Course overview
The need to develop sustainable and profitable agricultural systems to meet the demands of a burgeoning global population at a time of major changes in the environment is an important challenge for agricultural science. This course provides a general introduction to Australian agriculture. This course will examine the specific characteristics of the cropping, livestock and horticultural industries in Australia. It will describe the structural characteristics of the industries, outline current best practice management and the recent trends in production, marketing and trade. This course includes a compulsory 4-day field tour during the mid-semester break. The course will complement the Semester 1 course Agricultural Systems IA. Practical and tutorial classes will help develop skills in field crop management, data capture and handling, presentation and written communication.
Course learning outcomes
- Basic understanding of cropping, pasture, livestock and horticultural industries in Australia.
- Development of skills in the monitoring and management of a field crop.
- Development of oral presentation skills.
- Development economic evaluation skills to evaluate the performance of farming systems.
- Investigate, collect and synthesise information to present data clearly.
- Development of the ability to work as an effective member of a team.