Improving Agricultural Sustainability Short Course

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Interested in learning more about Sustainable Agriculture?

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Learn to be more sustainable in the farming sector: as a farmer, a farm worker or a supplier of goods or services to farming.

Many issues are impacting agriculture today; biosecurity, climate change, soil degredation, fires, market volatility and food miles, to mention just a few. This course helps you to become more aware, and understanding of such issues, and in doing so leads you to a better understanding of how to keep an agricultural business sustainable.

This Short-Course covers 11 lessons:

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

LESSON 2: SUSTAINABLE CONCEPTS

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