Food production case study: ROCKELLS FARM, ESSEXLarge scale commercial farming (inputs, processes and outputs)

• Rockells Farm, Elmdon, Essex, UK• Commercial Mixed – 20,000 free range hens, producing 20,000 eggs each day plus grow canary

seed• Turnover is £800,000 per year

Inputs:• 500 acres of land, gentle relief,• Chalk/ clay mix (geology), well drained.• Mild, wet climate. Ave summer temp 17

degrees; 3.5 degrees in Winter. Ave annual rain 650mm.

• Prevailing wind = South westerly. Brings rain

• Use of fertilizers & pesticides. Add nitrates to soil.

• Heavily mechanised e.g. have their own combine harvester, seed drill, tractors. Diesel costs £8000 pa.

• labour: 2 full time, 1-part time employee.

• Diversified their business– holiday cottages, carp fishing lake

• Have 5 solar panels for renewable energy

• Close to M11 and A505 to transport eggs and canary seed

• Machines: 3 tractors, 3 seed drill trailer/ attachments, 3 plough trailers/ attachments, 1 combine harvester/ sprayer

• 6 barns

• 3 grain storage units• 2 chicken sheds• chicken wire and fencing• egg sorting machine• 20, 000 hens

Processes● ploughing, seed drilling (use tractor with

attached drill or ploughs● watering, spraying (fertilizer and

pesticides), harvesting (combine harvester)

● storage● transporting canary seed● feeding hens● collecting and sorting eggs● slaughter hens after 1 year● cleaning out chicken sheds● adding nitrates to soil

Outputs• £800,000 turnover• 20,000 eggs• 5 tons of canary seed• waste - chicken excrement

All farming systems have inputs, processes and outputs. Name an example of either small-scale subsistence farming or large- scale commercial farming. Give the name of an area where your chosen farming type takes place. Describe the inputs, processes and outputs of this farming system.