STUDY NOTES – PLANT / ANIMAL PRODUCTION

PART A

SOILS, NUTRIENTS, WATER, SOIL DEGRADATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

SOILS, NUTRIENTS AND WATER

1. Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Soil: (1)

a. Make a table to describe the following chemical characteristics of a soil. (1.1)

soil pH, ion exchange capacity, soil carbon and nutrient status

Include
i. Description of the soil characteristic
ii. Describe how it affects plant production
iii. Describe how it can be affected by farming practices.
iv. Describe how farming practices can be affected by it.
v. Describe how it is measured.

b. Make a table to describe the following physical characteristics of a soil (1.2)

soil structure, texture, porosity and bulk density

Include
i. Description of the soil characteristic
ii. Describe how it affects plant production
iii. Describe how it can be affected by farming practices.
iv. Describe how farming practices can be affected by it.
v. Describe how it is measured

c. Outline the equipment, methods and results you carried out when you performed a
first-hand investigation to analyse and report on the physical and chemical
characteristics of a soil (1.3)
i. Write a step by step method and show the results you got for:
1. Soil texture
2. Soil structure
3. Soil pH
4. Soil Bulk Density
5. Soil Porosity
6. Soil Organic Carbon
7. Soil Nutrient Testing

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 2. The role of soil nutrient cycles in Australian agricultural systems including the nitrogen
cycle and the carbon cycle (2)

a. Outline the roles of nutrient cycles in Agriculture Production Systems (Draw the nutrient
cycle)
b. Draw and label the Carbon Cycle.
c. Draw and label the Nitrogen Cycle
d. Outline the following processes that occur in the Nitrogen Cycle:
i. Nitrification
ii. Ammonification
iii. Nitrogen Fixation
iv. Denitrification

e. For both the Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle give ways farmers can manipulate a process in
the cycle to improve production. (e.g.: Stubble management, Inoculating legume seed,
crop rotation, Green Manuring, Fertilizers, OM etc ). See the table you did!!

3. The role of microbes and invertebrates in the decomposition of organic matter (3)

a. Outline the importance of microbes and invertebrates in decomposition and nutrient

cycling.
b. Construct a table to show the name of the microbe or invertebrate and the role it plays
in decomposition (include Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Rhizobia, Clostridium,
Saprophytic Fungi, Mycorrhizal Fungi, Earthworms, Dung beetle, centipede )

4. Sources of water on a farm and water management in a farm system (4)

a. List, outline, give advantages and disadvantages the various sources of water and
appropriate management of water use of these sources on farms (4.1)

b. Describe the influence of legislation and government regulations such as licensing on the
availability and use of water for agricultural purposes (4.2)

i. Outline when water licenses are required on farms.

ii. Outline the water sources that don’t require a license.
iii. Outline the role of the following legislation in terms of water for agricultural
purposes:
1. Water Management Act (2000)
2. Water Act (2007)

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING THE DEGRADATION OF SOIL AND WATER

5. The historical development of Australian land use practices, from Aboriginal practices to
the present day. (5)

a. Outline Aboriginal Land Practises (see Prelim work)

b. Show the impacts (both positive and negative) on the land and Agricultural systems of
several land use practices from Indigenous, Early European and Sustainable time periods
(see worksheet)

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 6. Farming practices that have contributed to soil degradation such as salination,
acidification, soil structure decline, loss of soil organic matter and erosion and the effects
of these on soil and water (6)

a. Construct a table to outline what each of the soil degradation problems above are, how
they affect the soil and how they affect productivity and sustainability (see table done in
class)
b. Construct a table to show the farming practices that have contributed to each of the soil
degradation problems.

c. For ONE soil degradation (Soil Structure Decline) complete the following (in detail)
i. practices that have led to the problem,
ii. the outcomes of these practices on the land/water system
iii. and current recommended procedures to alleviate the problem

7. Practices that have contributed to changes in water quality and availability (7)

a. describe how the following farming/agricultural practices that have affected water
quality and quantity including (indicate if the effect is positive or negative or both)
i. fertiliser usage,
ii. the effects of stock,
iii. effluent management,
iv. chemicals,
v. grassed waterways,
vi. riparian zones,
vii. dam construction and
viii. irrigation methods

