs to manage these conditions. These inputs include fertilizers for soil, plant growth regulators, and pesticides to protect crops.

There are several distinct ways to manage intensive livestock and pasture systems. One method is pasture intensification, which improves soil and grass to increase food production. This can involve irrigation, soil scarification, or applying lime and fertilizers. Another method is rotational grazing, where herds move between different areas called paddocks. This allows vegetation to renew its energy and rebuild root systems. Some operations use concentrated animal feeding operations, or factory farming. This involves raising large numbers of animals in confinement at high stocking densities.

The history of intensive agriculture is linked to major global shifts. Between the 16th and mid-19th centuries, British agricultural productivity increased massively. Innovations like the four-field crop rotation and selective breeding helped support the Industrial Revolution. The 19th century brought a wave of mechanization. The McCormick reaper revolutionized harvesting, and steam-powered threshers became common. In 1892, the first gasoline-powered tractor was developed. By 1923, the International Harvester Farmall became the first all-purpose tractor. This marked a major shift from using draft animals to using machines.

Scientific discoveries further accelerated these changes during the 20th century. In 1909, the Haber-Bosch method was demonstrated to synthesize ammonium nitrate. This allowed for the mass production of synthetic NPK fertilizers, which contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are critical for plant growth. In the 1920s, the discovery of vitamins allowed some livestock to be raised indoors. Following World War II, the use of synthetic fertilizers increased rapidly. The discovery of antibiotics and vaccines also made it easier to raise large numbers of animals by reducing disease.

While highly productive, intensive farming has significant implications for the environment. The heavy use of NPK fertilizers has raised concerns about soil compaction and erosion. There are also worries about declining soil fertility and toxic chemicals entering the food supply. Because of these issues, the organic movement has grown. Many farmers now use integrated pest management to minimize pesticide use. This modern method aims to reach more sustainable levels of production. Some intensive farms even use sustainable methods, though this often requires more labor or results in lower yields.

Modern researchers are also looking at integrated systems to improve efficiency. Integrated crop-livestock (ICL) and crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems combine different ecosystems into one framework. These systems can create synergies, such as improved nutrient cycling and better biodiversity. For example, ICLF systems can yield beef cattle productivity up to ten times higher than degraded pastures. They also help with carbon sequestration through forests. By increasing productivity on smallholdings, intensive methods can help decrease the total amount of land needed for farming. This can help slow environmental degradation like deforestation.