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ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN AGRIBUSINESS VAG059

Duration (approx) 900 hours
Qualification Advanced Certificate

Learn about the Business of Agriculture

Farmers today need to do more than just producing grow crops or livestock. Today's farming is a market driven business. Competitors can come from all around the world, and conditions in the market place can change anytime without warning. 

Farmers need to be entrepreneurial, risk managers, financial managers and innovators with a constant awareness of trends and developments in their industry and a preparedness to adapt and change quickly to meet any challenges that arise.

  • Learn to manage agricultural businesses such as farms, agricultural supply and service businesses.

Modules

Core ModulesThese modules provide foundation knowledge for the ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN AGRIBUSINESS VAG059
 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING BAG304
 BOOKKEEPING FOUNDATIONS BBS103 (UK Version)
 ENTREPRENEURSHIP - BBS204
 FARM MANAGEMENT BAG104
 FINANCIAL (MONEY) MANAGEMENT BBS104
 RESEARCH PROJECT I BGN102
Elective ModulesIn addition to the core modules, students study any 3 of the following 40 modules.
 AGRONOMY BAG306
 AGRONOMY II - GRAINS BAG309
 ANIMAL BREEDING BAG301
 ANIMAL HEALTH CARE VAG100
 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY I (ANIMAL ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY) BAG101
 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY III (FEED AND NUTRITION) BAG202
 ANIMALS IN PERMACULTURE SYSTEMS (PERMACULTURE III) VSS106
 AQUACULTURE BAG211
 AQUAPONICS BHT319
 BEEF CATTLE BAG206
 BOOKKEEPING APPLICATIONS BBS203
 CALF REARING BAG207
 CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION BHT221
 DAIRY CATTLE BAG205
 ECOTOUR MANAGEMENT BTR101
 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS (ENGINEERING II) BSC205
 FOOD PROCESSING AND TECHNOLOGY - BSS301
 GENETICS BSC207
 GOAT HUSBANDRY BAG223
 INDUSTRY PROJECT BIP000
 INDUSTRY PROJECT II BIP001
 IRRIGATION (AGRICULTURAL) BAG213
 IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT (AGRICULTURAL) BAG303
 MARINE AQUACULTURE BAG220
 ORGANIC FARMING BAG305
 PASTURE MANAGEMENT BAG212
 PIGS BAG209
 PLANTS AND PERMACULTURE (PERMACULTURE II) VSS105
 POULTRY BAG208
 PROJECT MANAGEMENT BBS201
 SALES MANAGEMENT BBS102
 SHEEP BAG210
 SOIL MANAGEMENT (AGRICULTURE) BAG103
 SUPERVISION VBS104
 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - BAG215
 TISSUE CULTURE BHT306
 TREES FOR REHABILITATION (LANDCARE REAFFORESTATION) BHT205
 VITICULTURE BHT220
 WEED CONTROL BHT209
 WORKSHOP I BGN103

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Learn about the Business of Agriculture

Be prepared for the future.

Farmers today need to do more than just producing grow crops or livestock. Today's farming is a market driven business. Competitors can come from all around the world, and conditions in the market place can change anytime without warning. 

Farmers need to be entrepreneurial, risk managers, financial managers and innovators with a constant awareness of trends and developments in their industry and a preparedness to adapt and change quickly to meet any challenges that arise.

  • Learn to make better decisions, and more informed choices about what to do and how to do it in the business of agriculture.

Course Duration - 900 hours

Farming today is more than just growing crops or livestock.

To succeed, you need to learn to:

  • grow the right produce at the right time;
  • process it in a way that produces the most profitable product;
  • manage your assets (land, people, money) in a sustainable way.

Farms are diverse in size, how they are managed and what they produce. They might be producing meat, grain, wool, milk, vegetables, fruit, oils or something else.

They may be producing more than one type of produce. To be a sustainable agribusiness they may need to have diversified production; particularly with the volatile nature of such factors as the weather and markets.

Sometimes things are grown to reduce costs , rather than directly sell to someone else; for example hay or fodder crops grown by a dairy farmer to feed his herd in times of poor pasture. Alternatively, by having a milking house cow, or running a few head of beef for meat are simple ways of reducing farm costs.

For many farm products, there are varying ways of producing the “final product” (i.e. different production systems).

  • Meat or plants may be grown fast or slow (quality and tenderness of food may be affected by speed of growth)
  • Most things (e.g. meat, fruit, wheat, etc.), can be grown in a natural situation with minimum human intervention; or a more unnatural situation, with greater human intervention.
  • Produce may be grown on a small scale, or on a large scale
  • Systems can be monocultures (producing one thing only) or polycultures (where different animals and plants are integrated so that different products are taken from the same enterprise).
  • Some systems are more labour intensive; others (e.g. mechanised systems) may be more manageable Land-care considerations may restrict the systems available (e.g. to prevent land degradation, it may be necessary to use a particular type of system).
    Generally polycultures are less likely to cause land degradation.