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANANGEMENT

8. Sustainable techniques to maintain and/or improve soil fertility including alternative

strategies to the application of inorganic fertilisers (8)

a. Describe (and evaluate) the following techniques used to manage soil fertility:
i. conservation tillage systems,
ii. maintenance of soil organic matter (or carbon),
iii. green manure crops,
iv. crop rotations,
v. planting deep-rooted crops,
vi. organic fertilisers,
vii. inorganic fertilisers,
viii. pasture ley phase and
ix. nutrient budgeting

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9. The of role of individual farmers, the broader community and government in reducing the
harmful environmental effects of agriculture and in conserving water, protecting
waterways and managing water quality (9)

a. Describe the role of the following community groups that involve community and
government groups working together to conserve and protect soils, water, waterways
and water catchments

i. Catchment Management – what is it, how does it work, how does

community contribute, how does government contribute, give specific
example.
ii. Landcare - what is it, how does it work, how does community contribute,
how does government contribute, give specific example.

In your answer be sure to show how each organisation involves community and government and give
specific examples of how the work together to conserve and protect soils, water, waterways and
water catchments. (9.1)

b. Assess the factors involved in long-term sustainability of agricultural systems including

(9.2)
i. Australian land classification/ capability

1. Explain what an Australian Land Capability Assessment is.

2. Assess the role of this assessment on long term sustainability
3. Outline the classes of land in the assessment and a brief description
of the land uses for each class

ii. Whole-farm planning

1. Explain what Whole Farm Planning is

2. Assess the role of WFP on long term sustainability
3. Give examples of whole farm planning strategies (include Land
Capability assessment)
–
10. Tension between sustainability and short-term profitability in farming systems (10)

a. Identify tensions (using specific examples) between long term sustainability and short-
term profitability in farming systems

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 STUDY NOTES – PLANT / ANIMAL PRODUCTION

PART B

PLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, CONSTRAINTS ON PLANT PRODUCTION,

MANAGING PLANT PRODUCTION

PLANT PRODUCITON SYSTEMS

11. Process of growth and development in plants (pg.) 338 onwards (11)

a. Define growth and development of plants

b. Distinguish between vegetative and reproductive growth.
We studied a Monocotyledon (Wheat) and a Dicotyledon (Canola)
c. Draw a flow diagram to show the different phases of growth and development of a
wheat plant and canola plant from germination to harvest. (Be sure to outline each
phase as you go in your flow diagram)

12. a. Describe the effect on plant growth of the processes of respiration, photosynthesis, net
assimilation rate, water and nutrient uptake (12.1)

Respiration:
a. Write down the chemical and word equation for respiration
b. Define respiration
c. Outline the importance of respiration for plant growth
Photosynthesis: (pg. 328)
a. Write down the chemical and word equation for Photosynthesis
b. Define photosynthesis
c. Outline the processes occurring in the light and dark reactions for photosynthesis
d. Outline the importance of photosynthesis for plant growth
Net Assimilation Rate: (pg. 339)
a. Define NAR
b. What are the units for NAR
c. What is the relationship between respiration, photosynthesis and NAR
d. Draw a graph to show the relationship above.
Water and Nutrient uptake:
d. Outline the process of water uptake in the plants
e. Outline the process of nutrient uptake in plants.

b. Outline the first hand investigation you carried out to determine the effect of light on
plant growth. Include (12.2)
f. Aim
g. Hypothesis
h. Experimental Design (Method)
i. How randomisation, replication, standardisation were included
j. Your results
k. Your conclusion

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 13. Beneficial relationships between microbes and plants including the fixing of atmospheric
nitrogen in legumes

Identify root nodules on a legume and outline their significance in the management of soil
fertility (13.1)

a. Describe the appearance of root nodules on legumes

b. Outline the significance of root nodules infected with rhizobium bacteria in the fixing of
atmospheric nitrogen in legumes
c. How can this be used to manage soil fertility?

