Agriculture Courses

Refine results:

Only show courses which can be studied through:
        

This course is designed to equip managers, supervisors, or people who want to work up to these positions within the industry (eg. at a riding school, race track, stud, farm etc) with the necessary management skills required to undertake such a role. 

Three horse care units coupled with a workplace project ensures that this comprehensive qualification is to a standard required in the horse industry.   An accredited course (through IARC)


[More info & enrolment: ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED MANAGEMENT (HORSES) VBS001]
Agriculture today is a highly competitive, global market. Many traditional forms of agriculture are sometimes difficult to operate competatively, particularly within developed countries, but even in the most competative economies, some agricultural enterprises still remain not only viable, but highly profitable. Success may be gained by value adding, or perhaps by filling a market niche not able to be readily filled by international or mass market competition. This is a very solid  training program for people wishing to work in alternative areas of agriculture at a technician or management level; in positions such as a farm manager, technical representatives, trainers or consultants.  This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.
[More info & enrolment: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURE -ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE VAG005]
This course provides training for people wishing to work with animal production at a technician or management level; in positions such as a farm manager, technical representatives, trainers or consultants. Modules available include: Animal Husbandry, Animal Breeding, Animal Behaviour, Aquaculture, Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming, Horse Care, Poultry, Pigs, Permaculture, Sheep, Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Pasture Management, Mushroom Production, Nut Production, Fruit Production, Cut Flower Production, and more.
This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.
[More info & enrolment: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURE -ANIMAL HUSBANDRY VAG005]

Learn to sell farm produce. The core activity of any farm is producing animals or crops, but if the produce is not marketed at the right time for the right price, the whole financial viability of the farm is at best unstable. This course develops your ability to analyse and manage marketing problems in an agricultural enterprise.   

Marketing is not just selling!  It involves:

  1. Attracting customers
  2. Persuading them to buy
  3. Selling
  4. Keeping customers satisfied (so they come back!), by using the above and other strategies.

[More info & enrolment: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING BAG304]

Develop a sound foundation knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology, as a basis to understanding care and/or management of animals in domesticated or wild situations.

If you want to understand animals; this is the perfect starting point!

 


[More info & enrolment: ANIMAL ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY BAG101]
Learn the psychology behind animal behaviour. This provides an excellent foundation for working with animals in any situation: farms, zoos, veterinary practices, pet shops or even in the wild.     Student Comment:   I found the course to be well written and explained, any queries i had were answered quickly, and the staff to be very friendly and helpful. In all the course has been invaluable. I am a little sad it is near the end as I have enjoyed the whole course    S. Crosbie-Ross
[More info & enrolment: ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR BAG203]
Learn to plan implementation of an animal breeding program using genetic theory, practical applications to daily husbandry practice, and management of animal breeding programs.
[More info & enrolment: ANIMAL BREEDING BAG301]
Learn to care for the health of any type of animal (focus is on mammals and birds) and understand the scope of services offered by animal care services, including in veterinary practices. This course is appropriate for anyone interested in working with animals including on a farm, a wildlife park or a veterinary practice. It is a sound foundation course and designed to cover most of what is found in a typical veterinary assistants course in many countries around the world.
[More info & enrolment: ANIMAL HEALTH CARE VAG100]
Learn to describe common diseases in animals, how to recognise and treat these diseases and wounds. It is useful to complete Animal Husbandry I before attempting this course. This course partially overlaps on Animal Health Care, but on balance these courses complement each other -there is benefit in doing both. 
[More info & enrolment: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY II BAG201]
Learn how to understand the composition of a range of feeds, including pasture, fodder crops, grasses, cereals, seed, and other edible plants. This course also explains the role of proteins, vitamins and minerals in animal diets. It equips you with the skills required to evaluate feeding and select appropriate feeds - for digestibility and nutritional content - applicable to real life farming situations.
[More info & enrolment: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY III BAG202]

Fish Farming is a Thriving Industry

Develop a capacity to develop and manage freshwater aquaculture enterprises. Aquaculture is the farming of water animals (eg. Fish, crustaceans) for human consumption. This course covers: water (e.g.source, purity, flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen), stocking rates, spawning, checking stock, stripping, fertilization, hatching, growth stages, feeding. This course was revised and notes significantly expanded in 2007.


[More info & enrolment: AQUACULTURE BAG211]

A foundation qualification for a career at management or technician level in the equine industry. Graduates may find employment opportunities in any horse industry establishment including stables, stud farms, riding schools, veterinary practices, equine supply and service organisations/companies, event management or race courses.

  • Accredited by International Accreditation and Recognition Council.
  • Provides advance standing (credits) in higher qualifications (including Advanced Diplomas and Degrees) with Warnborough College (UK & Ireland), Australian Correspondence Schools, and an international network of ACS accredited colleges.

