Hauraki Plains College

Commercial Production (Ag and Hort)

Course Description

Teacher in Charge: Mrs B. Dyer.

Recommended Prior Learning

Plant and animal science learning from 11 Hort or 11 Science is useful.

The New Zealand economy is reliant on the Agriculture and Horticulture sector. Therefore there are an incredible array of jobs available for students. There are many scholarships available and job offers are common. Students who love plants and animals and the environment but may not want to be farmers this is the course for you. There are hundreds of different well paying roles and not enough New Zealanders to fill them.

Students learn about sustainable practices which can lead to amazing jobs within ecology, environmental science and government. Soils, biodiversity and plant science are all learning which are critical for environmental type jobs.

At the beginning of the year, Mrs Dyer will talk to the students and find out whether they are interested in learning about plants or animals (or both). Then in term 3, students can choose to either learn plant management practices or they can choose to learn about Animal behaviour on farms. If they choose plant management practices, then the exam will be linked to this, if they choose animal behaviour, then the exam on livestock management practices will be chosen.

This course is mainly an Achievement Standard course and has a report writing aspect. There are two practical standards added to the course to enhance sensory learning as this builds and cements learning in a theoretical sense. It gives the student a deeper and more personal understanding.

Students will have their own gardens to create and design, you will also be involved in some pruning activities, grafting and propagating. Trips will be included in this course.

Course Overview

Term 1
Creating and designing a garden from scratch - you will design this garden using flowers and vegetables, it is to look like a council garden.
Design a Landscape for the school farm and be part of actually doing it over the next few terms

Term 2
Carry out an investigation - depending on availability we will raise layer hen chicks, (which you can buy at the end, or we sell). Otherwise students can choose a horticulture investigation which they are interested in.
Students can choose to learn about animal behaviours and how this influences animal growth and production or they can choose to learn about how different practices in a horticulture situation influences the quality and quantity of produce.
All of these are based on commercial farms, orchards, nurseries.

Term 3
Plant or animal management practices written project.
The exam topic will depend on whether students choose to do plant production or animal production -

Term 4
Physical factors and their impact on plant or animal growth exam

Learning Areas:

Primary Industries

Assessment Information

This is an Achievement standards course with writing components. However, the practical aspects of the course help to enhance the writing, making the learning more personal. While there is a 10 credit unit standard course, this is not passed until the garden is complete about mid way through the year.

Agriculture and Horticulture science, production, engineering. forestry science, ecology, climate science, veterinary, equine, agriculture and horticulture consultant, agronomist, plant and animal breeder, animal science, veterinary nurse