14. The role of plant hormones on plant growth and development (pg. 346)
a. Outline the site of production and the roles of the following hormones on plant
growth and development (14.1)
i. Auxins
ii. Gibberellins
iii. Cytokinin’s
iv. Ethylene
v. Abscisic Acid
b. For each of the hormones above explain how they can be used to
manage/manipulate plant growth and development. (14.2)

15. Pasture Production Systems

a. Introduced and Native pasture species (15.1)
i. Distinguish between introduced and native pastures
ii. Outline the role of introduced pastures in pasture production systems
iii. Outline the role of native pastures in pasture production systems
(give advantages and disadvantages)
iv. Name 2 examples of both introduced and native pasture species
b. Significance of diverse pasture mix(15.2)
i. Outline 3 reasons of having a diverse pasture mix
ii. Give examples of a diverse pasture mix

CONSTRAINTS ON PLANT PRODUCTION

16. Constraints imposed by environmental factors (pg. 331)

Describe how the following can affect plant growth, development and
production (use graphs where applicable) (16.1)
i. Light (include information on Photoperiod)
ii. Temperature (include information on Thermoperiod)
iii. Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide ratios
iv. Wind
v. Biotic factors

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 17. Competition in plant communities
a. Describe sources of plant competition including; (17.1)
i. Plant interference (g 294) –give examples as well as details
1. Competition for resources (Weeds, Same species, different
species etc)
2. Allelopathy
3. Acting as alternate hosts
4. Modification of microclimate
ii. Planting Density
b. Management of plant competition: (17.2)
i. How do farmers manage plant competition via planting density
ii. Evaluate how farmers manage weeds to manage competition. For
each control strategy give an example for Patterson’s Curse.
c. Outline a first and investigation you carried out to determine the effects of
planting density on plant growth, include: (17.3)
i. Aim
ii. Hypothesis
iii. Experimental Design (Method)
iv. How randomisation, replication, standardisation were included
v. Your results
vi. Your conclusion

18. Complex interaction involving the problem organism (pathogenic microbe or

invertebrate), the host and the environment in plant disease
a. Illustrate this interaction using the disease triangle
b. Put this disease triangle into words
c. Show how this interaction occurs for RLEM
d. Show how this interaction can be used to aid control of RLEM

MANAGING PLANT PRODUCTION

19. Managing constraints on plant growth and development to maximise production

a. Explain, using specific examples how farmers can manage plant production
systems to overcome environmental constraints such as: (19.1)
i. Light
ii. Temperature
iii. Moisture
iv. Minerals/Nutrients (Managing Soil Fertility)
v. Wind

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 vi. Pests and Diseases
vii. Weeds
viii. Soils Structure
ix. Genetics
x. Soil Acidification
xi. Soil Salinity

20. Interaction of Genotype, Environment and Management

a. Write an equation to show the interaction between genotype, environment and
phenotype.
b. Discuss how this interaction works
c. How can management effect this interaction

Plant Breeding Systems and their genetic basis (20.1)

i. Outline the differences between self pollinators and cross pollinators

ii. Selective Breeding
1. State some characteristics plant breeders may select for in a
breeding systems.
2. Outline the steps involved in selectively breeding :
a. Self Pollinators – use example for breeding resistance
to Black Stem Rust in Wheat
b. Cross Pollinators – use example for breeding
Huntington Lucerne. (See text)

For each of the above include a statement on the genetic basis of each system.

iii. Hybridisation
1. Outline the genetic basis of hybridisation
2. Hybridisation results in Hybrid Vigour. Define this and give
examples (plant)
3. Outline the steps involved in breeding hybrids.
4. Using the examples of wheat and hybrid canola show how
hybridisation is used commercially.
iv. Genetic Engineering
1. Draw a flow diagram to show how the desired gene is
incorporated into plants
2. Using Boll guard II as an example outline the benefits and
disadvantages of using GE plants.
3. List other GM varieties.

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 How plant breeding is used to develop new plant varieties to improve product
quality, yield and environmental adaptation (20.2)

Using examples from above outline how plant breeding can be used to
develop new plant varieties to improve:

v. Product quality
vi. Yield
vii. Environmental adaptation

21. Responsible and strategic use of chemicals.

Interpret an agricultural pesticide label and relate it to safe practice and correct
usage

a. List and describe the parts of a chemical label

b. Identify those parts that relate to safe practise and correct usage

22. Integrated Pest Management

a. Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM) (22.1)
b. What are the components of an IPM program (pg. 495) – cover
i. EP
ii. EIL
iii. IT
iv. Pest Ecology
v. Monitoring
vi. Decision Making
vii. Environmental considerations.
c. Draw a graph to show the relationship between EP, ET and EIL. (pg. 495)
d. Outline (using examples) the 2 benefits of IPM in (22.2)
i. Reducing the problems of pesticides in target organisms
ii. Reducing the problems of chemical resistance
e. Give the details of an IPM program for a plant production system – we did
RLEM!!!!! (22.3)
f. Evaluate the program above. (22.4)

