Lesson Structure: Advanced Diploma In Agriculture (Livestock) VAG020

There are 8 Modules Your 3 Compulsory Modules plus workplace project are: 1 Agricultural Marketing (BAG304)

• This course develops your ability to analyse and manage marketing problems in an agricultural enterprise. Topics covered include: market research, management of your marketing, promotions, handling produce, packaging, distribution, customer relations and more. More….

• Learn successful management of farming business through this Distance Learning Course. Animal rearing and crop production are only part of the picture in successful farming good management skills are also vital. So a team of experts from the UK and Australia were enlisted, under the leadership of renowned horticulturalist John Mason to develop this course. You will learn how to analyse, diagnose and make management decisions related to a farm business. A thorough and comprehensive Online course in farm management. More….

3 Irrigation – Crops (BHT204)

• An online course that covers the design, installation, maintenance, operation and evaluation of simple irrigation systems. This online course focuses on irrigation systems for row crops (eg. vegetables & cut flowers) and orchards. If your interest is in growing row crops, then this course will help you understand the methods needed for irrigating them. More….

Or for larger farms, the following course can be taken instead: 3 Irrigation Management (BAG303)

• Learn to develop skills in the design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for agriculture. This Irrigation Management distance learning course is an extension of the skills and knowledge achieved in Irrigation (Agricultural) BAG213 or an equivalent course. Students learn to develop their ability to participate in the design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for agricultural applications. More….

4 Soil Management (Agriculture) (BAG103)

• Treat your soil and grow great plants! Good soil conditions are critical to the healthy growth of most plants. Develop an understanding of physical & chemical properties of soils, carry out simple tests to determine soil characteristics, learn ways of treating soil to grow plants. Specifically designed for ornamental gardens, landscaping, container growing, and turf situations. More…

Plus Relevant Work Experience 100 Hours * Then Choose 4 Modules From The 18 Listed Below: Agronomy (BAG306) Agronomy offers many job opportunities. Demand for agronomists is strong; whether as a farmer, farm employer or providing technical support or marketing services in the agriculture sector. Learn the principles and practices that underpin commercial broad acre crop production (agronomy) and develop an ability to interpret and apply information practically, on a farm. Complement your farming studies or experience and seek employment in the highly sought after field of agronomy! More…

Berry Production (BHT309) Berry fruits are popular the world over. Some berries are grown widely, in different climates and countries (eg. strawberries), whilst others might be popular in some regions but not others. This course provides a sound broad based training for commercial growers and/or staff of berry farms. It is equally relevant to the enthusiast hobby grower who wants to get more serious about growing berry fruits. More….

Commercial Organic Vegetable Growing (VHT241) Successfully farm organic vegetables! The demand for organically grown vegetables is currently a major growth area in commercial horticulture. This course is a good starting point in learning all aspects of organic vegetable production. More….

Commercial Vegetable Production (BHT222) Learn about growing crops of vegetables in a productive way with these steps. Learning the importance of soils, cultural practices and pest and disease management is a great way to get optimum crop production. More….

Cut Flower Production (BHT221) Learn the skills necesary to become a commercial cut flower grower. Cut flower growing has experienced rapid expansion in recent decades, resulting in increased demand for training in the skills and knowledge required by this industry in increasingly affluent countries. This course provides a thorough basic training for the commercial cut flower grower. More….

Engineering I – Basic Machinery and Equipment (BSC105) Keep your tools and machinery in perfect working order always! This course gives you the knowledge and develops your ability to independently manage the selection, operation and maintenance of tools and machinery used in professional gardening, agriculture and horticulture. More….

Fruit Production – Temperate (BHT218) This course is ideal for anyone serious about fruit growing; from the small hobby farmer to orchard worker, or enthusiastic amateur who aspires to win first prize for their fruit at the local garden show. More….

Fruit Production – Warm Climate Expand your understanding of tropical and sub tropical fruit growing. Similar to the temperate fruit course, but adapted to cover tropical and sub-tropical conditions. The course includes sections on Avocados, Pineapples, Macadamias, Paw Paws and Cashews. More….

