Crops

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED MANAGEMENT (CROPS) VBS001

Do you want to be a farmer or own a horticultural business?  

This course covers both the skills required to manage a horticultural farm (eg. Market Garden, Orchard), and also to developing knowledge in the identification, growing, processing and marketing crops and crop related products. This course involves seven units, plus a 200 hr workplace project. These are the four core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate (ie.  Management, Business Operations, Office Practices and Marketing Foundations), and three specialist units of study relating to crop production.  This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.

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ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE (CROPS) VHT009

Train to become a Professional Horticulturist

Train to be a professional horticulturist, technician or manager, to work at a management or technical level with horticultural crops.

This course normally takes 3 years full time or 5-7 years part time, but may be completed in 1-2 years with extra effort.

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.

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AGRONOMY - OIL CROPS BAG312

Learn to Grow Oil Crops
Broaden the range of crops in commercial farm planting
Diversify a source of farm income
Expand your knowledge and awareness of farm crop production as a supplier of services or goods to farms
Products grown using oil crops can be used for a variety of purposes including food and edible products, biofuels, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products and much more. 

Who is this course for?
A farmer planning to diversify income streams
Farm or land workers seeking to upskill
Anyone new to the industry - on or off farm
Investors, service providers, consultants, students or anyone else with an interest in learning more about growing oil crops

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AGRONOMY II - GRAINS BAG309

Learn to grow cereals, pulses, and grains with this specialty course

Suitable for large and small scale operations.

Covering some of the most significant agricultural crops in the world, this course discusses important cultivars, factors of production (including machinery), processing, and more.

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AGRONOMY III - ROOT CROPS BAG310

Learn how to grow root vegetables

Increase crop diversity or start a new enterprise with root crops. Discover new varieties of root vegetables, learn best growing practices and understand different harvesting techniques.

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AGRONOMY IV - LEGUME CROPS BAG311

Learn about growing broadacre crops for food production!

Diversify your income and enhance critical elements of farming through legumes. 

Are you thinking of growing legumes to improve your farming practice and output?
Are you running a crop rotation system? 
How important is sustainability on your farm? 
Do you want to improve soil health and structure? 
Are you striving to reduce pests and disease or weeds on your land?

If you answered yes to these questions, legume crop growing is key.

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BERRY GROWING BHT309

Berries are a good source of  farm income

The amount of land you need varies from a small to large plot depending on the species and the time you want to allocate. There are many opportunities in berry growing; on-farm sales and pick-your-own are just two modes of marketing that are becoming increasingly popular with the general public. Berries can also be sold to markets or 'value-added' into berry products. 

For the enthusiast or commercial grower, covering all aspects of the propagation, care and cultivation of common, and uncommon, berry fruit; with the opportunity to specialise to some degree in one type of berry.

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CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (CROPS) VHT002

A course for people working, or intending to work, in orchards or market gardens

This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to crop production. The Core Units are divided into the following sections:
1. Introduction to Plants -Taxonomy, plant families, pressing plants, basic botany.
2. Plant Culture -Planting, potting, plant selection, pruning, irrigation, tools and machinery.
3. Soils and Nutrition -Soil structure, chemistry, nutrition, potting media.
4. Plant Identification and Use -Seed harvesting and storage, germination treatments, cuttings, etc.
5. Pests, Diseases and Weeds -Identification and treatment (chemical and non-chemical)

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CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (CUT FLOWERS) VHT002

A 600 hr course for people working or wishing to work in the area of cut flower production

This course in similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to the production and marketing of cut flowers. The Core Units are the same as for the above certificates (ie. Introduction to Plants, Plant Culture, Soils and Nutrition, Plant Identification and Use, Pests, Diseases and Weeds).

Accredited through International Accreditation & Recognition Council

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CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (ORGANIC PLANT GROWING) VHT002

Learn to grow plants Organically, for home or farm

A 600 hour accredited course designed to teach the principles and practices of growing plants using organic methods. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to organic growing. To our knowledge this is the only government accredited course in Australia for organic growers. The Core Units comprise fifteen lessons covering: Introduction to Plants, Plant Culture, Soils and Nutrition, Plant Identification and Use & Pests, Diseases and Weeds.

