Learn How To Manage Farms
Whether you are seeking to get a foothold in the farming industry or you are contemplating running your own farm, this Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Farm Management) provides the perfect platform from which to start.
This multidisciplinary course covers the science and practice of using land for crops and animal produce.
Find out how to run farms efficiently and productively to provide profits and long term solutions to everyday farming problems.
Train for a professional career in the agriculture industry
This is a comprehensive course that teaches you both the science and management of farming. Graduates will have a foundation to start building a business or a career working on a farm, or in providing supplies or services used by farms.
Being Different Gives You an edge!
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Farmers that don't change, simply don't survive.
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This course is strong on helping you adapt to change - ask us to explain how.
Studying with ACS provides a different learning experience. You will gain a strong base of science and agricultural knowledge, while establishing a extensive network of industry contacts.
This solid foundation is the perfect starting point for your professional career in agriculture.
How is Farming Changing?
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A demand for new types of produce
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New techniques in farming methods
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Value adding to existing farm products
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Increasing automation and mechanisation
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Using science to improve productivity
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Using science for improved sustainability and resilience
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New approaches to marketing
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New ways of working with global partners
This is a worldwide trend!
If you recognise and prepare for a life of continual change; you are far better prepared for a life of success in farming.
Modules
Note that each module in the Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Farm Management) is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
Learn to Make a Farm More Sustainable in Every Way
There are many different ideas about how to be more sustainable. You will find different people promoting different concepts with great vigour and enthusiasm, and in most cases, these concepts will have something valuable to teach you. Many are quite similar in approach, often being just variations of a similar theme. Each approach will have its application; but because it worked for someone else does not necessarily mean it will work for you. Some of these concepts are explained below.
Low Input Farming
This approach is based on the idea that a major problem is depletion of resources. If a farmer uses fewer resources (eg. chemicals, fertiliser, fuel, money, manpower), farm costs will be reduced, there is less chance of damage being caused by waste residues or overworking the land, and the world is less likely to run out of the resources needed to sustain farming.
Regenerative Farming
This seeks to create a system that will regenerate itself after each harvest.
Techniques such as composting, green manuring and recycling may be used to return nutrients to the soil after each crop. Permaculture is currently perhaps the ultimate regenerative system. A permaculture system is a carefully designed landscape which contains a wide range of different plants and animals. This landscape can be small (eg. a home garden), or large (eg. a farm), and it can be harvested to provide such things as wood (for fuel and building), eggs, fruit, herbs and vegetables, without seriously affecting the environmental balance. In essence, it requires little input once established, and continues to produce and remain sustainable.
Biodynamics
This approach concentrates mobilising biological mechanisms. Organisms such as worms and bacteria in the soil break down organic matter and make nutrients available to pastures or crops.
Under the appropriate conditions, nature will help dispose of wastes (eg. animal manures), and encourage predators to eliminate pests and weeds.
Organics
Traditionally this involves using natural inputs for fertilisers and pest control, and techniques such as composting and crop rotation. The term "organic" is defined differently in different countries. Some countries are very liberal, calling anything organic if it has not been treated with chemicals close to harvest. Others implement quite demanding requirements to "certify" produce as being organic.
Conservation Farming
This is based on the idea of conserving resources that already exist on the farm. It may involve such things as identifying and retaining the standard and quality of waterways, creek beds, nature strips, slopes, etc.
Hydroponic Production
This approach involves separating plant growth from the soil, and taking greater control of the growth of a crop. This increases your ability to manage both production and the disposal of waste. Hydroponics is being used in some places (eg. Kenya) as a serious system for growing animal fodder. In other places it is more commonly used for growing vegetables and fruit. Hydroponics is sometimes used together with aquaponics to produce both fish and plant crops in the same system (ie. aquaponics).
Hydroponics is not a natural system of cropping, but it can be very environmentally friendly. A lot of produce can be grown in a small area; so despite the high establishment costs, the cost of land is much less allowing farms to operate closer to markets. In the long term, a hydroponic farm uses fewer land resources, fewer pesticides, and is less susceptible to environmental degradation than many other forms of farming.
Matching an Enterprise with Land Capacity
Some sites are so good that you can use them for almost any type of farming enterprise, for any period of time without serious degradation. Other places, however, have poor or unreliable climates or infertile soils and may only be suitable for certain types of enterprises or certain stocking or production rates. If you have a property already, only choose enterprises that are sustainable on your land.
Improving Genetics of Stock
This principle involves breeding or selecting animal or plant varieties which have desirable genetic characteristics. If a particular disease becomes a problem, you select a variety that has reduced susceptibility. If the land is threatened with degradation in a particular way, you should change to varieties that do not pose that problem.
Polycultures
Many modern farms practise monoculture, growing only one type of animal or plant. With large populations of the same organism, though, there is greater susceptibility to all sorts of problems. Diseases and pests can build up to large populations. One type of resource (required by that variety) can be totally depleted, while other resources on the farm are under-used. If the market becomes depressed, income can be devastated. A polyculture involves growing a variety of different crops or animals, in order to overcome such problems.
Integrated Management
This concept holds that good planning and monitoring the condition of the farm and marketplace will allow the farmer to address problems before they lead to irreversible degradation.
Chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers may still be used, but their use will be better managed. Soil degradation will be treated as soon as detected. Water quality will be maintained. Ideally, diseases will be controlled before they spread. The mix of products being grown will be adjusted to reflect changes in the marketplace (eg. battery hens and lot-fed animals may still be produced but the waste products which often damage the environment should be properly treated, and used as a resource rather than being dumped and causing pollution).
What are the possibilities once you complete this course?
The dynamics of the agriculture industry will always present opportunities
for profitable employment, especially for agriculturists who are in tune with their
industry.
If you have....
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a passion for agricultural science and technology,
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a drive to work hard for positive outcomes and
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a mind-set to create new opportunities,
then you are always going to be successful in your chosen Agricultural career.
Possible roles available at the completion of this course can include:
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Business Owner - farm, Agricultural business for example: Organic and Sustainable Farming
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Farm Production Manager (if you already have some farming experience).
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Farm Operator/Farm hand
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Agricultural/ Farm Contractor – offering specialist services.
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Technical and Sales Specialist – agricultural services, material and equipment.
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Production unit manager
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Station/property manager
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Agronomist
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Agricultural Consultant
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Stock agent
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Agribusiness company roles
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Agricultural Research roles
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Further study opportunities
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