Green Walls and Roofs Discover and learn how to develop appropriate and functional roof and vertical gardens, for residential, commercial and public landscapes. This outstanding online course will help you create the Green Walls and Roofs that you thought where impossible to build. There are lots of different reasons for creating a vertical garden or roof garden, and the way you develop the garden may be affected by the reason you create it. Common reasons might be: Lack of space for a more extensive garden Improve aesthetics of an ugly place (wall or roof) Improve physical environment (eg. Reduce glare, modify temperature, filter air pollutants, reduce water run off and mitigate flood problems) Urban farming growing crops in an urban area. More….

Herb Culture (BHT114) .Develop a solid grounding in herb growing and the herb industry. Half of the course deals with general herb culture, including identification, soils, mulching, feeding, watering, propagation, pest & disease control, harvest, storage, processing, companion planting, nursery management and herb farming. The remainder of the course involves detailed studies of major groups of herbs such as: mints, thymes, lavenders, scented geraniums, garlic, roses, artemisias and parsley. More….

Nut Production (BHT219) Learn How to identify and Grow a Wide Range of Edible Nuts. You’ll learn from professional university trained horticulturists with decades of industry experience and build networks within industry and discover opportunities for commercial production or self sufficiency. More….

Nut Production – Warm Climate Learn to grow nuts in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The content of this course is very similar to the “Growing Nuts” course, except this deals exclusively with nuts grown in the tropics and sub-tropics.More….

Organic Farming BAG305 Become a successful organic farmer! Organic farming has been growing in popularity, with farmers adopting it for economic, ethical or sustainability reasons there is no doubt that this method of farming is set to stay. This distance learning course will teach you to manage both plant and animal production in a natural and environmentally responsible way. You will develop a solid foundation knowledge in how to set up an organic farm, or convert an existing farm to organic practices. More….

Outdoor Crops Production – Crops 1 (BHT112) A broad grounding in producing outdoor plants. Ten lessons cover site, crop selection, soil management, cut flowers, vegetables, berries, nuts, herbs, tree fruits, other crops, managing a market garden and other similar work places. More…..

Sustainable Agriculture (BAG215) Improve the sustainability of your farm. You will learn techniques and measures to move your farm towards greater sustainability. Increasing sustainability can be simple (for example changing what is farmed or how produce is marketed) or require more major changes in farm management practices. Gain useful and practical knowledge to improve sustainability in this comprehensive online course. More….

Viticulture (BHT220) Learn the techniques and become a successful Vitculturalist. This course will help you develop an ability to select and cultivate appropriate varieties of grapes in different situations, and provide the knowledge to make informed decisions about the management of a vineyard. There are ten lessons covering the history of viticulture, the current state of the industry, wine and table grapes, dried grapes, cultural practices (trellising, soils, planting, pruning, irrigation, pests & diseases); vineyard design, improving quality, harvest & post harvest procedures, wine-making, plus marketing. More….

Water Conservation And Management (BEN302) Develop and learn how to design, implement and assess water management plans and procedures. Understand how water resources,the use and application of water conservation measures in different contexts. Improve your capacity to design, implement and assess water management plans and procedures. This home study course will help you understand why water is the most important resource in order to sustain life. All living organisms need water to survive. This course will teach you how to conserve this precious resource in various situations from the home environment to industry. Lesson cover water conservation at home, in the workplace, water management, conservation in primary production I & II, health, recycling etc. More….

Weed Control (BHT209) There are many different ways of controlling weeds, and literally thousands of different weed species which might need controlling. It is always important to use the appropriate treatment for the weed(s) in question. Young weeds are far easier to control than older ones. Some chemicals, for instance, will effectively kill certain weeds when they are in the early stages of growth, but will not control other types of weeds. You may need to be able to distinguish between types of weeds to determine whether the chemical will or won’t work. More….

Please see lesson titles for your learning goals.

What Makes This Diploma Different?

• It is written and updated by Industry Relevant Professionals and covers what employers are looking for, not unrelated professional course writers keeping to a “minimum ” standard.
• There is a choice of electivesnot found in similar Diplomas or other institutions of learning.
• It is more in-depth than can be found at other colleges. You’ll learn more and develop skills in helping you further your business and career goals.
• Learning and knowledge is the focus of this course our belief is that what you learn is what makes the difference.
• You will get unlimited support throughout your studies from Industry experienced tutors, with relevant qualifications and at least 5 years experience of working in their field.
• It is respected by Employers because it teaches what they want you to know.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.