VCE AGRICULTURAL & HORTICULTURAL STUDIES

On Monday 26th February, the VCE Agriculture and Horticulture class went on an excursion for their Innovations and Solutions Unit. We visited three locations to learn about the current and emerging innovations that were being used. 

Our first location was Bethune Dairy in Lake Boga. Sally Bethune was there to greet us and she was great in making us feel welcome. She went through how they feed their livestock, with mixed feed to give the cows nutrients they need for calving and milking. We were able to look at the process of the milk that they use to make their yoghurt, chocolate and full cream milk. We were also taken throughout the dairy and shown how new kinds of ear tags can read when a cow is too hot, or unwell and even when they are ready to have a calf. The students were very impressed and were gifted with some delicious choccy milk. 

Our second location was Glowery Dairies on the Murray Valley Hwy. The students learned that they are also using new ear tag technology as well as trialing a new product that detects PH levels in cows. Glowery’s are slowly building up the number of cows they have from 1000 to 2000. They are doing this by breeding more often. 

Our third location was Grizzly Engineering in Swan Hill. Unlike the dairies, this is a manufacturing plant where machinery is made for agricultural needs. Kurt Poltrock was able to take us around and show us the new and innovative machines that build the products as well as what they have changed and updated to make their products more efficient and sustainable. 

A lot of information was shared and the students enjoyed the day getting out and seeing these innovations used firsthand.