Agriculture

The Agriculture Stage 6 Syllabus has been designed to allow students to develop knowledge and understanding of the interaction between the components of agriculture and the scientific principles that explain the processes that take place when inputs are transformed into outputs. It caters for a diverse range of students and ability levels. It has the facility to challenge students academically as well as providing them with a wide range of practical skills and an awareness of technologies associated with agriculture.

Agriculture is an applied scientific based course with practical experiences occupying a minimum of 30% of course time.

Practical experiences may include:

  • Plant and Animal scientific trials and experiments

  • Local farm visits

  • Agriculture production processing plant visits

  • Field and environmental studies

  • Drone Technologies

  • Animal technologies, welfare, ethics and research

  • Environmentally sustainable management of plants and animals

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Preliminary Course

The Preliminary course incorporates the study of the interactions between the components of agricultural production, marketing and management, while giving consideration to the issue of sustainability of the farming system. This is an 'on-farm', environment-oriented course with scientific based practical lessons combined with local farm production enterprise visits occupy the majority of course content.

Assessment:

Plant Scientific Trial Research and Analysis

Farm Case Study Report

Preliminary Exam

OVERVIEW (15%)

· Agricultural systems

· Agricultural history

· Social aspects surrounding agriculture

PLANT PRODUCTION (30%)

· Plants and their commercial production

· Animals, climate and resource interaction

· Microbes, invertebrates and pests

· Technology

· Experimental design and research

ANIMAL PRODUCTION (30%)

· Animals and their commercial production

· Plants, climate and resource interaction

· Microbes, invertebrates and pests

· Technology

· Experimental design and research

FARM CASE STUDY (25%)

· The farm as a unit of production

· Farm management

· Marketing

· Farm technology

· The agricultural workplace

HSC Course

The HSC course examines the complexity and scientific principles of the components of agricultural production. It places greater emphasis on farm management to maximise productivity and environmental sustainability. The Farm Product Study is used as a basis for analysing and addressing social, environmental and economic issues as they relate to sustainability of the entire production process, from raw farm product to value added products for local and export markets.

Assessment:

Animal Scientific Research and Analysis

Farm Product Study and Elective Research

Trial HSC Examination

PLANT/ANIMAL PRODUCTION (50%)

· Soil, nutrients and water

· Factors contributing to the degradation of soil and water

· Sustainable resource management

· Plant production systems

· Constraints on plant production

· Managing plant production

· Animal nutrition

· Animal growth and development

· Animal reproduction and genetics

· Animal pests and diseases

· Animal ethics and welfare

· Experimental analysis and research in plant/animal systems

FARM PRODUCT STUDY (30%)

· The farm as a business

· Decision-making processes and management strategies

· Agricultural technology

· Marketing of a specific farm product

ELECTIVE STUDY (20%)

Choose ONE of the following electives to study.

· Agri-food, Fibre and Fuel Technologies

· Climate Challenge

· Farming for the 21st Century