Organic Farming
| Course Code | BAG305 |
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| Fee Code | S3 |
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| Number of Assignments | 10 |
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| Duration (approx) | 100 hours |
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Learn the systems and management techniques of organic farming for both crops and livestock.
Study with tutors who are leading international experts with hands on experience in this field.
Demand for organic produce has boomed over recent years.
Supermarkets from Australia to England now devote significant shelf space to organic produce, and organic certification schemes have emerged and flourished.
Duration: 100 Hours (Nominal Duration).
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are 10 lessons as follows:
-
Introduction to Organic Farming
- nature
- scope
- history
- types of organic farming
- Integrated Farm Management Systems –
- rotation design
- cash crops
- managing waste
- permaculture
- polyculture
- biodynamics etc
- Organic Management Issues –
- certification
- environmental concerns
- marketing
- PR
- Organic Soil Management and Crop Nutrition –
- composting
- mulching
- green manuring
- cover crops
- organic fertilisers
- Weed Management -
- selecting appropriate techniques of control
- weed identification
- Pest and Disease Management-
- Livestock Management I-
- Livestock Management II -
- Poultry
- Goats
- Alpacas
- Ostriches
- Deer
- Pasture-
- Pasture Varieties
- Management Principles
- Intensive systems
- nitrogen fixation
- correct seed mix
- risks with legumes
- Crops -
- Wheat
- Plant Fibre
- Hay and Silage
- Mung Beans
- Sesame seed, etc
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to SCILI, marked by SCILI tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
AIMS
- Discuss the scope and nature of organic farming in today’s world.
- Select appropriate organic management systems for different organic farms.
- Understand the environmental, economic and political issues concerning organic farming.
- Explain the role of living organisms and decomposing organic matter in creating and maintaining an appropriate soil condition for successful organic farming.
- Contrive and apply appropriate weed management practices for an organic farm.
- Select and apply appropriate pest and disease management practices for both animal and plant production on an organic farm
- Design an appropriate system for organic production of cattle, sheep and pigs.
- Design an appropriate system for organic production of poultry and other miscellaneous animals.
- Design an appropriate system for organic pasture management.
- Explain the broad-acre organic production of a grain or legume crop.
WHAT THE COURSE COVERSHere are just some of the things you will be doing:
- Investigate Organic industry such as, Certifying Organisations, Producers or organic farming groups in your locality or region
- Determine allowable inputs to an organic farm certifying in your area
- Discuss how an organic farm requires more labour than a conventional farm
- Visit an organic farm, either a real visit or virtual visit if that is not possible
- Prepare a plan for an organic farm.
- Describe the conversion process for one of the organic farms
- Investigate organic market potential
- Prepare a compost heap
- Prepare a diagram of a healthy soil food web
- Prepare a weed collection (25 weeds –either pressings or illustrations)
- Determine appropriate weed control within allowable organic farming limits.
- Describe the life cycle of three animal parasites
- Describe habitat requirements of various predatory insects
- Survey one or more farms regarding animal production systems
- How can the animals above be integrated into a vegetable or fruit production system
- Determine organic solutions to different farming problems
- Investigate different pasture management systems.
Organic farming has been adopted by some farmers for economic reasons, others for ethical or sustainability concerns. Whatever the reason though for going organic, there is no doubt this method of farming is here to stay.
Learn to manage both plant and animal production in a more natural and envioronmentally sensitive way.
Develop a sound foundation for understanding how to set up an organic farm, or convert an existing farm to organic practices.