Sneak Peek

IMPROVING AGRICULTURE – SUSTAINABILITY

Self Paced 20-hour course to help you understand more about Sustainable Agriculture.

Farming has changed and continues to change. Today’s farms produce more with less manpower; but the technology and support services that keep the agricultural industry running, are more complex and extensive than ever.  Agricultural products are as essential as ever, to feed us and to provide raw products for so many of the industries that drive modern society, from clothing to pharmaceuticals.

As a major land based industry, farming has the potential to degrade finite resources on the planet; and in todays over populated, often polluted world, there is a greater impetus than ever to make farming more ethically responsible and environmentally friendly, to become economically sustainable.

Our 20 hour courses are self paced and will help you understand a topic in a short amount of time. You can work through the course when you like- test yourself with mini-tests along the way. There are extra case studies or research you can undertake if you would really like to get into the topic. Once you have completed the lessons and self assessment tasks, there is a final exam undertaken online- you can then download your personalised certificate.

 COURSE CONTENT- What do you learn?

INTRODUCTION

LESSON 1: DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE

• What to do
• Know your Land
• a) Evaluating a site
• b) Land Carrying Capacity
• c) Assessing Land Capacity
• An Indication of Sustainability
  
  

• Organic Farming
  
• Whole Farm Planning
• Systems Thinking In Sustainable AGRICULTURE
• Permaculture
• Minimal Cultivation
• No Dig Techniques
• Biodynamics
• Crop Rotation
• Seed Saving
• Urban Farming
• Hydroponics
• Aquaponics
• Vertical Farming
• Environmentally Friendly Farming

LESSON 3: SOILS

• Growing Media
• Major Types of Soil Problems
• Erosion
• Salinity
• Soil Sodicity
• Soil Structural Decline
• Soil Acidification
• Build-up of Dangerous Chemicals
• Adding Organic Matter
• Cultivation Techniques
• Plant Nutrition
• Natural fertilizers
• Soil Life
• Earthworms
• Mycorrhiza
• Nitrogen Fixing
• Composting
• Guidelines for Using Compost
• Mulches
• General Rules for Mulching

LESSON 4: WATER MANAGEMENT

• Water Usage
• Methods of Water Storage
• Rainwater Collection and Storage
• Livestock Water Requirements
• Problems with Water
• Mosquitoes
• Algal Blooms
• Livestock Contamination
• Water Quality
• Water Saving Measures
• Water Wastage
• Reed Beds
• Swales and Keylines
• Irrigation Systems
• Irrigation System Design
• Maintenance Procedures and Scheduling
• Innovations in Water Management
• Surface or Flood Irrigation
• Sprinkler Irrigation

LESSON 5: PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

• Use of Pesticides
• Cultural Controls
• Physical Controls
• Sprays and Dusts
• Biological Controls
• Companion Plants
• Legislation

LESSON 6: SUSTAINABLE WEED CONTROL & CULTIVATION

• What is a Weed?
• Ways to Control Weeds Without Chemicals
• Check Soil Condition
• Biological Weed Control
• Chemical Control of Weeds
• Herbicides

LESSON 7: FARM MANAGEMENT

• Changing an Existing farm to a Sustainable Property
• New Farm Products
• Pre-Planning
• Monitoring and Reviewing the Farm System
• Socioeconomic Considerations
• Production planning
• Organic Certification Schemes
• Contingencies and Seasonal Variations
• Planning for Drought

LESSON 8: GROWING AND HARVESTING PLANTS

• Selection Criteria for Plants
• Grain and Other Broad Acre Crops
• Row Crops
• Cover Crops
• Ways of Using a Cover Crop  
• Hay and Silage
• Silage Production
• Silage Timing
• Quality Control
• Hydroponic Fodder

LESSON 9: TREES, FODDER AND OTHER PLANTS

• Agroforestry
• Timber Trees
• Fodder Trees
• Windbreaks
• Firebreaks
• Habitat Corridors for Wildlife
• Tree Planting Methods

LESSON 10: SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

• Possible Problems Of Livestock Production
• Production Systems
• Land Care Practices
• Pastures
• Sustainable Pasture Varieties
• How Much Grazing?
• Grazing Methods
• Guidelines For Raising Different Livestock

LESSON 11: TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

• Precision Agriculture
• Machines And Tools
• Drones
• Wearable Technology
• Robotics
• Computer Technology
• Fertilisers And Soil Conditioners
• Chemical Pesticides and Herbicides
• Soil Microbes
• Biotechnology And Sustainable Agriculture
• Modifying Organisms Genetically
• Cloning
• Nuclear And Isotopic Techniques
• Problems For Biotechnology   

FINAL ASSESSMENT

An ideal learning experience for anyone seeking to better understand "SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE":

• Fully online
• 20-hour, self-paced course
• Optional practical set tasks throughout
• Automated self assessment tests
• "Certificate of Completion" on achieving a 60% pass rate on a final assessment

How does this course work? 

You can enrol at any time.
Once you have paid for the course, you will be able to start straight away.
Study when and where you like. Work through at your own pace.

You can download your study-guide to your smart phone, tablet or laptop to read offline.

There are automated self-assessment tests you can complete at the end of each lesson. You can attempt these as many times as you wish and each time, upon completion, you can see your results. You will need internet access to complete the self assessment tests.

At the end of the course, you are presented with a large assessment which can be attempted online, anywhere, anytime. If you achieve a 60% pass in the exam; you immediately receive a downloadable certificate of completion with your name on it. If you do not achieve a 60% pass rate, you can contact us to re-sit your exam. ( email- admin@acs.edu.au )

Contact us at anytime if you have any issues with the course. admin@acs.edu.au