Accredited through International Accreditation & Recognition Council

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CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (VITICULTURE) VHT002

For people working, or intending to work, in the production of grapes

This course is similar to other CVHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to the production of grapes for wine, drying or as fresh fruit. The Core Units comprise fifteen and are divided into the following sections:

• Introduction to Plants;
• Plant Culture;
• Soils and Nutrition;
• Plant Identification and Use; and 
• Pests, Diseases and Weeds.

 

Accredited through the International Accreditation & Recognition Council

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COMMERCIAL ORGANIC VEGETABLE GROWING BHT241

COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION - LEARN SUSTAINABLE GROWING METHODS ONLINE

Lots of Practical Components in this course

Develop skills and knowledge required for commercial vegetable production, including a variety of production methods with an organic emphasis. This course is suitable for:

• Property owners considering moving into commercial vegetable production
• Anyone working in the vegetable production industry (growers, farm staff, suppliers, marketers etc) who has not yet undertaken a foundation course; and wishes to fill in gaps in their knowledge.
• Market Gardeners who are interested in converting to organic production

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COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION BHT222

COMMERCIAL CROP (VEGETABLE) PRODUCTION COURSE

Develop skills and knowledge required for commercial vegetable production, including a variety of production methods. This is a very sound 100 hour foundation course in general vegetable production.

This course provides solid skills in the commercial production of vegetable crops, irrigation, harvest and post harvest treatment, marketing and more..

(Note: Do not undertake Commercial Organic Vegetable Growing as well as this. The two courses do overlap)

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CUT FLOWER BULBS BHT317

Learn to grow bulbs as a commercial cut flower crop!

Why not get your hands dirty and explore the possibilities of growing flowers as a career. This course is suitable for the beginner, as well as for the grower with some experience looking to advance their career.

Other opportunities include:

• Farmers wanting to diversify
• Small property owners seeking supplementary income from a cash crop
• Farm or nursery workers looking to take the next step in their flower growing careers
• Anyone wanting to explore the possibility of growing bulbs commercially and seeking a foundation for moving forward.

   You will be surprised at how much you can learn about flowering bulbs - and how much the floriculture industry needs informed experts. That expert could be you.

 

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CUT FLOWER ORCHIDS VHT240

Expertise is the key to growing orchids for the cut flower trade

Opportunities abound on both the domestic and the international markets for those with a sound background knowledge of how to best grow these beautiful plants. 

Orchids occur naturally from very cold temperate climates through to tropical locations; and provided you choose appropriate species and treat them according to location, it is feasible to grow orchids as cut flowers almost anywhere. Orchids are one of the most commercially viable cut flower crops (partially due to their beauty, and also due to their long shelf life). Learn how to produce orchid flowers for the cut flower trade.

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CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION BHT221

Work in the Dynamic Cut Flower Trade

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.

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FORAGE MANAGEMENT BAG226

Learn how to manage forage resources

Forage is plant material taken by livestock as they browse or graze. It may be grown as a crop or occur naturally.

Learn how to:

• Select appropriate plants for forage crop production
• Cultivate and maintain forage crops
• Regulate livestock access to forage plants
• Preserve forage as hay and silage

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FRUIT PRODUCTION - TEMPERATE CLIMATE BHT218

A sound foundation for working in the fruit growing industry

Topics covered include management, soils, planting, irrigation, pruning, cultural practices (including pest control), pome and stone fruits, and various vines, fruit trees and nuts.

This course is suitable for career development for:

• Orchardists
• Orchard staff
• Nursery Workers
• Farm and Horticultural Suppliers

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FRUIT PRODUCTION - WARM CLIMATE BHT217

Learn to grow a wide range of tropical and subtropical fruits

Grow Avocados, Pineapples, Macadamias, Mangoes, Paw Paws, Cashews, Citrus and lots more.

This course provides a good foundation for working as a farm hand on a fruit farm;  or  a starting point for a career or business in the tropical fruit industry.

