Agriculture, Extended Diploma (BTEC), Diploma

Level

Agriculture, Extended Diploma (BTEC), Diploma

Nottingham Trent University
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Description

We are one of the largest providers of land-based courses in the UK. Our Brackenhurst campus has a working farm where you'll develop skills and experience in operating land-based machinery, handling livestock and assessing animal health. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to have a successful career in agriculture. Why study Agriculture?

Young farmers of the future Britain needs you! In today's ever challenging world it is more important than ever we develop intelligent young people into the farmers of the future. Together we need to take British farming forward braving economic obstacles and changing weather patterns. We need to util…

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Didn't find what you were looking for? See also: Agricultural Science, BTEC, Horticulture, Machinery, and Rural Development.

We are one of the largest providers of land-based courses in the UK. Our Brackenhurst campus has a working farm where you'll develop skills and experience in operating land-based machinery, handling livestock and assessing animal health. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to have a successful career in agriculture. Why study Agriculture?

Young farmers of the future Britain needs you! In today's ever challenging world it is more important than ever we develop intelligent young people into the farmers of the future. Together we need to take British farming forward braving economic obstacles and changing weather patterns. We need to utilise advances in technology and find ways to cope with ever increasing demands to deliver quality local produce for our supermarkets and communities.

Can you step up to a challenge? Do you want to be a farmer for the future?

Why choose Agriculture at Brackenhurst campus?
  • You'll have a real farm experience on our 200 hectare working farm estate.
  • You'll learn to use modern, top of the range equipment.
  • You'll learn to drive an advanced range of machinery to industry standard.
  • You'll be working with rare breeds and pedigree livestock.
  • You'll gain important industry qualifications.
  • You'll be actively involved in the working duties of the farm developing vital skills for your career.
  • You'll be taught by academics with professional expertise and active engagement within the agriculture industry.
  • You'll attend regional agricultural shows with fellow students and demonstrate skills like sheep shearing and participate in our busy lambing season on the farm.
  • Brackenhurst has a friendly community feel where you are known by name and supported as you settle in.
About Brackenhurst campus

Our beautiful rural Brackenhurst campus is a truly unique and special place to learn. Located near the historic market town of Southwell and just 14 miles from Nottingham city centre, Brackenhurst is an idyllic 200 hectare working farm estate with crops and biomass grass, a Victorian hall and walled gardens.

It offers purpose-built teaching facilities including an equestrian centre, a brand new mock veterinary nursing practice, an animal unit home to a range of mammals and reptiles, a glass greenhouse complex, and specialist workshop units for our agriculture students. New student accommodation is also available and students have on-site access to a library, careers service, computing facilities, shop, cafe and student bar.

Brackenhurst specialises in sustainable agriculture

Our estate is part of the DEFRA Environmental Stewardship scheme that supports effective environmental management of farm land and countryside estates. Initiatives include the establishment of six-meter field margins of permanent grass to protect hedgerows and ditches from fertilizer sprays and soil leaching. Over the year's species of wildlife have flourished at Brackenhurst including barn owls, lapwings, yellowhammers, butterflies and moths.

Come and visit Brackenhurst on an open day
  • Check out our Flickr photostream!
  • Find out more about our facilities
About the course

Whether you want to pursue a successful managerial career in the agricultural industry or related trade this course equips students with the tools to develop managerial and practical skills. The course is 50% land based and 50% classroom teaching, combining hands on learning with theory; which means you will develop craftsman level skills as well as learn to think like a manager.

The course focuses on mixed farming as carried out in Nottinghamshire and comprises an even mix of crops, grassland, livestock, machinery, and workshops. The first year is more practically focused to allow the learner to develop the skills to get that all important first summer job to start building a reference. The second year is more management based, so slightly less practical.

As part of your practical work experience on the University's 200-hectare mixed farm estate you are expected to undertake early morning duties as a real farmer would.

What you'll cover

The course covers 18 units over a two-year period during which you will be involved in real farm work. The units are spread over two years to give an even spread of experience and assessments.

Year One
  • Plant Science
  • Soil Science
  • Crop Production
  • Grass Crop Production
  • Land-Based Machinery
  • Land-based Machinery Operations
  • Animal Health
  • Sheep Husbandry
  • Agricultural Livestock Production
  • Farm Workshop Practice
Year Two
  • Agricultural Forage Crop Production
  • Farm Habitat Management
  • Agricultural Spreaders and Sprayers
  • Advanced Farm Workshop Practice
  • Animal Anatomy and Physiology
  • Estate Skills
  • Business Management in the Land-based Sector
  • Investigative Project in the Land-based Sector
  • Work Related Experience in the Land-based Industries

The last unit is started in the first year to enable you to undertake a work placement in between the years and over the summer.

Assessment

Students are assessed during the course by means of course and class assignments.

Who will teach you?

Dominic Heneghan – Course Leader, Senior Lecturer in Livestock and other subjects
Having moved from central London to Northamptonshire, Dom first worked on a farm when he was fourteen, and it was this that started his fascination with livestock, particularly sheep and cattle. Dom went to Aberdeen University and qualified with a BSc(Agric) in 1975 before he decided to broaden his skills base by working as a herdsman for a couple of years.

Deciding that his degree could be better used, Dom moved to the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Research in Animal Diseases as a Scientific Officer researching into dairy cow mastitis. After nearly seven years, Dom decided that he would like to move back towards main stream agriculture and he joined the team at Brackenhurst in 1983. Dom has his own flock of rare breed Galway sheep and is very involved with the management of livestock on the farm.

Andy Guy - Lecturer in Farm Mechanisation and General Agriculture
Andy qualified in Agricultural Engineering at Harper Adams University College. Andy established an award winning dairy herd before joining the team at Brackenhurst in 2011. Andy works part time at Brackenhurst and also operates an independent Farm Business Consultancy service offering advice to farmers on a range of sustainable farming issues.

Andy has won a number of farming accolades including the prestigious Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year and Countryside Farmer of the Year awards in 2005.

What facilities do we have at Brackenhurst?
  • Learning takes place on the Brackenhurst campus 200-hectare farm estate. You will learn in modern classrooms and laboratories.
  • The machinery pool offers two technologically advanced tractors fitted with modern self-steering equipment.
  • Well fitted out specialist workshops provide facilities for the Workshop Practice and Specialist Workshop units.
  • There is a growing herd of pedigree Lincoln Red cattle and a flock of sheep, mixed commercial, pedigree and rare breeds at Brackenhurst campus.
  • A range of crops are grown to provide experience in a range of agronomy skills.
  • You will have access to a brand new library and IT centre, and research centre.
  • We provide award-winning student accommodation for if you choose to be resident whilst you study.
  • You will have access to a student cafeteria and student union bar.
Residential options and accommodation

We offer a range of residential options for students at Brackenhurst campus.

Check out our accommodation or call us on +44 (0)1636 817099 to discuss.

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