AP2A20-Agricultural Field Study Tour (Agric & ABM)

Module Provider: Agriculture
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Yiorgos Gadanakis
Email: g.gadanakis@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is a two-part, 3-day residential field trip aiming to expose you to a range of farming types, businesses and systems, particularly those not common in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø area, to understand the commercial realities affecting the industry and to discuss current trends in farm practices across the UK. In addition, the field trip will facilitate understanding of abstract concepts and will motivate you by provoking interest and curiosity and by increasing student-student and student-lecturer social interaction. The skills developed are relevant for those interested to work in agriculture and the auxiliary businesses. This module is only available to BSc Agriculture and BSc Agricultural Business Management students.

Aims:

To expose students to a range of farming types, businesses and systems, particularly those not common in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø area, understand the commercial realities affecting the industry and to encourage team spirit among students. In addition, the field trip facilitates the teaching of abstract concepts making learning more effective, motivate students through increased interest and curiosity and increase student-student and student-lecturer social interaction.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module students will be able to:

• Understand how the four factors of production lead to diversity in farming systems.


• Compare a range of farming systems in relation to their biological, physical and economic attributes.


• Discuss current trends in farm practice in a specific region of the UK.


• List a range of opportunities and threats for the industry derived from the various discussions with farmer s, farm managers and professional of the industry

Additional outcomes:

Additionally, the module aims to encourage interaction between students within the cohort, farmers, managers and staff. Students will be expected to involve themselves in debate and questioning and to keep a record of their activities. Hence, develop written communication (express ideas clearly and confidently) and verbal communication (express ideas clearly and confidently in speech).

Outline content:

The module consists of two residential visits in geographic regions different to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø area. During this time students visit a range of farms, businesses, enterprises and organisations, examples of which are provided below:

• Hill Ìýfarms


• Large rural estate Ìý


• Intensive cereal farm Ìý


• Innovative stock or dairy farm


• Horticultural producer


• Diversified businesses
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• Research farm

Global context:
Students are encouraged to discuss the wider implications of agricultural trade within the European Economic Area and beyond and how this directly affects production within the UK.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The focus of the residential field trip is discussion groups with question and answer sessions. The farm visits usually consist of guided tours and in some cases video presentations or slide shows. The field trip is used to integrate theory with practice, teach concepts of farm management and to summarise material studied throughout Part 1 and Part 2.