Do you know that organic farming can be more profitable than mainstream agriculture? As consumers increasingly seek organic alternatives to standard supermarket produce, demand for organic goods continues to grow.
The Certificate of Organic Farming is an online professional development program that explores the viable economic gains in pursuing organic farming, as well the benefits to the environment and health of the consumer.
In this organic farming course, you will learn about the history, scope and types of organic farming, and how to handle organic management issues, from certification and environmental concerns to marketing and promotion.
You will also discover integrated farm management systems for organic farming, including rotation design, waste management systems, and biodynamics, as well as how to manage pests, weeds, soil, pasture, crops and livestock.
On completion of this course, you will have strengthened your understanding of organic farming, which will enhance your ability to create and market a successful organic farming enterprise.
Course Structure
Unit - Organic Farming
Unit 1 – Introduction to organic farming
- What is organic farming?
- The benefits of organic farming
- The scope of organic farming
- Overview of organic techniques
- Promoting plant growth
- Intercropping, manurial systems
- Composting and mulching
- The soil microbiome
- Cultural control of pests/diseases/weeds
- Physical control of pests/diseases/weed
- Biological control of pests/diseases/weeds
- Decomposition
- Nutrient cycling and recycling
- Nutrient availability
- Promoting plant growth
Unit 2 – Organic farming systems
- Farming systems
- The variables
- Choosing a production system
- Types of organic farming
- No dig techniques
- Vegetable-sod inter planting
- No dig raised beds – one method
- Broad-acre and row cropping
- Broad-acre cropping
- Row cropping
- Animal production systems
- Paddock grazing
- Strip grazing
- Free range
- Large-scale grazing
- Grazing modifications
- Animal breeding/stud operations
- Fish and aquaculture
- Poultry, hordes, swine
- Cattle semen production
Unit 3 – Organic Management Issues
- Approaches in organic production & manufacturing
- The benefits of an ethical approach to organic production and manufacturing
- Ethics help to meet consumer expectations and improve an organisation’s reputation
- What consumer law tells us – self-labelling
- Organic certification
- Organic standards
- Changing an existing farm to an organic property
- An example certification process
- Marketing organic produce
- Conservation & management of resources for long-term sustainability
- Native vegetation & farms
- Important reasons for using trees
- Landcare programs
- Land rehabilitation
- Hostile environments
- Planning
- Water management
- Water runoff
- Water-saving measures
- Household water
- Waterlogging
- Problems with wet areas
- Solutions ideas
- Waste water treatment (reed-beds)
- Suitable plants
Unit 4 – Organic soil management & crop nutrition
- Composting on organic farms
- Mulching on organic farms
- Green manuring
- Cover crops
- Sheet composting
- Organic fertilisers
- Animal manures
- Poultry manure
- Blood and bone meal
- Rock dusts
- Seaweed
- Boosting the soil microbiome
Unit 5 – Organic weed management
- What is a weed?
- Plants which take over
- Environmental weeds
- Noxious weeds
- Controlling weeds
- Ways to control weeds without chemicals
- Check soil condition
- Minimise sources of weed seeds
- Cultivation
- Mulching
- Biological weed control
- Grazing
- Goats
- Other grazing animals
- Organic weed control practices
- Techniques used to manage weeds
Unit 6 – Pest & disease management
- Livestock disease management
- Animal health
- The healthy animal
- Recognising ill health
- Causes of ill health
- Poisons
- Hereditary conditions
- Nutritional problems
- Living organisms and microorganisms
- Parasites
- Preventing ill health
- Feed animals an adequate and well-balanced diet
- Avoid stressing livestock
- Prevent diseases from entering the farm system
- Practise good hygiene
- Actively manage grazing and fencing
- Control insects
- Diatomaceous earth
- Dipping
- Vaccination programs
- Pulpy kidney vaccination
- Blue tongue vaccination
- Ovine brucellosis vaccination
- Other vaccinations which may be needed:
- The first aid kit
- Aids for diagnosis and instruments and medicines
- Animal nursing
- The hospital pen
- Quarantine and slaughter
- Post-mortem (necropsy)
- Controlling pests and diseases in plants
- Cultural controls
- Choose the right plant for the right position
- Choose healthy plants and resistant plant varieties
- Crop rotation
- Timed planting
- Irrigation
- Increasing plant diversity
- Mulching
- Cleanliness and hygiene
- Physical controls
- Traps
- Repellent devices
- Scarecrows and scare guns
- Organic sprays and dusts
- Pesticides and fungicides
- Biological control
- Conserving resident organisms
- Biological control – the more common view
- Biological control is not new
- Advantages of biological control
- How does biological control work?
- Pheromone traps
- Biological control – weeds
- Disadvantages of biological control
- Companion planting
- Beneficial plants, repellent plants, attractant plants
- Plants that affect the soil
- Nutrient accumulating plants
- Bait plants
- Pest control plants
Unit 7 – Livestock management I
- Organic livestock
- Managing livestock
- Choosing what animals to raise
- Stages of the livestock life cycle
- Methods of caring for animals
- Livestock shelter
- Animal management for wool and meat production
- Organic milk production
- Organic beef production
- Introduction to animal foods
- Terms and definitions
- Groups of foods (carbohydrates, proteins and fats)
- Other terms that are used
- Food processing terms
- Water
- Factors affecting water intake
- Lot feeding
- Site requirements for feedlots
- Managing cattle in lots
- Problems with lot fed cattle
- Pen fattening of cattle -one method
- Feedlot records
- Variable costs
Unit 8 – Livestock management II
- Poultry
- Husbandry
- Feeding
- Problems
- Deer
- Ostriches
- Emus
- Alpacas
- Llamas
- Goats
- Aquaculture
- Advantages and disadvantages to aquaculture
- Aquaculture systems
- Extensive production (EP)
- Intensive production (IP)
- Water containment
- Species of fish to farm
Unit 9 – Organic pasture management
- Managing pasture site
- Choosing pasture sites
- Seed coating
- Growth and development of grasses
- Phases 1,2 and 3
- The importance of legumes in pasture
- Major types of legumes
- Other pasture crops
- Site considerations
- Choosing the correct seed mix
- Establishing new pasture
- Preparation of the land for pasture
- Sowing and germination
- Testing the soil microbiome
- How to perform a cotton strip assay:
- Reading the results of your cotton strip assay
- Weed control
- Grazing the new pasture
- Grassland management rests – to promote rapid growth
- Rests based on the requirements of animals
- Pasture varieties and grasses
- Major types of pasture grass
- Pasture management principles
- Rest and grazing periods
- Stocking and carrying capacity
- Number of herds and herd size
- Applying grassland management principles
- Continuous light stocking
- Split – season systems
- One herd, four paddock system
- Intensive system
Unit 10 – Broad-Acre Organic Crops
- Requirements
- Wheat
- Weed control
- Sesame seed
- Cultural requirements
- Harvesting
- Mung beans
- Plant fibre crops
- Table of commonly grown fibre crops
- Production
- Harvesting
- Market potential
- Hay & silage
- Silage production and inoculants
- Silage timing
- Sorghum (grain and sweet varieties)
- Quality control
- Storage and handling
- Pits and bunkers
- Hay
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Add to Cart/View Cart on the course page.
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Hobby Farmers
- Organic Farmers
Related Blogs
