Agriculture in France
A contrast and comparison of agriculture in the Paris Basin and the Massif Central. Physical factors: Terrain; The Paris Basin is made up of a scarp and vale terrain with a saucer shaped depression in the centre, called the Ile de France, and land that rises to the east and west. This low-lying land favours large mechanised farms and cereal growing. On the other hand, the Massif Central is dominated by hilly and mountainous land, low-lying land in the area is limited to the river basins e.g. the Dordogne. This mountainous land does not favour the machinery needed for cereal growing and is therefore more suited to beef cattle rearing. Climate; The Northeast of the Paris Basin has a cool temperate oceanic climate, which gives sufficient rain and sunshine for cereal growing and a temperature range from roughly 5-17C. As you go further towards central Paris there is a continental climate with hot dry summers (into the 20C’s) and cool (sometimes below 0C), moist winters. These favourable factors further encourage cereal growing (and other arable farming).