WHAT'S AGRICULTURE?

Agriculture is the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock. Crops and livestock both come from nature, so agriculture belongs to the primary sector.
Arable farming produces crops for food and other products. There are two types of arable farming: dry farming and irrigated farming.

Dry farming:

• The crops only get water when it rains.
• Dry farmers need large fields so they can grow lots of crops.
• The most important dry crops in Spain are wheat, grapes and olives.

Irrigated farming:

• Farmers use irrigation systems to water their crops.
• Farmers can grow lots of crops in relatively small fields.
• Tomatoes beans and melons are typical crops in irrigated farming. Many fruits and garden vegetables are grown in Murcia.

Livestock farming is the raising of animals for food and non-food products. Meat, milk and eggs are examples of food products. Wool and leather are examples of non-food products.
There are two types of livestock farming: extensive and intensive.

Extensive farming:

• Farmers raise their livestock in large fields or open pastures.
• The animals eat what grows naturally on the land.
• In Spain, the raising of iberian pigs is an example of extensive livestock farming.

Intensive farming:

• Farmers raise their livestock in stables or indoor pens.
• Farmers give the animals food, which is sometimes produced in factories.
• Many milk cows are raised in stables. This is an example of intensive livestock farming.