Agricultural Change on the West Midlands' Urban Fringe

Climatic change and agricultural adaptation; the regional municipality of Ottawa-Carleton case study.

“…Here, questions arise about the extent to which the possibility of development and sale of land affects farming practices and long-term planning (Bryant et al 1982, Ilbery 1985, Bryant 1986, Ilbery 1987. Much emphasis is placed on studying how land speculation affects farmers' land management decisions.…”

“…These urban markets open up unique opportunities for many local producers, and sometimes result in specialization or diversification of farm enterprises. The result is a high level of change to the nature of farm enterprises, especially on the inner-most parts of the rural-urban fringe (Ilbery 1987). Here farmers frequently make enterprise decisions to take advantage of quickly developing market opportunities.…”

“…This includes conflicts over agricultural odours, noise, dust, and chemical spraying which often result in public complaints against farmers. But other conflicts involve those of livestock predation by domestic animals, trespass, theft, vandalism and highway traffic which affect farmers' livelihoods directly (Thompson Jr. 1981, Bryant et al 1982, Bryant 1986, Ilbery 1987. The construction of highways and the threat of continued development can lead to farm fragmentation, making continuity and expansion increasingly difficult (Ilbery 1987).…”

“…But other conflicts involve those of livestock predation by domestic animals, trespass, theft, vandalism and highway traffic which affect farmers' livelihoods directly (Thompson Jr. 1981, Bryant et al 1982, Bryant 1986, Ilbery 1987. The construction of highways and the threat of continued development can lead to farm fragmentation, making continuity and expansion increasingly difficult (Ilbery 1987). These processes may affect farm-level decisions in both the short and long term, although the influence of such processes on farm decisions varies greatly, often depending on the extent of the nonfarm population in a given area (Ilbery 1987).…”

“…The construction of highways and the threat of continued development can lead to farm fragmentation, making continuity and expansion increasingly difficult (Ilbery 1987). These processes may affect farm-level decisions in both the short and long term, although the influence of such processes on farm decisions varies greatly, often depending on the extent of the nonfarm population in a given area (Ilbery 1987).…”