Agriculture and the landscape

Abstract

The landscape is primarily determined by geology, topography and climate. Agriculture, itself dependent on these same basic factors, modifies their expression in scenic values. It is suggested that, taking the long view, an agriculture healthily adjusted to the terrain generates an attractive landscape, and that only minor sacrifices in operational efficiency are necessary to maximize aesthetic values. Motorways, on balance, have an adverse effect on agriculture and the rural landscape, but research and experience indicate that this can be mitigated by careful planning.