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 STUDY NOTES – PLANT / ANIMAL PRODUCTION

PART C

ANIMAL NUTRITION, ANIMAL GROWTH DEVELOPMENT, ANIMAL

REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS, ANIMAL ETHICS AND WELFARE

ANIMAL NUTRITION

23. Ruminant and monogastric digestion (23.1)

Complete a table to show the similarities and differences in the physiology of

ruminant and monogastric digestion in the following categories:
i. Similarities
a. Mouth
b. Abomasum and Stomach
c. Pancreas and Liver
d. Small and Large Intestines
ii. Differences
a. Mouth (Rumination, Poultry)
b. Gizzard
c. Cellulose
d. Rumen functions
e. Carbohydrate digestion
f. Protein digestion
g. Diet differences

24. Beneficial relationships between microbes and animals including the role of microbes in
animal digestion(24.1)

Describe the relationship between the ruminants and rumen microbes – be sure to
use the word symbiotic in your answer.

25. The Fate of Energy in animal nutrition

a. Define Gross Energy, Digestible Energy, Metabolizable Energy, Net Energy

b. Draw a flow diagram to show the energy losses associated with digestion and
metabolism. (25.1)

26. Managing the nutritional requirements of monogastric and ruminants in terms of their
digestive physiology

a. Design and explain a ration to meet the nutritional requirements of a selected animal for
a particular stage of production (26.1)

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 i. Outline how to design an ration for a selected animal at a particular stage of
production (what information do you need to know)
ii. For a 350kg steer gaining 1kg per day outline its protein and energy
requirements
iii. List what is in this ration and the energy and protein it supplies.

b. Use nutritional data to determine the suitability of animal feeds in terms of energy and
protein requirements for a particular production stages for one monogastric and one
ruminant (Ruminant covered in 26.1!!!)
i. Outline the requirements (energy and protein) for one monogastric.
ii. Outline how you would determine if a feed was suitable for a particular animal.
iii. Outline how nutritional requirements change as animal changes different
production statuses.

ANIMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

27. Changes in the proportions of muscle, bone and fat during the life of an animal.

a. Compare the proportions of bone, muscle and fat at various stages of development in an
animal and relate these to consumer needs.(27.1)

i. Draw a graph to compare the proportions of bone, muscle and fat at various
stages of development
ii. Outline how the proportions change with various changes in development
iii. Why is the knowledge of this important in meeting consumer needs?

28. Evaluate management techniques available to farmers to manipulate growth and

development including:
i. Use of Hormone Growth Promotants (HGP’S) – plus a specific example
ii. Feed Additives - Rumensin
iii. Genetics

ANIMAL REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS

29. The role of hormones in the regulation of animal reproduction and behaviour

a. For the following hormones outline where they are produced and how they
influence reproduction and/or behaviour. (29.1)
i. Testosterone
ii. Oestrogen
iii. Progesterone
iv. Prostaglandin
v. Follicle Stimulating Hormone
vi. Luteinising hormone

b. Draw a flow diagram to show the interaction between hormones in an animals

oestrus cycle. (29.2)

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 30. Factors that limit fertility in farm animals.(30)

a. For each of the following factors outline, using examples, how they limit fertility:

i. Genetics
ii. Environment
iii. Pests and Diseases
iv. Management
v. Nutrition

b. For each factor give strategies that can be used to ensure maximum fertility is
achieved

31. Reproductive Techniques (31)

a. For each of the following techniques available to farmers to manipulate

reproduction:
i. Describe them
ii. Outline the steps/methods used
iii. Give advantages and disadvantages of the technique
iv. Evaluate the technique

 Artificial Insemination
 Multiple Ovulation
 Flushing
 Embryo Transfer
 Oestrus Synchronisation

