208-125 Review of Australian Agriculture

Nil

On completion of this subject, students should have gained a practical understanding of the management operations and options of summer and autumn components of the production cycle of the main agricultural industries of south-eastern Australia, and be conversant with the limitations, constraints and impacts which influence these. Topics covered include:

• history and development of Australian agriculture;

• annual production cycle;

• sustainability of these industries from economic, social, environmental and system-wide perspectives;

• introduction to and practice of the basic farm operational skills as they apply to the various agricultural enterprises and protected areas, including broadacre, dairy, production horticulture and pigs, and areas of conservation significance;

• an understanding of the interactions throughout the value chain, including the input, production processing and retailing sector;

• an introduction to the importance of trade and issues relating to international trade of agricultural and related products; and

• the place of agriculture in rural communities and factors affecting sustainability.

Group learning activities relating to enterprise practices will cover critical selection criteria (performance and efficiency measurements, machinery operations cultivation practices, harvesting distributing, handling, processing and storage).

Students will be involved in practical work on the Dookie Estate and visits to appropriate industry facilities that will reflect the operations at different levels of the value chain.

A 3-hr theory examination (60%), practicals, excursions (to feedlots, processing facilities, dairy farms, research stations), literature review and reports (40%). Students will also have to pass a hurdle requirement relating to safe operation of equipment and machinery.