Overview
This unit will introduce you to agricultural production systems, historical agricultural production methods including Indigenous agriculture, and the development of modern agricultural systems. You will learn the characteristics of important livestock, cropping and horticultural industries in Australia and discuss the economic, social and environmental sustainability of these systems. You will enhance your understanding of the pressure placed on the physical and biological resources upon which agricultural production depends. You will examine the impact of agricultural practices on the economics of primary production and on the environmental and social fabric of rural and urban communities. You will also explore the concept of agricultural production systems as managed ecosystems, and analyse the principles of ecosystems in natural and managed systems.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE and email
Review the assessment design, in particular the first two assessments (Group Discussion and Group Work). Most students, especially those enrolled on-line, found it challenging to participate in group assessments bearing in mind that this unit is offered in the first term of the first year of study.
Through an Update Unit Proposal, Assessment 2 will be changed from group work to individual assessment. Group Discussion will be conducted on the Moodle platform.
Feedback from Deputy Dean, Learning and Teaching (DDLT)
Review the alignment of assessment tasks to learning outcomes
This unit has five unit learning outcomes. An Update Unit Proposal will be raised to better align the assessments tasks to the learning outcomes in accordance with the university policy.
- Describe major agriculture production systems in Australia
- Explain the factors that have led to changes in agricultural production systems throughout history
- Explore the impact of key changes in the development of modern farming practices on the ecology of natural and agricultural systems
- Identify the concepts of social, economic and environmental sustainability in agricultural production
- Develop and review agricultural management strategies to address natural resource issues.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Group Discussion - 10% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
None
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.koech@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Agricultural Systems
Chapter
Reading and other supporting materials will be provided on the Moodle site under eReading list each week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The History of Agriculture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Farming Systems and Styles
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plant Production Systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Livestock Production Systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Natural and Agricultural Ecosystems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sustainable Agriculture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Agricultural Technology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Current Challenges in Agriculture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Social Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Integration of Concepts and Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Group Discussion
This assessment will require you to participate in online group discussions during Weeks 1 to 4 of term. The discussions will focus on the major changes that have occurred in agricultural production systems in Australia in the last several decades and the key factors that have caused these changes. A Discussion Board will be set up in Moodle for this task.
The Unit Coordinator will post the weekly discussion topic or query on the Discussion Board on Monday of each week. You are then required to contribute to the discussion by Friday of the respective week. Ensure that you express your views succinctly (in 200 - 400 words). Each student is required to make a minimum of three posts on the Discussion Board over the four-week period.
Week 4 Friday (31 Mar 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Friday (14 Apr 2023)
-
A minimum of three posts on the Moodle Discussion Board
- Each post is 200-400 words long
- Discussion is relevant to the query asked or weekly topic of discussion
- Your discussion displays a good understanding of the changes that have occurred in the Australian agriculture and the factors that have caused them
Further details and the marking rubric will be available on the Moodle page.
- Describe major agriculture production systems in Australia
- Explain the factors that have led to changes in agricultural production systems throughout history
2 Written Assessment
In this assessment, you will analyse the trends in the land use patterns of Australian farms and discuss their impacts on the ecology of the natural systems, and the social and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. You will be provided with some agricultural statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) focusing on agricultural farms and land use patterns in Australia.
You are required to:
- Perform basic analysis of the data and present the results using appropriate graphs.
- Discuss the trends in agricultural farms and land use patterns in relation to their impacts on the ecology of natural agricultural systems and the social and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. Your discussion will be based on the data provided and other sources (e.g. lectures/tutorials, websites and published articles and reports).
- Prepare a report of 1500±10% words.
You may structure your report as follows:
- Title
- Introduction – Briefly explain the focus of your report and the major agricultural production systems in Australia.
- Method – Explain the data provided and how they were analysed.
- Results – Present the results in graphs and describe any trends that can be observed.
- Discussion – Interpret the results and explain their potential impacts on the ecology of natural agricultural systems and the social and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. [Here you will incorporate information and data from other sources e.g. lectures/tutorials, published articles and technical reports].
- Conclusion
- References – List any references used to write your report (minimum of 5 relevant references).
Week 8 Friday (5 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (19 May 2023)
- Ability to correctly analyse, present and interpret data.
- Knowledge of different farming systems and styles and sustainability concepts.
- Knowledge of the impacts of key changes in the development of modern farming practices on the ecology of natural and agricultural systems.
- Ability to draw information from scientific literature.
- Professional presentation of the report including referencing and grammar/spelling.
- Number of words: (1500±10%).
- Describe major agriculture production systems in Australia
- Explain the factors that have led to changes in agricultural production systems throughout history
- Explore the impact of key changes in the development of modern farming practices on the ecology of natural and agricultural systems
- Identify the concepts of social, economic and environmental sustainability in agricultural production
3 Written Assessment
In this assessment, you will write a report describing an agricultural farm you are familiar with, production system or industry. Identify and analyse key challenges it is facing currently, including climate change and variability. You will then propose and evaluate potential strategies for mitigation of climate change and variability taking into account ecological, economic and social considerations.
Your report will be based on scientific evidence and relevant publications must be referenced. This written assessment will have 2000 (±10%) words with the following structure:
- Title (not included in the word count)
- Abstract (a maximum of 200 words)
- Introduction of the agricultural farm/production system/industry (about 500 words)
- Outline of the current challenges the agricultural farm/production system/industry is facing (about 600 words)
- Strategy for mitigation of climate change and variability (about 600 words)
- Conclusion (abut 100 words)
- References (not included in the word count) – minimum of 10 relevant references are required.
Review/Exam Week Monday (5 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessments shall be returned within 10 working days after the due date.
- Coherent and concise abstract covering all essential elements of the report while keeping to the word limit
- Knowledge of the selected farm, production system or industry
- Knowledge of the current major challenge facing the selected farm, production system or industry
- Knowledge of mitigation concepts related to climate change and variability
- Ability to contextualise information used in the report
- Ability to draw information from provided scientific literature
- Professional presentation including correct referencing and keeping to word limit
- Explore the impact of key changes in the development of modern farming practices on the ecology of natural and agricultural systems
- Identify the concepts of social, economic and environmental sustainability in agricultural production
- Develop and review agricultural management strategies to address natural resource issues.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