[More info & enrolment: ASSOCIATE DIPLOMA IN EQUINE STUDIES (VAG009)]

Develop your abilities to analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of beef cattle.  The course is a comprehensive introduction covering such things as Cattle Breeds; Beef Cattle Production Systems; Cattle Breeding; Diseases in Beef Cattle; Nutrition for Beef Cattle; Commercial Herd Management; Feed Lot Management; Stud Herd Management; Management, Economics and Marketing .

Comment from one of our Beef Cattle students:     "I find that I can apply my knowledge directly on the property. All assignments are relative to real life" C. Rowland Jones


[More info & enrolment: BEEF CATTLE BAG206]
This course develops your ability to manage the rearing of calves for different agricultural purposes. It covers all aspects of calf rearing including calf selection, birth, calf diseases, rearing systems, calf housing, weaning and post weaning.
[More info & enrolment: CALF REARING BAG207]

Designed for the new farmer or those working toward employment in this field. This course develops a capacity to run or work confidently on a specialised or mixed farm. Core units equip you with all the basics needed for general animal health, farm management and all important marketing skills. Choose three elective units from a list that includes soil and pasture management and also gives you the opportunity to specialise in specific farm animals i.e. calf rearing, poultry, beef or dairy cattle etc. An excellent starting point to learn the fundamentals of farming.

This course is internationally accredited through International Accreditation and Recognition Council.


[More info & enrolment: CERTIFICATE IN AGRICULTURE VAG001]
Learn to independently analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of dairy cattle:
comparing dairy breeds, managing anything from one cow to a large herd, and producing dairy products (milk, cheese, cream butter etc). This is a very sound foundation course developed in collaboration with industry and by our team of experts (agricultural and animal scientists, veterinary surgeons etc).

[More info & enrolment: DAIRY CATTLE BAG205]

Develop your understanding of equine behaviour and your ability to apply that to the welfare and training of the horse.
Behaviour is any externally observable activity of an animal. In general, it includes:
• Movement of parts of the body
• Stopping expected movement
• Secretions from the body
• Changes in body colour

People study equine behaviour to be able to understand and recognise “normal” behaviour and from this be able to identify and do something about “abnormal” behaviour; and better manage a horse.  Knowledge of equine behaviour can also assist in training. By knowing how a horse is likely to behave in a certain situation, it allows the rider to prepare for it and to either avoid or resolve that particular situation.


[More info & enrolment: EQUINE BEHAVIOUR BAG216]

Farming is just as much about management as it is about animal or crop production. Unfortunately in today's world, the ability to produce a good animal or crop is no guarantee ofr success!

Through this course, learn to analyse, diagnose and make decisions related to management of a farm business. The course relates to managing all resources, including; production, staff, physical resources, and natural resources. You learn strategic planning, whole farm planning, and how to prepare a business plan.

This course was developed by a team of experts from Australia and the UK, under the leadership of John Mason, author of three Farm Management books (published by imprints of Simon & Schuster and CSIRO)


[More info & enrolment: FARM MANAGEMENT BAG104]
Learn to manage the daily requirements of a horse at grass. The course aims to develop:
  • The ability to handle horses using a range of different procedures
  • Skills to evaluate a horses conformation
  • An understanding of diet
  • Knowledge of grooming procedures
  • An ability to develop appropriate management procedures for a specific situation.
  • Knowledge of commercial opportunities in the horse industry, including how to buy and sell horses.

  • [More info & enrolment: HORSE CARE I BAG102]
    Learn to care for horses in a stable, and deepen your knowledge of bedding, mucking out, foot care and shoeing, tack, exercise and Conditioning.  Analyse and determine feeding requirements and techniques available, and develop stable management programs.
    This course follows on from Horse Care I; but this is a stand alone course and can be taken without Horse Care I.
    [More info & enrolment: HORSE CARE II BAG202]
    Building on Horse Care I and II, learn to better manage the health and condition of horses in different situations; identifying signs of poor condition, and address those problems appropriately. Understand things that can stress a horse and increase it's susceptibility to problems and know how to manage situations (eg. events, travel, weather) to minimse risk.
    [More info & enrolment: HORSE CARE III BAG302]

    Learn to design and manage simple irrigation systems for agricultural applications. Understand soil characteristics that affect irrigation needs (eg. drainage, water holding capacity), Estimating Plant Needs, Irrigation Scheduling, Types of Irrigation Systems (eg. sprinkler, drip or trickle, flood), and equipment (eg. pumps and filters).


