Agricultural Systems

Agricultural Systems is an integrative discipline that tries to combine our understanding of the parts of the farm into a larger understanding of how the parts interact with each other and the wider worlds of nature and economics. Ag systems research and teaching has a long history at UNE, with the visionary, pioneering work by Prof Bill McClymont laying the ground work for our modern understanding of "agro-ecosystems".

Why Study Agricultural Systems at UNE?

With ready access to a wide variety of agricultural and natural land uses, and a broad range of climates, UNE offers a unique opportunity to study and carry out research. Staff are friendly and dedicated, with up-to-date knowledge of their field, strong industry links and a desire to get out into the paddocks, sheds, bush and creeks of the region to look, listen and learn.

The School has extensive links to the full range of farming sectors in Australia as well as being a leader in international agricultural research and development, especially in South-East Asia and Africa. Further information is available on our International Development page.

Units

AGFD200 - Barley to Beer: Food Security (New for 2016)

AGRO311 - Plant Protection
AGRO321 - Crop Production
AGRO522 - Integrated Weed Management
AGRO501 - Organic Agriculture - Principles and Practice
AGRO514 - Plant Biosecurity

AGSY410 - Problem Solving in Farm Systems
AGSY430 - International Agricultural Systems

ANPR321 - Animal Function, Health and Welfare

ECON221 - Environment and Food: Economic perspectives

ECON223 - Farm and Resource Management

EM311 - Land Assessment for Sustainable Use

ERS501- Applied Research Skills in Environmental and Rural Science

HORT510 - Advanced Horticulture

MM110 - Introduction to Marketing

PA335/435 - Precision Agriculture

SC500 - Research Methods in the Sciences

SOIL222/422 - Soil Science
SOIL310
- Soils, Pollution and the Environment
SOIL311 - Productive Soil Systems
SOIL431/531 - Soils for Sustainable Ecosystems

Careers

A diverse range of on-farm and off-farm career opportunities exist for people with training in agricultural systems in the areas of:

  • Agricultural research and development with government agencies and agribusiness groups
  • Land management extension with CMAs, farming groups and so on
  • Rural policy development with major financial companies and multi-national agribusiness organisations
  • Social and regional policy development with government agencies and agribusiness groups.
Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links

Suggestions for new links are welcome (email to: paul.kristiansen@une.edu.au).

RD&E organisations

State and federal research and extension agencies

  • ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research)
  • Agriculture WA (Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia)
  • BOM (Bureau of Meteorology)
  • CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
  • NSW Ag (Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales)
  • NSW State Forests (Forestry Corporation of NSW)
  • PIRSA (Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia)
  • QDAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Queensland)
  • Tas DPIWE (Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tasmania)
  • Vic DPI/DSE (Victorian Department of Primary Industries/Department of Sustainability and Environment)

Cooperative Research Centres

Research and Development Corporations

Natural resource management

Contacts

For general and administrative enquiries, AskUNE.

For further information about studying Agricultural Systems, contact:

Paul Kristiansen
Associate Professor in Agricultural Systems
Agronomy and Soil Science
School of Environmental and Rural Science
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351

Phone: +61 2 6773 2962
Fax:+61 2 6773 3238
Email: paul.kristiansen@une.edu.au