32. Breeding Systems and their Genetic Basis to improve the quality and production of animals

a. Use of breeding systems in animal production systems including crossbreeding and line breeding
(32.1)

1. Crossbreeding:
ii. Discuss how crossbreeding can be used in animal production systems
iii. Give examples of crossbreeding systems
iv. Describe the advantages of crossbreeding , in particular HYBRID VIGOUR
v. Describe the disadvantages of crossbreeding
b. Inbreeding:
i. Discuss how inbreeding can be used in animal production systems
ii. Give examples of inbreeding systems
iii. Describe the advantages of inbreeding .
iv. Describe the disadvantages of inbreeding

b. Outline the role of objective measurement and heritability on the breeding

programs of farms, using at least one specific industry program as an example
(32.2)

i. Define Objective Measurement

ii. Define Heritability
iii. What is Breed plan?

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 iv. What are EBV’s – how are they calculated and give examples of EBV’s used
in Breed plan
v. Outline how Breed plan uses Objective measurement and Heritability
vi. What are the rules of a successful breeding program in terms of Objective
Measurement and Heritability?

ANIMAL PESTS AND DISEASES

33. Animal Disease

a. For Sheep Blowfly outline the interaction between the problem organism, the host
and the environment (i.e. the disease triangle)

34. IPM
a. Give details of an IPM program that can be used for Sheep Blowfly (34.1)
b. Evaluate the IPM program for Sheep Blowfly (34.2)

ANIMAL ETHICS AND WELFARE

35. Ethics, welfare and legal issues and requirements

a. Using an example outline how knowledge and understanding of an animals
physical and behavioural characteristics can assist in the management of beef
cattle (35.1)
b. Discuss the factors that should be considered when carrying out marking of calves
to reduce the negative welfare impacts including: (35.2)
i. Appropriate equipment
ii. Skill of operator
iii. Timing of practise
iv. Management of the animal after completion
c. Discuss the ethics relevant to ONE of the following (35.3)
i. Mulesing
ii. Live export
iii. Battery egg production
iv. Farrowing crates
d. Animal welfare legislation (35.4)
i. Outline the role of such legislation
ii. Name the legislation used for beef cattle production
iii. Give examples of how legislation affects management (implications) for beef
cattle

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 STUDY NOTES - PLANT/ANIMAL PRODCUTION SYSTEMS

(PART D)

EXPERIMENATAL ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH

36. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

a. Outline the design of a plant or animal trial (use your planting density trial or
Chicken growth trial in Yr. 11)) (36.1)
i. Outline the
1. Aim
2. Method (including experimental design)
3. Results – what results were collected and how they were
presented
4. Discussion of results
5. Conclusion
b. Outline the role of the following in experimentation (36.2)
i. Control
ii. Randomisation
iii. Replication
iv. Standardisation
v. Show how you used the following in your planting density trial or
chicken growth trial.

37. COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

a. Ensure you can calculate the following for a set of data. Explain the use of each
of the following calculations in analysing data: (37.1)
i. Mean
ii. Standard deviation (a measure of variation) (remember use sample SD)
b. Explain the need for a test of significance to be performed before valid
comparisons can be made (37.2)
i. What is a significance test?
ii. Why are they made?
iii. State the rule for the significance test using standard errors.
iv. Outline how it is calculated.
c. Ensure you can present data in an appropriate form: (37.3)
i. Be able to draw graphs
ii. Be able to construct tables
d. Make recommendations based on interpretation of results of agricultural
experiments (use your trials to do this) (37.4)

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38. ROLE OF RESEARCH

a. Outline the impact of research on agricultural production systems – use

examples.

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 HSC AGRICULTURE

FARM PRODUCT STUDY

STUDY NOTES

 The farm as a business:

39. The place of the farm in the wider agribusiness sector –

a. Outline the importance of farms in the wider agribusiness

sector of the Australian Economy. (Give some figures in your
answer) (39.1)