    [More info & enrolment: IRRIGATION BAG213]
    This course builds on skills existing irrigation skills and knowledge acheived in Irrigation (Agricultural) BAG213 or an equivalent course. The course develops students' abilility to participate in design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for agricultural applications.
    [More info & enrolment: IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT (AGRICULTURAL) BAG303]
    Organic farming has distinct advantages, for the environment, for human health, and also for farm economics.

    There are many definitions of organic farming. A commonly accepted definition is “farming without the addition of artificial chemicals”. All kinds of agricultural products are produced organically – vegetables, fruit, grains, meat, dairy, eggs, and fibres such as cotton and wool. Many processed foods are also produced organically (e.g. bread).

    In the past organic farm production was often considered as being only for radicals or hippies. Now it is seen as a viable economic move – with benefits to the farm soil, to the environment, and to the purchasers of the products.

    Organic farming has been adopted by some farmers for economic reasons, others for ethical or sustainability concerns. Whatever the reason for going organic, there is no doubt this method of farming is here to stay.
    Through this course, learn to manage both plant and animal production in a more natural and environmentally sensitive way and develop a sound foundation for understanding how to set up an organic farm, or convert an existing farm to organic practices. This course provides the student with a solid understanding of the systems and management techniques of organic farming for both crops and livestock.


    [More info & enrolment: ORGANIC FARMING BAG305]
    Pastures are critical to many types of farms. Farmers have been known to turn unprofitable farms into commercial successes by simply improving pasture. Whether ydealing with small or large properties, pasture management is an important part of many types of farm enterprises. Learn to evaluate, design and make decisions about the management of pasture for different purposes. 
    [More info & enrolment: PASTURE MANAGEMENT BAG212]
    A course for pet owners or anyone working with pets, providing a sound introduction to caring for a wide variety of different pets including dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and amphibians.
    [More info & enrolment: PET CARE AAG100]
    Pig production can be highly sophisticated or unsophisticated. This course develops a better understanding of pig biology and production; covering such things as  Breeding and Selection,  Feeding, Diseases, Managing the Boar, Managing the Sow and Litter, Fattening Pigs, Economics and Records etc
    [More info & enrolment: PIGS BAG209]

    Learn to manage poultry on a small or large scale, for production of eggs, meat or young birds. This course covers all aspects of poultry care and management including: Terminology, Breeds , Nutrition, Diseases in Poultry, Layers, Broilers, Incubation, Brooding, Record Keeping, Economics & Marketing; and is relevant to free range or other forms of production.

    Student Comment (K. Houlden):  "Pleased with all aspects of the course"


    [More info & enrolment: POULTRY BAG208]
    Learn about: Breeds; Selection and Breeding; Nutrition of Sheep; Diseases of Sheep; General Management of a Commercial Flock; Care of the Lamb;  Wool and the Marketing of Sheep and Sheep Products.
    [More info & enrolment: SHEEP BAG210]
    Soil is the foundation for profitable farming. There are many things that can be wrong with soil (eg. poor nutrition, chemical imbalance, structural problems such as drainahe, lack of microbial life etc). Often minor and releatively inexpensive treatments can make a huge difference to productivity, but the problems need to be identified first, and that requires a solid understanding of soil theory and management practice. Learn about soil properties and requirements in agriculture, and how to apply that knowledge at a management level.
    [More info & enrolment: SOIL MANAGEMENT BAG103]

    Today the pressure is on for more and more farmers to work towards sustainable systems of farming which produce healthy, nutritious, affordable food and a dependable, secure food supply -without producing a negative impact on the environment. Sustainable farms should protect the environment, preserve open spaces, forests and wildlife and also encourage and conserve biodiversity, plus provide the farmer and farm workers with a good living.

    This course is aimed at those who want to help the world move towards the preservation of our natural resources and to maintain the delicate balance of our ecosystems. Economic, commercial, marketing and production techniques are explored in a multi-facetted way to help move a farm towards improved sustainability.

    Sustainable agricultural practices must not impact negatively on the environment therefore this course encourages:

    • The investigation of how farming practices impacts on and shapes the future of the environment
    • Farming practices that suit the local environment and reduce the impact on it
    • Examination of the best use of natural resources; the use of water in production; preservation of soil quality; responsible use of chemicals and fertilizers; reducing the potential for salinity and pollution of waterways.
    • The conservation of biodiversity
    • Long term improvements in productivity
    • Social improvement, through sustainable practices (both monetary and non- monetary)
    • Flexibility and risk management (in fluctuating markets and climate variations)
     
    [More info & enrolment: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - BAG215]
    Learn to identify and effectively control weeds. You learn about both chemical and non-chemical control methods (e.g. mulching, burning, slashing), the use of spray equipment, and safety procedures which should be followed.
    [More info & enrolment: WEED CONTROL BHT209]