30 May 2008

Studying for a higher education qualification in Agriculture at Greenmount goes beyond the classroom.  Students on the BSc Agriculture Technology and the HND Agriculture courses can select an option from Dairying, Beef and Sheep or Crop Husbandry within a unique Enterprise Management module. Those choosing the CROPS option get "hands-on" practical and management experience in the day-to-day running of a crop enterprise on the Campus farm.

Students taking the CROPS option are closely involved in a number of projects on the Campus farms throughout the year, to learn basic crop husbandry skills and introduce them to new technology that is being used by arable farmers in Northern Ireland and throughout the arable world.

Advisory Board

An Advisory Board representing farmers, the ancillary industry and Greenmount staff meet with the students twice during the academic year.  At these meetings students discuss the technical, management and business aspects of crop production.  In addition to getting useful advice and feedback from the Board members, the board presentations allow students to practise their presentation skills in a real life situation.

At a recent end of year board meeting, students gave presentations on a range of projects including management of maize, positioning Greenmount potatoes in the supply chain, managing wild bird cover and use of precision farming techniques in growing winter wheat.

For further information on higher education courses offered at Greenmount please freephone Greenmount Campus on 0800 0284291, or contact Dr David Patterson on 028 9442 6652.

By Norman Shirley, Lecturer
College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Greenmount Campus

Greenmount BSc Agricultural Technology and Higher National Diploma Students, briefing members of the CROPS Advisory Board on the husbandry of a crop of maize sown at Greenmount in mid April.