Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of this module are to:

• develop the knowledge and skills required to apply the principles of sustainable arable crop and livestock
production in practice under temperate conditions
• develop the knowledge and skills required to critically evaluate the concepts of crop and livestock production
and the underlying principles of soil health and fertility, environmental protection and appropriate
management methods (crop protection, breeding etc)

Outline Of Syllabus

This two-week module will cover:
1. Soil health, fertility and management
2. Arable production (different crops, introduce rotation)
3. Crop breeding and varieties
4. Crop protection
5. Integrated pest management
6. Precision agriculture
7. Grass and forage production
8. Ruminant management
9. Non-ruminant management

Friday field visits to NU Farms (or other)

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module the students are expected to:

(i) understand various aspects of sustainable arable crop and livestock production
(ii) assess: the impact of agronomic (tillage, irrigation, fertilisation etc.), environmental and genetic
properties on performance of field crops; different breeding/selection approaches with respect to their
suitability for different agricultural management systems.
(iii) have the ability to critically compare, biological, physical and treatment based approaches for
sustainability of a crop rotation/farming system and understand the strengths and weaknesses of different
systems and consider how they might be improved
(iv) appreciate the similarities and differences between various production systems (intensive• extensive) and
identify the aspects of ‘good practice’ that may be used in either system.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module the students are expected to have the ability to:

(i) identify the major arable crop species and their diseases, pest and weed problems and their impact on crop
yield and quality
(ii) design a sustainable rotation for a mixed farming enterprise
(iii) demonstrate intellectual and key skills i.e. oral and written communication; gathering and critical
analysis of information (e.g. scientific literature) and data, problem solving; computer software
application; teamwork etc. developed within the continuous assessment programme
(iv) integrate information gained from this module and others to enable them to apply them in practice to a
range of agricultural systems

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures deliver the basic knowledge needed by students to understand the principles underlying the cropping and livestock systems.

Workshops provide an opportunity for students to extend and critically assess lecture and published material and information acquired through their own reading, whilst developing team and presenting skills.

Field trips will be a demonstration of current practice and discussion of pragmatic solutions to commercial problems.

Canvas will be used to encourage discussion and provide a platform for supplementary material and further skill development (word and excel etc).

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Summative: The aim of the assessment is to test the student’s ability to design a research project (Project Inception Report) to answer a specific research question, to undertake and report that investigation and to present the information.

Formative: Develops professional communication skills using email. Will gain understanding on the importance of email signatures and clarity of questions. Gets students to start student-supervisor relationship prior to producing their PIF (summative).

General Notes

N/A