Take your farming to the next level!
Increase creativity, innovation and adaptability in your farming methods.
This course develops a foundation for building a successful agricultural business and promotes a higher level of creativity and innovation when considering your options for a future in farming. You will be taught to apply alternative farming
methods, becoming better equipped to meet changes in industry demands through adaptive thinking. The core modules cover Soils, Water, Land Care, Financial Sustainability, Broad Management Strategies, Plant and Animal Enterprises). The elective modules incorporate a variety of subjects relevant to alternative farming which can be chosen according to where your specific interest lies.
This is an experiential learning-based course. Throughout your studies you will have the opportunity to network with and learn from a variety of industry professionals. Establishing real-world relationships and confidence is key to career success.
Modules
Note that each module in the Certificate in Alternative Farming is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
CONSIDERING NEW ENTERPRISES
Over recent years, farmers from many countries, have looked increasingly towards growing new types of crops or animals. There can be a distinct advantage in 'getting in first' with novel and potentially valuable products. At the same time, there can also be challenges such as not have an infrastructure developed to deal with the product. For example, Australia has been farming an increasing number of emus and ostriches, but there are few abattoir facilities developed to kill and process the meat, leather, feathers, etc.
Advantages & Disadvantages Of New Industries -
Getting in first can allow you to:
- Develop a market niche
- Develop a reputation, and
- A level of expertise that you can market to future industry members, e.g., providing start-up or breeding stock for the next wave of farmers.
Starting later:
It may be hard to break into the market in the face of established producers, but you may be able to bypass mistakes made by earlier contributors (pioneers in the industry).
High prices are generally obtained for stock/produce at first, particularly if they are in high demand as breeding stock, but once numbers increase, then often price drops quite rapidly. This means that you can lose a lot of money buying expensive stock, only to see prices plummet in a short time. Timing your entry into developing industries is crucial.
You can often get extensive help, advice, support from various government agencies (e.g., agriculture departments) who are keen to develop new industries in conjunction with farmers.
Some new products require more sophisticated facilities for processing than others, while others can utilise existing facilities for other crops or animals. You need to be aware of what is needed and ensure you have reliable access to such facilities (or an ability to develop suitable processing facilities), before making a commitment to grow something new or different.
Markets - may already be established, or you may need to develop market opportunities.
New industries often have additional tourism potential, for example, uncommon animals will attract interest as an oddity to be looked at, not just for meat, fleece, or milk production.
HOW THEN DO YOU DECIDE WHICH ENTERPRISE/S TO TRY?
Careful selection of which new enterprise/s to undertake is extremely important!
STEP 1.
A simple process to get you started is to consider, on a BROAD SCALE, all the possibilities for potential enterprises. This could be done as a brainstorming session, perhaps with relatives, staff members, and/or fellow farmers. Don't limit yourself at this stage - no idea is too silly. You may want to do a little research to give you a few more ideas. What products or services are being trialed in Australia, or which are being grown overseas successfully, but not yet trialed in Australia, that you might be interested in?
A little research, even a visit overseas, could extend the range of possibilities to consider.
List all the ideas you come up with. A list of possible enterprises/activities to give you a good head start is included later in this chapter.
STEP 2.
List all of the things that you already have, or could readily get hold of, that could be potentially utilised as part of a new enterprise. Once again don't limit yourself. Items to be listed could include, such things as:
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Land - how much, where is it located (e.g. next to a major highway or near a big town), topography, soils, climate, etc.
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Water - how much, from what sources, cost, quality, reliability, etc.
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Established infrastructure - do you have sheds, buildings, dams, fences, roads, etc. on your property?
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What services do you have access to (mains water, power, telephone, etc.)?
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What equipment do you have, or can readily get access to (e.g. tractors, harvesting equipment, cultivating equipment, sprayers, irrigation equipment, vehicles, etc? What enterprises are these resources suited to, or could be readily adapted to.
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What skills and knowledge do you have - don't just consider farm production skills, also consider computer skills, marketing skills, cooking skills, handyman skills, business skills,etc. Some crops and animals are very difficult to grow; others are easy. Some services are easy to provide, others may be more difficult. If you are inexperienced, it is often best to start with the easy ones, even though profit margins may not be as high as for other products or services.
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What are your personal interests? You will put much more effort into something you are really interested in.
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Can you get extra, suitably trained staff easily if required?
STEP 3.
Limiting Factors
What things would limit you from doing certain enterprises. List these. Could these limitations be readily overcome. You might, for example, have a water shortage problem, or your property may be well off the beaten track, or your property is subject to heavy frost.
STEP 4.
Go through each of the potential enterprises on your first list and cross check them with your other two lists. Put a tick or an asterisk against those enterprises that you feel you could do given the list of resources you have or could readily get hold of. Put a cross next to those enterprises where you feel you wouldn't have the necessary resources to carry out that enterprise. Also put a cross against those enterprises where the items from your limitations list would make the undertaking of that enterprise difficult, for example, if you have water shortages, then trying to produce a crop or animal with high water demand (e.g. water chestnuts, aquaculture) is not likely to succeed.
STEP 5.
Start to carry out some initial research into the items that you have asterisked or ticked. You may limit this step to those enterprises that particularly interest you, especially if your list of possible is still a long one. Don't throw away your original list though. As conditions change (e.g. finances improve, irrigation channels are supplied to your area) you might want to later on reconsider some of the enterprises you have at first rejected.
Where can this course lead?
Industries in alternative farming:
Organic/Sustainable Farms
Private Enterprises
Farm Processing Plants
Agriculture Research and Development
Agriculture Education and Training
Government Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Forestry, Conservation
Conservation and Wildlife Organisations
Not for Profit Agencies
Ecotourism
Farm Supply Companies
Farm Advisory Services
Jobs in alternative farming:
Run your own alternative farming business
Farm Supervisor
Farm Hand
Farm Machinery Operator
Project Officer
Agribusiness Analyst
Quality Assurance Officer
Laboratory Assistant
Research Assistant
Marketing
Advertising
Sales
Tour Guide
Logistics Clerk
Administration Assistant
Agronomist
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