An Agribusiness is a business that has something to do with farming or

farming related activity
Eg Stock Agents, banks, contractors, fuel suppliers, rural supply stores
(Agriwest, elders etc) vets, transport companies, agronomists, abattoirs,
butchers etc
The farm interacts with these businesses as they are required for
production (supply of inputs, advise etc) and marketing (eg agents) and
the businesses interact with farms by supplying inputs or advise or
related services.
Farms and agriculture play an important role in the Australian economy:
 There are around 85000 farm businesses with 99 % Aust owned
 Australian farmers produce 93% of Australia’s daily domestic food
supply
 Agriculture contributes employment to the Australian economy -
3% to the national workforce is in Agriculture
 Agriculture contributes 3% of the Gross Domestic Product which
equates to around $60 billion
 77% of what farmer’s produce is exported which contributes around
$45 billion to the Australian economy (biggest export products are
Grains and oilseeds and Meat products)
 The 3 top commodities produced in Aus are Cattle/calves, Wool and
Wheat followed closely by milk.

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 b. Draw a mind map to show how the farm/industry you have
studied interacts with other agribusinesses.(39.1)

-
-
- Contractors e.g., shearers, mulesing, harvesting
- Mechanics, machinery supplies
- Fuel
- Vets
- Transport
- Grain Corp
- Stock agents (Elders) – sale yards
- Bank
- Agronomist – advice (consultants)
- Merchandise e.g. Elders

c. Describe a variety of farm business structures including the

family farm, corporate farms, contract farms (39.2)
Family Farm:
- A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family.
- Ownership often passes onto the next generation by inheritance
- Generally they have a sole owner or partnership
- Dominant in Australia – 94% of farms are family farms.
- Advantages:
o Family is heavily invested in the success of the farn
o More personal relatiobships between workers and the local
community
o Lifestyle
o Tradition
- Disadvantages:
o Harder to access capital (money) to buy new equipment etc.
o Will often run with a lot of debt
o If smaller it is hard to compete on price with lafge farms due
to lack of ‘economies of scale’
- Sole trader:
o Simplest
o All debt/profit goes to the owner
o All decisions made by owner
- Partnerships:
o When an agreement between 2 or more parties.
o Can be written or verbal agreement – can ve formal or quite
informal
o Often used between parents/children or brothers/sisters etc
o Dividends flow to all partners
o Tax losses used by all partners
Corporate Farms:

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 - Corporate Family Farm:
o Corporate Family Farms are often family farms that have
become so large over generations and have built up
significant capital reserves to not have to rely on banks for
money.
o Their largeness enables them to compete with corporate
farms
o May have offices in towns orc cities rather than on farm since
they are so large
o Still have a more personal relationship with employees
compared to corporate
- Corporate Farm Business
o Usually owned by a company and possibly listed on the share
market
o Properties are run purely for profit and decisions are made
mostly around this
o It is owned by stockholders/shareholders and run by a board
of directors
o Usually have a resident farm manger who manages or
‘oversees’ the farm but he may or maynot be involved in the
decision making processes.
o Complex
o Income is kept in the company and employees receive a
salary.
o 6% of Australian Farms
o Low proportion BUT the scale of corporate farms makes them
a significant player in Australian Agriculture
o Prominent in Cotton, Viticulture, Poultry and Pig Production
o Have company name rather than property name
o 26% of the total area devoted to broadacre and dairy farms
are and 19% of total area devoted to beef production farms
are corporate farms
o Advantages:
 Easy to access capital to invest in new equipment, land
etc
 Very karge and better economies of scale, cheaper
production costs.
o Disadvantages:
 Less personal relationships
 Decisions made purely on profit
Co-operatives
- Usually a group of multiple farmers getting together and investing
in equipment/processing/marketing together in the same product.
Eg Dairy farmers
- Pool resources (inputs) and capital to invest in equipment etc
- Can compete against larger companies

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 - Farmers share profit
- Can be a problem if conflict between farmers
- May loose independence
- Eg South Coast Dairy

 Decision-making processes and management strategies

40. Factors of quality and quantity that influence decision making

a. List ways farm production systems can be assessed based

on measurements of both quality AND quantity. Use a
variety of products. (40.1)
Product Ways quality Ways quantity Effect on
expressed expressed decision making
Milk Butterfat % Litres of - increasing
Protein % milk/year fibre in
Bacteria count Litres of diet wukk
Somatic cell milk/cow/day uncrease
count Litres of milk/ha butterfat
Sediment level (hay,
Cjemical residue grazing)
- including
high
butterfat
breeds eg.
Jersey can
increase
overall
Butterfat%
- increasing
energy
and
protein in
duet
increases
protein
- selectivekt
breeding
for high
protein in
cattle.
- Hygiene of
milking
machinery
reduces
bacterial
counts,

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 sediment
levels and
SCC.