If you are considering a career in this industry, we strongly suggest you take advantage of our free career and course advisory service to obtain personal advice and direction from one of our professional horticulturists. We can tell you more about the ins and outs of this industry and help you make the right decisions from the start.

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GREENHOUSE CUT FLOWERS VHT239

A course for commercial cut flower growers (and staff) who are concerned exclusively with greenhouse production

Flowers are grown in greenhouses for various reasons:

• To produce flowers out of season when prices are better
• To grow varieties that in localities they are not normally suited to
• To produce flowers for a longer season
• To produce flowers faster
• To reduce the likelihood of disease, pest or environmental damage (reduced quality)

Greenhouse production can involve a much larger initial investment, but production can be more intensive (so not as much land is needed) and profitability can eventually be higher.

 

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IRRIGATION - CROPS BHT204

Learn about the design, installation, maintenance, operation and evaluation of simple irrigation systems

Water is a precious and often scarce resource. Using it effectively can make all the difference to whether a crop is profitable or not. This ten lesson course develops an understanding of how plants use water and how to deliver it more effectively to the plant. 

This course is similar to BHT210 and BGA213, but focuses on irrigation systems for row crops (eg. vegetables & cut flowers) and orchards.

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MUSHROOM PRODUCTION BHT310

Ever wanted to grow mushrooms and didn't know where to start?

Here is a comprehensive 8 lesson course covering how to grow mushrooms on either a small or large scale. Emphasis is placed on the Agaricus species (the Champignon), though other commercially important edible fungi are also considered. Growing, harvesting, marketing, storage, pest and diseases and even ways of cooking and using mushrooms are covered.

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NUT PRODUCTION BHT219

For the enthusiast or commercial grower

A detailed study on nut growing with the opportunity to specialise, to some degree, according to your interests. Eight lessons cover culture, site selection and planning, common & uncommon nut varieties, propagation, soils, pests & diseases, harvesting, & more.

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OUTDOOR CROPS PRODUCTION BHT112

All You Need to Know About Growing Crops

This comprehensive introduction to crop growing covers a huge amount of ground. Learn about different types of crop systems, how to establish and nurture crops, and techniques used in traditional and organic growing systems.

Use this course to help you develop a solid foundation in production horticulture. Over twelve lessons you will cover site, crop selection, soil management, cut flowers, vegetables, berries, nuts, herbs, tree fruits, other crops, managing a market garden and more. 

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PROTECTED PLANT PRODUCTION BHT223

Learn to Grow Plants in a Greenhouse

Develop your broad understanding of practices and processes involved in successful plant cropping. It will develop a clear understanding of environmental control and plant growth within a protective environment, together with a practical knowledge of plant husbandry techniques.

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SOIL MANAGEMENT - CROPS BHT303

Discover how soil conditions can make or break a cropping enterprise

First understand the physical and chemical nature of soils, then learn about ways you can manage the soils to optimize plant growth, whether by improving structure, changing the chemistry to make nutrients more available or choosing and using appropriate additives (e.g. fertilizers, soil conditioners etc).

This course is similar to our other soil management courses, but relates specifically to crops.

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VITICULTURE BHT220

Learn to grow grapes and work in the viticulture industry

Develop a sound foundation for working in the viticulture industry. There are still lots of opportunities for those with know-how to enter this industry. Whether you want to set up your own vineyard or work in an established one you need to understand the techniques used to produce healthy and bountiful harvests.

This course doesn't just expand you knowledge on growing techniques it also covers:

• How to choose a site that is suitable for grape growing
• How to design an efficient vineyard
• How to choose the right grape varieties for the site and climate
• How to market your grapes or vineyard
• How to extend your bottom line by value adding

If you are passionate about grape growing this course will fire up that passion and lead you towrads a career in this field.

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, marketing and more.

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WARM CLIMATE NUTS BHT308

Learn to Grow A wide Variety of Nuts

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.

There is a huge market for tropical nuts such as Macadamia, and more being nuts are being cultivated each year into the market.

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