Education and Extension
COLLABORATION and EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Much of the core research work performed by PARG is done in collaboration with a wide range of external organisations including producers, industry bodies and other research institutions. To view a list of our collaborators please click here.
PARG is proud to be associated with PICSE (Primary Industries Centre for Science Education) at UNE. The PICSE program aims to inform gifted and talented high school students, looking to take on university education, that agriculture is not the soft option. PARG demonstrates to students on the PICSE program the high level science that is essential in modern agriculture and specifically precision agriculture. To read more about PICSE please click the PICSE logo above.
UNDERGRADUATE UNITS AVAILABLE FOR STUDY
PA335 (Precision Agriculture):
This course of study draws on new knowledge emerging our own research here in UNE-PARG as well as from an extensive national and international network of collaborators and like-minded colleagues who regularly provide information as it comes ‘on-tap’. Technologies and techniques such as controlled traffic, variable rate applications technology (VRT), Precision livestock management including remote pasture assessment tools and GNSS livestock tracking join some of the more recognizable technologies such as yield monitoring, remote and proximal sensing and soil survey techniques to be discussed in this course.
In addition to proving updates on some of the latest technologies we also discuss why recent consultancy reports still put the adoption of precision agriculture (PA) in Australia at under 20%, despite overwhelming economic evidence of the benefits. The grains industry continues to lead in the adoption of PA, with help from its old friend viticulture, but there is growing interest and activity in the vegetable and livestock sectors.
And don’t forget, the growing role of PA in land management, as after all considerations of sustainability must include both public and private lands. PA has a big role to play in issues of soil health and land-use from the perspective of biomass and carbon and this is also discussed in this course.
COURSES AVAILABLE FOR STUDY
Graduate Certificate in Precision Agriculture
Australia’s first Graduate Certificate in Precision Agriculture program involves the completion of four semester-long units. The two core units, “Precision Agriculture” and “Introduction to Geographical Information Systems”, cover global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and their application; handling spatial data and the practical use of geographic information systems (GIS); the application of remote sensing to agricultural landscapes; soil, vegetation and yield variability and the sensors used to measure it; livestock tracking and pasture management systems; the economics of precision agriculture; issues associated with the adoption of new technologies.
Students will gain valuable hands-on experience with current and emerging precision agriculture technologies such as EM38 soil sensors, GNSS survey equipment, ground-based active optical sensors, airborne optical sensors, livestock tracking technologies, the ‘Pastures from Space’ program, and both farm-specific and generic geographical information systems.
A pool of elective units (from which students will select and complete two) includes: “Business Skills for the Agricultural Consultant”, “Remote Sensing and Image Analysis”, “Spatial Analysis and Modelling”, “Remote Sensing and Surveying”, and a research project unit with a precision agriculture focus.
Precision agriculture is a rapidly developing field of research and commercial activity both in the more traditional plant industries and also increasingly in the livestock sector. Producers are seeking to increase their production efficiency, and new technologies offer the potential to take advantage of the spatial and temporal variability that occurs across their landscapes and amongst their livestock. This Graduate Certificate program meets a significant need to develop experts in this field capable of assisting in the implementation of precision agriculture technologies.
The Graduate Certificate in Precision Agriculture is available for study both on and off campus, and can be completed part-time over one or two years.
For inquiries about the new course phone 1800 818 865 or go to http://www.une.edu.au/future
