IMPROVE YOUR BROAD ACRE CROP PRODUCTION
Demand for agronomists is strong; whether as a farmer, farm employer or providing technical support or marketing services in the agriculture sector.
Learn the principles and practices that underpin commercial broad acre crop production (agronomy) and develop an ability to interpret and apply information practically, on a farm. Complement your farming studies or experience and seek employment in the highly sought after field of agronomy!
Lesson Structure
There are 8 lessons in this course:
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INTRODUCTION TO AGRONOMIC PRACTICES
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Introduction
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Crop Types
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Plant structure and Function
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Transpiration rate
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Selection Criteria for Plants
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Understanding monoculture
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Row Crops
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Cover Crops
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Crop Operations
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Planter types
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CULTURE - WHAT INFLUENCES CROP GROWTH
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Soils
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Problems with soils
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Loss of soil problems
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Erosion
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Salinity
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Soil sodicity
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Soil acidity and alkalinity
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Improving soils
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Cultivation techniques
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Plant nutrition
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Nutrient deficiencies
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Organic fertilisers
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Soil life
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Insect Pests
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Diseases
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CROP HUSBANDRY PRACTICES
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Operations
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Identifying weeds
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Ways to control weeds
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Spraying
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Irrigation
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Chemical crop protection
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Preparing plant pathogens for microscopic observation
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Culturing Pathogens
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Natural pest and disease control
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Physical controls
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Organic sprays and dusts
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SEED AND SEED MANAGEMENT
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Seed storage
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Types of seed storage
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Seed vigour testing
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Dormancy factors affecting germination
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Germination treatments
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Types of media
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Media derived from rock or stone
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Media derived from synthetic materials
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Organic media
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Diseases
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Salinty build up
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ARABLE CEREAL CROPS
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Cereal crops
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Zadock scale
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Wheat
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Barley
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Oats
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Triticale
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Sorghum
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Maize
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Rice
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Millet
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Sugar cane
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Ryegrass
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Hay and Silage
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Quality control
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Storage and handling
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Hydroponic fodder
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ARABLE BROADLEAF CROPS
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Characteristics of broadleaf crops
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Oil crops
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Chickpeas
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Narrow-leafed lupins
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Canola
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Faba beans
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Cover crops
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Common legumes
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HARVESTING
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Crop preparation for harvest
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Crop harvest equipment
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Forage harvesting equipment
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Cereal harvesting equipment
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Root crop harvesting equipment
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Grain storage
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Contract harvesting
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CROP MANAGEMENT - SPECIAL PROJECT
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Crop management from planting to post harvest handling
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Tips for choosing a crop
The following tips will help in determining selection of a cover crop:
• Types of crop - Perennial crops are generally preferred over annuals. With annuals, large populations of nematodes often move into the soil after maturing, causing problems for the root system of any subsequent plantings.
• Effect on soil pH – Alkaline-tolerant plants such as sorghum and barley can be grown to reclaim alkaline (lime) soils. Growing a single crop of these plants may cause sufficient acidification to allow less lime-tolerant legumes to be grown, further acidifying the soil and allowing it to be used for livestock or a cash crop.
• Timing - The crop should be incorporated (tilled) before maturity (i.e. before flowers and seeds form).
• Water use - While cover crops, like any other crops, do use water, their root growth can lead to better penetration of water into the soil. Additionally, residual organic material left by the plants will lead to increased water conservation.
What is involved in planting a crop?
Planting is probably the most important agronomic operation in the life cycle of the crop. Harvest is certainly an important consideration but without an established crop there will be nothing to harvest. Before a crop can be planted, one needs to look at a number of criteria. Firstly what are soil surface conditions like?
- Has the field been cultivated previously?
- Is there stubble present from the previous crop?
- What sort of soil are you planting into, is heavy black clay, or lighter sandy soil?
- What is the ideal planting depth for the seed of the crop you intend to grow?
- Can the seed be deep sown, or does it have to be near the surface?
- What is the ideal plant population and row spacing?
Having researched this information, a decision then needs to be made on the type of planter required to do the job.
ENROL AND LEARN MORE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q.
What will these studies lead to?
A. When you understand agronomy, you have an improved capacity to understand all aspects of broad acre crop production.
People who have studied agrronomy are better equipped to succeed, and that is an advantage in any situation, either as farmer, an farm employee, or working in a farm supply or service business.
Q. Can I get a credit toward a Certificate or Diploma if I wish to continue further studies after this?
A. Yes; both with our schools in Australia and the UK and with a number of affiliated colleges across the world
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (e.g. Get sick, go on holidays, have a baby).
A. Apply for an extension. It's OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. What level is this course?
A. We designed this course with adults in mind, and with the flexibility to allow students to work to a level that they are comfortable with. People who have a university level education can approach their work in greater depth, and will have the support of an expert to guide and support them. People who have far less experience and education, may work to a lower academic level, and may take longer to complete studies; but with persistence, they will (with help from tutors) still achieve the minimum goals set for the course. This course should not be seen as rigidly being a degree, diploma or certificate level; rather you should simply see it as an opportunity to extend your skills and knowledge in this discipline, starting wherever you currently are, and finishing with a heightened understanding and capacity to work in this field.
Q. What do I get as a student?
A. First, understand a good course is quite different to a book or a web site
- A course should be something that changes you; making things stick in your mind, improving your capacity to do thing, remember things, solve problems and understand the subject
- A book on this subject is a reference that can be read, but might not be understood as the author intended, and most of which probably will not be remembered unless a lot of time is devoted to studying it.
- A web site is like a book; except there is a stronger likelihood that it could contain biased and even incorrect information.
An ACS course differs to books, seminars, web sites and other sources of "information" in several key ways.
- It is a constructed learning pathway that is designed with the purpose of bringing about a change in the student
- It is constructed by a team of experts, credible in their field, from across the world (it reflects input from many people, from different countries and climates. (A book more commonly reflects only one).
- Every student is guided as an individual through the learning experience. The learning pathway and the precise information encountered is commonly different for every single student.
- You are monitored; motivated and where necessary your path is corrected as you move through the course. A book is a one way communication (a monologue), whereas a course is two way communication.
- A course filters out and organises information; serving you up a quantity of resources that is "digestible" in a way that is designed to help you digest it.
ACS provides all essential learning resources (eg. notes or books), and all the tutor support that is needed to successfully complete a course. Some students may choose to buy extra books -but this really is not necessary.
Q. Will I have problems with practical tasks, because I cannot travel or attend workshops?
A. Our college has developed lots of ways of providing for practical learning, that can be done by anyone, anywhere and anytime. Students come from over 150 countries, and the practicals have never been a factor that has stopped someone completing their studies in this course.
All courses include set tasks that add a practical element to the learning experience, but we often give options.
Courses are as far as possible written to cope with the widest range of situations, from people living in Antarctica to someone confined to their home due to illness.
Example -We may ask you to visit a workplace and observe something; but also say or if you have restricted mobility make a virtual visit, on the internet, if possible, or if not, by reviewing a place through an article in a magazine. If you can't find
reference material, ask us and we will send you what you need.
If the course does not provide an option that is achievable, you contact us, and we will give you other options.
