Revision

• What type of agriculture is practiced in the GDA?

  Intensive and commercial
• What are the physical factors affecting agriculture in the GDA?

  • Relief and drainage
  • Climate
  • Soils
• How does the landscape of the GDA affect farming techniques?

  Low-lying and undulating landscape allows machinery use
• What is the height of the Wicklow Mountains?

  1000 metres
• What type of farming is practiced in the Wicklow Mountains?

  Rough grazing of sheep
• What role do the mountains play in the GDA's agriculture?

  They provide shelter and raise soil temperatures
• What are the major rivers in the GDA?

  Liffey and Boyne
• Why is drainage good in the GDA?

  Bedrock is limestone, allowing free drainage
• What is the annual precipitation in the GDA?

  750 mm
• How does the rainshadow effect influence the GDA's climate?

  It makes the region drier than the North and West
• What percentage of Ireland's wheat is grown in the GDA?

  15%
• Why is the risk of potato blight lower in the GDA?

  Lower rainfall levels reduce the risk
• Which company manufactures crisps using potatoes from the GDA?

  Largo Foods
• What is the average growing season in the GDA?

  280 days per year
• How many hours of sunshine does the GDA receive daily?

  4 hours
• What are the average summer and winter temperatures in the GDA?

  16 degrees in summer, 5 degrees in winter
• Why is frost rare in the GDA?

  Frost is rare, favoring crop growth
• What types of crops are grown in the GDA due to its conditions?

  Cereal crops like malting barley and protein-rich barley
• What types of soils dominate the GDA and their characteristics?

  • Fertile brown earth soils
  • Suitable for all types of farming
  • Rich in humus from deciduous forests
  • Light sandy soils in North County Dublin
  • Perfect for market gardening
  • Boulder clay soils in Kildare
  • Good for grassland and cattle fattening
  • Acidic soils on Wicklow Mountains
  • Limited agriculture, used for sheep grazing
• What crops are grown in the light sandy soils of North County Dublin?

  Salad crops like tomatoes and lettuce
• What is the significance of the high calcium content in Kildare's soils?

  Promotes healthy bone growth in animals
• Where is the bloodstock industry prominent in the GDA?

  Near The Curragh
• What is the limitation of agriculture in the Wicklow Mountains?

  Acidic and infertile peat soils
• What percentage of people in the GDA make a living from agriculture?

  3%
• How does farming productivity in the GDA compare to national averages?

  Farm incomes are 40% higher
• Why is farming considered an attractive career option for young people in the GDA?

  Due to high income levels
• What is the average age of farmers in the GDA?

  37 years
• How does the average age of farmers in the GDA compare to the North and West region?

  It is much lower
• What methods are used in farming in the GDA?

  More scientific methods are used
• What percentage of the country’s greenhouses are located in the GDA?

  50%
• Where is the thriving market gardening sector located in the GDA?

  Around Lusk in North Co. Dublin
• How mechanized are farms in the GDA?

  Highly mechanized
• How many tractors are there per 10 farms in the GDA?

  10.4 tractors
• How does the number of tractors per farm contribute to farming in the GDA?

  It adds to productivity levels
• What is the population of Dublin city?

  Over 1 million people
• Why is there a high demand for foodstuffs in Dublin?

  Due to high income levels and standard of living
• What types of food processing industries are present in Dublin?

  Local bakeries and breweries
• Where is wheat sold in Dublin?

  To local bakeries and manufacturers
• Which factory purchases malting barley in Dublin?

  Guinness
• What is high protein barley used for?

  Manufacturing animal feed