41. The impact of financial pressures on farmers

a. Outline how the following financial pressures may impact on

farmers: (41.1)
a. Irregular nature of income
b. High expenditure on inputs
c. The dynamic nature of markets
d. Interest rates
e. Risk management
b. Describe the following methods used to analyse the financial
situation of a farm (and be able to calculate them!!!)(41.2)
a. Gross Margin
b. Return to capital

 Agricultural Technology

42. Impact of scientific research and associated technology

a. Outline the importance of ongoing research related to ag

industries.(42.1)

b. Describe recent technologies and outline their impact of

production or marketing – include at least 2 from your assessment
task (42.2)

 Marketing

43. Marketing Strategies

a. Outline the following strategies available to farmers to

market a range of farm products(43.1)
a. Vertical integration – Define and use Baiada as an example
b. Contract Selling- define and give advantages and
disadvantages
c. Direct Marketing – define and give advantages and
disadvantages.
d. Cooperatives – Define and give advantages and use Rice

20
 Growers Association and/or South Coast Dairy Coop as an
example. Also use information from Landline Video.
e. Marketing Boards – Define and use MLA as an example

 The marketing of a specific farm product – This should be done

for your specific product. YOURS IS BEEF!!

44. Marketing Chain for your product

a. Using a flow diagram draw a marketing chain for your product

(from once the product leaves the farm gate until it reaches the
consumer.)(44.1)
c. Briefly describe the marketing strategies for your product
giving advantages and disadvantages of each including: (44.2)
a. Saleyard
b. OTH
c. Direct
d. Contract
e. Auction plus

45. Outline how government influences the production and

marketing of beef including (45.1)
a. Legislation – include a definition of legislation and details on
how the WHS Act (2000), the Pesticides Act (1999) and the
Stock Medicines Act (1989), Biosecurity Act influence beef
production or marketing
b. Regulations – include a definition of regulation and details on
how the WHS Regulation (2001) and the Stock Medicines
Regulation (2010) influence beef production or marketing
c. Code of Practises – include a definition of code of practise and
details on how The National Beef Cattle Feedlot Environmental
Code of Practise and The Model Code of Practise for the Welfare
of Animals (cattle ) influence production or marketing
d. Research and Development – include levies paid by producers
to MLA for R&D and give some examples from the Beef CRC of
current projects in R&D
e. Low Cost Loans
f. Tax Incentives
g. SAFEMEAT
h. AQIS
i. DPI

46. Quantity and Quality Criteria

a. Assess Quantity Criteria for Beef – include details on each

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 and how they affect quantity of beef and how they are assessed. (46.1)
i. Dressing percentages
ii. Saleable/Retail Meat Yield (discuss effects of EMA and Rib
Fat on SMY)
iii. EMA
iv. HSCW
b. Assess Quality Criteria for Beef – include details on what each
are, how they affect meat quality and how they are assessed.
b. Ultimate pH
c. Ossifications
d. TBC
e. Marbling
f. Sex
g. Rib Fat
h. Hang Method
i. HGP’s

47. Importance of product specification in the marketing of a

product(47.1)
a. State the major markets available to beef producers.
b. State what a market specification is and list criteria used for
market specs in beef
c. State 3 reasons for having market specs
d. Analyse Market Specs for a product and include all details of
market specs for the
i. Supermarket Grass fed market (Domestic)
ii. Japanese HQ Grain fed Market

48. Problems in meeting market specification and methods

to used to meet specifications

a. Evaluate the management strategies available to assess the

market specs including (48.1)
i. Ultrasound
ii. Scales
iii. Muscle Scoring
iv. Fat scoring
v. Mouthing
vi. Via Scan
c. Discuss management strategies farmers can use to aid in
meeting market specs.(48.1)
d. Outline the reasons for having a timing of operations
(calendar of operations) and give an example of one for
the beef industry) (48.2)
e. State information included on a sales report for beef and
how this information can be useful to producers.(48.3)

