Prof Jim Scott
Professor, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, Mixed Farming Systems
Coordinator, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences
Qualifications
BScAgr (Syd), PhD (NE), Grad. Cert. Higher Ed. (NE), MAIAST
Contact
| Email: | Jim.Scott@une.edu.au |
| Room: | W023 240 |
| Phone: | 02 6773 2436 (or +61 2 6773 2436 overseas) |
| Fax: | 02 6773 3238 |
| Mobile: | 0417 021 232 |
| Homepage: | http://www.une.edu.au/csfs |
Areas of Teaching
AGRO 211 – Ecology and Adaptation of Agricultural Plants
AGRO 321 – Crop and Pasture Management for Sustainable Agriculture
WOOL 412/512 – Lectures on grazing management
RSNR 403/503 – Lectures on sustainability
Jim has had a long-term interest in the use of Decision Support Tools which have been incorporated into the curriculum using a thin-client system. More information about this e-learning approach can be found at ed-serve.
Research interests
Much of the University’s research into sustainable farming is carried out under the umbrella of the Centre for Sustainable Farmings Systems, which Jim coordinates.
Jim has a major interest in the measurement of whole-farm sustainability over the long term. He is currently engaging with farmer groups in the northern grains region (e.g. the McMaster Farm Group at Warialda) to bring about more profitable and environmentally benign mixed farming systems. He has been engaged in research on the management needed to ensure persistence of pastures through drought and grazing stress and the long-term economics of pasture fertilizer decisions under constraints of family expenditure.
He manages UNE's Relational Database Unit (RDU) which has constructed a national relational database of experiments on soil, water and pasture sustainability within MLA's Sustainable Grazing Systems Key Program. The RDU has also constructed national databases for the Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands program (for Land and Water Australia) and for the Better Fertiliser Decisions national project (for Dairy Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia and Land and Water Australia). Currently a national database for the Grain & Graze program is being compiled.
Jim also has an interest in the interaction between grazed pastures and agroforestry in sustainable systems thus preventing land degradation and diversifying income.
He has been deeply involved with the Cicerone Project which has attempted to enhance the adoption of profitable and sustainable grazing enterprises through participation in whole-farmlet research at a credible scale.
Speciality Area/s
- Mixed Farming Systems (economic, ecological and social interactions between cropping and livestock enterprises)
- Measuring the sustainability of whole-farm systems
- Management of perennial pastures through drought
- Pasture establishment
- Board member of producer-led research/adoption project - the Cicerone Project
- Member of the University's Talloires Committe on Sustainability
Other Interests
- Dairy deregulation
Recent publications of general interest
- Submission to the ACCC on grocery pricing (2008).
- Opinion piece in the R&D Review (2007). “A sustainable Australia needs sustainable science”.
- McClymont lecture to the Australian Society of Animal Production (2006): “Reflections on the Cicerone Project – an experimental partnership exploring the sustainability and profitability of grazing enterprises”.
- Inaugural address (2005). “Can there be a Magic Pudding? Towards an understanding of viable farms”.