Squabbles of the Soil

Environmental Impacts of Farm Size


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Teaching Guide

Topic: Environmental impact of small-scale farms in comparison to large-scale farms

Host: Dean Childs

Guests: Colton McClanahan, Farm Credit and Doug Caywood, Organization they represent

Description: Farms of all sizes across the globe are always adapting new practices to reduce the impact on the environment. From carbon emissions, pesticides, and other environmental concerns, farmers have a huge impact on the world. This impact varies greatly based on numerous variables, one of which being size and resources connected to size. 

Objectives:

  1. I can describe the pros and cons of farms in different sizes

  2. I can list what new practices for farms

  3. I can compare the priorities for small farms and large farms

  4. Pre-Viewing Questions:

    1. How do you think farms impact the environment?

    2. What are new technologies in agriculture?

    3. Do you think larger farms make a bigger impact on the environment or smaller farms

    4. Guided Questions:

      1. Colton McClanahan got his bachelor’s degree in _______ at ________. 

      2. What percentage of greenhouse gas is accounted for by farming?

      3. What new technology does McClanahan mention to aid in chemical usage?

      4. List three of Doug Caywood’s animals

      5. Why does Mr. Caywood keep a bull on the farm?

      6. What is one advantage Mr. Caywood list’s for small farms?

      7. Post-Listening Questions:

        1.   Describe two pros and cons of large scale farms and small scale farms (eight in total)

        2.   List two new practices or technologies for farm

        3.  In two sentences, compare the priorities of small farms against those of large farms.

        4. Scoring Rubric for Post-Listening Questions

          Question one

          Level one: only one pro or con for each side or less.

          Level two: All eight of pro/cons but with information that is blatantly incorrect.

          Level three: All eight of pro/con are listed with correct or mostly correct answers.

          Question two

          Level one: one practice filled out

          Level two: two practice filled out, both incorrect

          Level three: two practice filled out, one or both correct    

          Question three

          Level one: one sentence, about only one priority

          Level two: two sentences, about only large or small scale priorities, or one sentence about both side’s priorities, or two sentences about both side’s priorities that is completely wrong

          Level three: two sentences, about both sides of the argument that is mostly factually correct in accordance of the podcast audio. 


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          Squabbles of the SoilBy MTSU Collegiate FFA