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49. Processing the raw agricultural product

a. Construct a flow diagram to show the steps

involved in the processing of the raw
commodity (cattle) into it various forms (meat
cuts). (49.1)
50. Value Adding
a. Define Value Adding and evaluate ways in which
beef can be value added use specific examples
(50.1)
51. Role of Advertising and Promotion

a. Outline some strategies for advertising and

promoting beef including: (51.1)
i. POS
ii. Newspaper
iii. Magazines (Entice)
iv. Radio
v. TV
vi. Facebook (MLA)
vii. Apps
b. Assess a current advertising campaign for beef
(assessment task!!) (51.2)

52. Supply and Demand

a. Define Supply and Demand

b. Describe factors affecting Supply and Demand (52.1)
c. Outline ways Supply and Demand effect price of
beef.(52.2)

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 STUDY NOTES – ELECTIVE - FARMING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

INNOVATION, ETHICS AND CURRENT ISSUES:

53.Issues relating to research and development

a. Discuss issues relating to the research and development of
technologies (and use examples) including: (53.1)
i. Funding Sources – list sources and including specific details
on Government funding, use examples from Dairy Australia
ii. Patents – Define and give details of what they are and what
they mean to the development of other technologies.
iii. Plant Breeding rights – Define and list what it gives the
plant breeder exclusive control over. Also outline what
makes a new variety and what occurs once new plant
variety is initiated.
iv. Animal Welfare – Discuss how it effects animal research
and development. Discuss the issues of Animal Welfare in
R&D. Use examples from MLA and the AAWA.
v. Legislation – Outline the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act, Plant Breeders Rights Act, Animals Research Act,
Primary Industries Research and Development Act,
Australian Code of Practise for the care and use of animals
for scientific purposes (1997) and how they impact research
and Development into technologies.
vi. Contracts – Use PERCATO as an example of an agency that
can be contracted to research Agricultural Technology.
Outline who they are and what services they provide.

54.Developments in Agricultural Research

a. Evaluate the following new technological developments that may
assist in Agricultural industries – (54.1)
i. Satellite technologies – Describe and Evaluate Farming by
Satellites to measure feed on offer in pastures, Virtual
Fencing using GPS, GPS/GNSS in Ag, Precision Farming
(Variable rate Fertilizers and Variable rate irrigation)
ii. Computer Technology – Describe and Evaluate computer
recording systems such as Agri Webb, Remote Sensors,
Water Telemetry
iii. Electronic Identification Systems – Describe and Evaluate
NLIS and MooCall

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 iv. Biotechnology –Describe and Evaluate Sexing of Chicken
Embryos and GM Cotton/Canola
v. Robotics – Describe and Evaluate Robotic Dairies, Forest
Drones for Air Seed Technology, Pharm robotics and
Farmbots.

55.Marketing of Technological Developments

a. Evaluate methods that companies may use to market new
technological developments (55.1)
i. Give the advantages and disadvantages of various methods
used to market new developments
ii. Use specific examples for technologies that are marketed
using various media forms.

MANAGING PROCESSES IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

56.Reasons for adopting technologies

a. Outline, using examples , reasons why technologies are adopted.
(56.1)
57.For ONE recent technological development – ROBOTIC DAIRIES OR
WEEDSEEKER (57.1)
a. Explain the reasons for the development of the technology
b. Outline the historical development of the technology
c. Describe IN DETAIL the technological development
d. EVALUATE the impact of the technological development in terms of
the following impacts:
i. Economic,
ii. Environmental
iii. Social
iv. Legal
v. Managerial

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF DATA

58.Research into technological developments

a. Analyse a research study on the development or implementation of
ONE recent technology. Do this under the following headings:
Your research study was Weed seeker Technology (58.1)

i. Design of the study –

1. who conducted it,
2. what were the aims of the study,
3. what were the treatments
ii. Methodology of the study –
1. How was the trial conducted (this will overlap with
info in Design of the study)
iii. Collection of data – What data was collected
iv. Presentation of Data – How was the data presented
v. Analysis of Data – What statistical
vi. tests were conducted and why
vii. Conclusions and recommendations –
1. What conclusions were found ?
2. What recommendations were given?
59.The need for research
a. Explain the need for research in the development of Agricultural
Technologies. Use examples. (59.1)

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