Tree Farming vs Agricultural Farming - Essay Example

Gary Barnett ENG 113-01/Spring Comparison/Contrast Essay TREE FARMING vs. AGRICULTURAL FARMING Agricultural farming is a very broad term, meaning cultivation of crops and animals for the sustenance of humans. Tree farming on the other hand involves building of large plantations in which trees are grown in optimum conditions to provide timber for different purposes. Hence Agricultural farming fulfills our bodily needs while tree farming completes our material needs. Tree farmers are an important group of forest landowners who provide vital support to the economic development.

These tree farmers voluntarily manage their lands and strive to achieve utmost production of wood. Agricultural farmers are employees rather than private land owners and this farming involves cultivation of food crops, cash crops as well as farming of animals for food and milk. Agricultural farms tend to grow a variety of crops on the same land and large harvestings take place over a small period. Whereas tree farming is a long process, where it takes about twenty to twenty five years for a sapling to grow into a big tree and only one type of tree is planted across the whole plantation.

The two terms however are not to be intermixed as they both share some similarities and differences. (Agriculture) Agricultural farming demands a lot of attention from the farmers. They have to keep a constant check on the quality of the yield as well as the health of the animals. Trees, on the other hand do not require rigorous cultivation, but like agricultural farming there are certain practices that need to be followed in order to keep the growth and the quality of the trees to the best level.

The land of the plantation should be carefully monitored so that it is prevented from wildfire, overgrazing and the trees should be kept free from diseases and insects. The land should be managed for continuous crop production and proper treatment needs to be done to the trees so that the yield of wood and timber is not hampered. Both types of farming affect the environment in some way. Agricultural farming makes use of different techniques to increase the yield. These include, spraying pesticides, using fertilizers, using genetically modified seeds for the crops while employing selective breeding and growth hormones for animal farming.

These methods have increased the yield but also made negative impact on environment. In tree farming, plantations are solely for commercial purposes, therefore like agricultural farming, measures are taken to maximize the output. Instead of fertilizers, fossil fuels are burnt to make carbon dioxide available for these trees. But as the huge plantations absorb great quantities of carbon dioxide, its carbon footprint is minimal and it has given the perception of sustainable production of forest goods over time.

Agricultural farming and tree farming have a lot of similarities and differences but despite these, both types of farming are extremely popular among the people and continue to play a significant role in the economy of Mississippi as well as the whole country. Works Cited Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 24, 2011, from Farm familied of Mississippi: http://www.growingmississippi.org/Agriculture.htm