Varying Production Systems

There are always lots of choices to be made about how to produce crops or livestock. The choices you may may be different according to not only what you grow, but the soil conditions, climate, cost of labour, cost of land, distance to market, cost of marketing, competition, and much more.

This course will Raise Your Awareness of the Factors that Impact Agribusiness

  • Improve your capacity to make better decisions about what to farm, how to farm it, how to market it and ultimately how to run a more profitable agribusiness - both as a farmer; or as a provider of goods and services to a farm.

You can start the course at any time. If you have any questions or want help in choosing the right modules to suit your own career goals, please get in touch.

Is this the course for you?

  • Do you want to study at a time and location that is convenient to you and fits in around your work and home schedule?
  • Do you want to learn from agricultural experts?
  • Do you want to study courses written and tutored by experts in agriculture and online learning?
  • Do you want to improve your job and career prospects by studying agribusiness to advanced levels?
  • Do you want to improve your existing business or start a new agricultural business?

If the answer to some or all of these questions apply to you, then this is the course for you!

Any Questions?

Our agricultural tutors are more than happy to answer any questions.

Please click here to contact a tutor

Or

Request a course handbook here.

Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Alison Pearce (animal)B.Sc.(Hons) in Animal Science. Masters Degree in Ecotourism. P.G.Cert. Ed. (Science). Alison's first job was in 1982 as a stockwoman, working with pigs in Yorkshire. Within a few years she of that she was working for the University of Western Australia as a Research Technician and instructor with their school of Agricultural Science.In 1989 she moved to Melbourne University as Unit Manager and Instructor in Animal Husbandry. By the mid 1990's she moved back to England to work in Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing at Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture. Throughout her career, Alison has developed and delivered courses in veterinary nursing and animal sciences for vocational colleges and universities in Australia, New Zealand and Australia. She has built a high level of expertise and an outstanding international reputation as an expert in animal sciences.
Dr. Gareth PearceGraduated from the University of Nottingham in 1982 with a B.Sc.(Hons) in Animal Science. Between 82 and 85 worked as Research Assistant and Demonstator in Animal Science at the University of Leeds. Over more than 30 years he has furthered his studies, obtaining eight significant university qualifications including degrees in Veterinary Science, Wildlife Conservation and Animal Behaviour. Gareth has significant teaching experience around the world as a faculty member at eight different universities including Associate Professor at Murdoch University and Director of Studies in Veterinary Science at Cambridge University. He has over 100 prestigious research papers published, and enjoys an outstanding international reputation in the fields of animal and veterinary science.
Cheryl McLardyA scientist, teacher, writer and animal scientist, with more than 20 years experience including: Sports Horse Stud Groom, Stable Manager, Yard Manager, Equine industrial Training Manager, FE Distance Learning Manager. Cheryl has travelled widely, working in England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand; and is now based in Scotland. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), Higher National Diploma in Horse Management, and a City and Guilds Teaching Certificate.
Marius Erasmus Subsequent to completing a BSc (Agric) degree in animal science, Marius completed an honours degree in wildlife management, and a masters degree in production animal physiology. Following the Masters degree, he has worked for 9 years in the UK, and South Africa in wildlife management, dairy, beef and poultry farming.


Check out our eBooks

Working with AnimalsIf you enjoy interacting with animals, are interested in biological science, or are passionate about wildlife, pets or farming; you may thrive in the type of jobs outlined in this book. Get to know more about the industries and the occupations that you could do. The Working with Animals ebook is a comprehensive catalogue to inspire you in your career in working with animals!
Bees, Beekeeping and HoneyBees play a vital role in pollination of crops, it’s important to improve diversity of bee populations and ensure there are enough of them to withstand any future threats. Learn about bees and how to keep them; learn about maintaining their health and the production and use of honey.
Farm ManagementThe Farm Management ebook is a valuable piece of equipment for any farming student or current farmer. Improve your farm management skills or learn new skills and techniques. The topics covered within this Farm Management ebook include 1/ Scope and nature of the farm industry, 2/ The farm site, 3/ Production systems, 4/ Managing livestock, 5/ Managing pasture, 6/ Managing crops, 7/ Managing equipment and materials, 8/ Computer applications, 9/ Farm structures and buildings, 10/ Financial management, 11/ Marketing, 12/ Farm planning, 13/ Staff management, 14/ Water management and 15/ Diversification.