AGRIC 1520WT - Agricultural Production I

Waite Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

The need to develop sustainable and profitable agricultural systems to meet the demands of a burgeoning global population at a time of major changes in the environment is an important challenge for agricultural science. This course provides a general introduction to Australian agriculture. This course will examine the specific characteristics of the cropping, livestock and horticultural industries in Australia. It will describe the structural characteristics of the industries, outline current best practice management and the recent trends in production, marketing and trade. This course includes a compulsory 4-day field tour during the mid-semester break. The course will complement the Semester 1 course Agricultural Systems IA. Practical and tutorial classes will help develop skills in field crop management, data capture and handling, presentation and written communication.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code AGRIC 1520WT
    Course Agricultural Production I
    Coordinating Unit School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Waite Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week, plus 4 day field trip
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible AGRIC 1000RW
    Course Description The need to develop sustainable and profitable agricultural systems to meet the demands of a burgeoning global population at a time of major changes in the environment is an important challenge for agricultural science. This course provides a general introduction to Australian agriculture. This course will examine the specific characteristics of the cropping, livestock and horticultural industries in Australia. It will describe the structural characteristics of the industries, outline current best practice management and the recent trends in production, marketing and trade. This course includes a compulsory 4-day field tour during the mid-semester break. The course will complement the Semester 1 course Agricultural Systems IA. Practical and tutorial classes will help develop skills in field crop management, data capture and handling, presentation and written communication.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Matthew Denton

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The anticipated knowledge and skills developed by the student on completion of the course are:

    1 The development of a basic understanding of cropping, pasture, livestock and horticultural industries in Australia.
    2 Development of skills in the monitoring and management of a field crop.
    3 Development of oral presentation skills.
    4 Development economic evaluation skills to evaluate the performance of farming systems.
    5 Investigate, collect and synthesise information to present data clearly.
    6 Development of the ability to work as an effective member of a team.


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2, 4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3, 6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    3, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Students will be required to use MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
    While not essential, a list of recommended resources include:

    Malcolm, B, Sale, P., and Egan, A. (2009). Agriculture in Australia: an Introduction (2nd edition) (Oxford University Press).

    Pratley,J.E. (2003) Principles of field crop production (Oxford University Press: Melbourne)

    Hall, J.A.S., Maschmedt, D., Billing, B. (2009) The soils of southern South Australia. SA Dept of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.

    Henzell, Ted (2007). Australian Agriculture. Its History and Challenges. (CSIRO Publishing).
    Online Learning
    MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    • The course is based at both Waite and Roseworthy Campuses and will include lectures, practicals, tutorials and field trips.
    • There is also a compulsory 4-day tour that will be held during the first week of the mid-semester break.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    This course will examine the specific characteristics of the cropping, livestock and horticultural industries in Australia. It will describe the structural characteristics of the industries, outline current best practice and the recent trends in production, marketing and trade.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Students will work in small teams to collect, process, and analyse crop data from a field over a season, and compare results with modelled data for use in the development of a report to predict the influence of management inputs and seasonal conditions, on crop production.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Due to the current COVID-19 situation modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching.

    Assessment task Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes Hurdle (Yes / No) Outcomes being assessed
    Individual oral presentation 12.5% No 3
    Farm business planning report 10% No 4
    Crop monitoring report (2 parts, each worth 12.5%) 25% No 1,2,5,6
    Agricultural technology report 12.5% No 1,5
    Final examination 40% No 1,4
    Assessment Detail
    1. Individual oral presentation (12.5%)
    Each individual will prepare an oral presentation on a horticultural crop, submitted ahead of time, and then provide the oral presentation to a small tutorial group. There will be a detailed session provided to students on how to give an oral presentation and how to deal with the inevitable nerves that we all experience as part of giving presentations.

    2. Crop monitoring report part A (25% Part A & B)
    In the first part of the crop monitoring report, you will identify information relating to the management, production, marketing and export of a key crop that we will sample as part of our lab exercises during the semester.

    3. Crop monitoring report part B
    In the second part of the crop monitoring report, you will sample crops in a field environment and document their management, and measure their growth and predict final grain yield, using 1 or 2 methods. A report outlining the growth and grain yield of the crops in relation to different treatment imposition needs to be produced, along with an assessment of how the crop will be marketed.

    4. Agricultural technology report (12.5%)
    Students will complete a report on agricultural technologies that covers broadacre agriculture, horticulture and animal production industries.
     
    5. Farm Business Planning Report (10%)
    A farm systems business planning report will be completed to explain the key costs and profits underpinning a farm business.

    6. Final Examination (40%)
    The final examination, based on lecture and practical material, is worth 50% of the course mark.
    Submission

    Late Submission

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

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