SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - BAG215

Is your farm or property Sustainable? Want a career in Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainability in Agriculture has become increasingly important over recent times, as it has been realised that the profitability and longevity of a productive farm includes not just looking after the financial aspects but considering environmental factors as well.

This course will allow you to better understand the potential ways in which you can make your property more sustainable. Economic, commercial, marketing and production techniques are explored in a multifaceted way to help move a farm towards improved sustainability.

The course also covers information on:

  • Soil management
  • Water management
  • Land care and management, including the management of weeds, fire, trees, pests and disease.
  • Management Strategies
  • Selection of animals and plants

Is your farm or property Sustainable? Want a career in Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainability in Agriculture has become increasingly important over recent times, as it has been realised that the profitability and longevity of a productive farm includes not just looking after the financial aspects but considering environmental factors as well.

This course will allow you to better understand the potential ways in which you can make your property more sustainable. Economic, commercial, marketing and production techniques are explored in a multifaceted way to help move a farm towards improved sustainability.


Course Structure and Contents

  • 8 lessons
  • 8 assignments
  • 100 hours

 

Lesson 1 - Introduction

  • Sustainable ways of farming
  • Whole farm planning
  • Land Management programs
  • Sustainable ways of farming
  • Natural farming
  • Organic farming
  • Permaculture
  • No Dig techniques
  • Biodynamics

Lesson 2 - Soils

  • Growing media
  • Major types of soil problems
  • Soil structural decline
  • Erosion
  • Salinity
  • Acidification
  • Soil improvements
  • Phytotoxicity
  • Adding organic matter to soils
  • Cultivation techniques
  • Conservation tillage
  • Plant nutrition
  • Soil life
  • Cover crops

Lesson 3 - Water

  • Types of water storage
  • Livestock water requirements
  • Water problems
  • Water quality
  • Reed beds
  • Water saving measures
  • Recycling
  • Swales and keylines
  • Irrigation systems

Lesson 4 - Land Care

  • Weed Management
  • Preventative measures
  • Tree management
  • Timber lots/plantations
  • Wind breaks
  • Wildlife corridors
  • Wildlife habitats
  • Pest and diseases

Lesson 5 - Financial Sustainability

  • Economic principles
  • Developing a Farm Business Plan
  • Financial plan
  • Controlling growth
  • Value adding
  • Enterprise mix
  • Ecotourism

Lesson 6 - Broad Management Strategies

  • Toward better planning
  • Land care or land management
  • New enterprises
  • Broad management categories
  • Marketing
  • Personal welfare
  • Plan drawing of farm
  • Looking at risk
  • Quality systems

Lesson 7 - Plant Enterprises

  • Crop management
  • Hydroponic fodder
  • Hay
  • Considering new crops
  • Nuts
  • Organic farming
  • Agroforestry
  • Hydroponics
  • Herbs

Lesson 8 - Animal Enterprises

  • Deer
  • Ostriches
  • Emus
  • Alpacas
  • llama
  • Goats
  • Aquaculture
  • Wool and meat production
  • Horses

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Duration: 100 hours 

AIMS

  • Understand the broad possibilities for improving sustainability on farms.
  • Understand how to avoid serious degradation of soils on a farm through sustainable management
  • Describe the nature and function of land care
  • Understand how to avoid too serious degradation of soils on a farm through water management.
  • Understand Economic Rules that apply to a farm Enterprise.
  • Crop management techniques for sustainability.
  • Minimising degradation through planning and management.
  • Evaluate the financial viability and potential of animal enterprises.

 

WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

You will learn a wide variety of things, through a combination of reading, interacting with tutors, undertaking research and practical tasks, etc. Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

  • Investigate what is being done for improving agricultural sustainability in your country or region.
  • Contact different organisations or farmers and find out what you can about attitudes & resources available to assist with improving sustainability in your chosen area/Country/region.
  • Investigate whether an organic certification scheme operates in your country, and if so, find out what is involved currently in attaining that certification for a farm.
  • Obtain either literature or advice relating to the management to soil degradation in your locality.
  • Identify the most important issues that farmers need to address in a region within approximately 100 km( or 50 miles )of your home; in order to remain financially viable over the next two decades
  • Distinguish between hydroponics, permaculture, biodynamics and certified organic farming.
  • Identify a farm situation where it might be appropriate to convert to either permaculture, biodynamics or certified organic system.
  • What is being done to improve sustainability of agriculture in the region, country or state of your choice.
  • Obtain information from your local government department or irrigation supply company. Find out what the local water quality is like and how it was measured.
  • Explain how you can test your local water supply for contaminants. What contaminants were found? eg. Bacteria, heavy metals, silt etc.
  • Outline how can these contaminants be removed from the local water supply eg filtration, chemicals, etc.
  • Identify cost effective means by which contamination can be prevented.
  • Identify types of water catchment in your local area. eg dams ,stream ,creeks ,etc.
  • Find out what types of conservation are being practiced in your local area.
  • Outline methods of pest control being practiced in your area
  • Describe methods of weed control used in your area.
  • Identify and describe any natural control methods being used in your area.
  • Research tourism activities are available in your local area.
  • Investigate planning and advisory services in your local area.
  • Investigate existing animal enterprises in your local area and the economic impact.

Course Materials: Upon enrolment, you will receive all of the materials that are essential to complete the course. Course materials vary depending upon the subject and the study mode, but they may include subject guides, printed notes, textbooks, videos and practical equipment.. In certain circumstances you may be required to do extra research - in which case your tutor is able to advise you where necessary.


Additional Reference

An ideal complementary reference is the book Sustainable Agriculture 2nd edition, written by our principal John Mason, and published by Landlinks Press (A division of CSIRO).

Click to see and outline and order a copy

 


WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?
ENROL TODAY!

Just go to the top of this page for pricing and enrolment options. If you have any questions you can contact us now, by:
Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or
Email us at [email protected]