Agriculture News

The Year 10 Agriculture class has continued to learn lots about sheep and wool. As part of the Victorian Merino Weather Challenge they have completed the first inter-school engagement task, Dentition of Sheep. The students chose to make plasticine models of a sheep mouth at various ages, demonstrating their knowledge of the stages of dentition (see photos).

The students have been learning about different breeds of sheep and whether they are wool, meat or dual-purpose breeds. They have learned about different strains of Merino and associated wool types. In addition, they have researched some of the most common pests of sheep – fly strike, lice and intestinal worms (see photos).

They are about to embark on the second engagement task (scoring methods for judging) and learning to identify and class different types of wool.

Year 11 Agriculture and Horticulture

The Year 11 Ag Hort class has been out and about this term. During Week 1 they attended the FutureAg Expo at the Melbourne Showgrounds, including a very early start to catch the 6.19am train. Students listened to speakers on the topic of careers and skills required in the various sectors of Ag and Hort, the variety of different career pathways and various scholarships and gap year programs. They then explored the various trade stalls in the search for innovations and technology that apply to the key knowledge in the study design. Students enjoyed sitting in various items of machinery as well. 

Week 2 saw a visit to Alcheringa Biodynamic Dairy Farm where they learnt about biodynamics and requirements about some of the practices and inputs that can and can’t be used on such a farm. They spent time with the calves and inspected the pastures, tree breaks and soils for composition, texture, species and diversity.

Students then spent time in the garden preparing the soil and planting vegetable seeds and seedlings relating to Unit 1 Area of study 2 and Unit 2 Area of Study 1.