Students studying for the agribusiness degree at Muresk have had their learning enriched by a number of practical, hands on activities since they returned from the mid year break.
The first was a field trip to study crop establishment under the guidance of the Muresk farm manager, Steve Wainewright and agronomist, Brad Joyce, from ConsultAg in Northam.
The activity included observation of ways paddocks were set up in preparation for planting, monitoring crop density, identifying weeds and assessing the need for weed control.
The field trip contributed aspects of learning that are part of a crop production subject the students are studying in semester II.
Mr Wainewright and Mr Joyce congratulated the students on the interest and understanding shown by their questions.
In a second practical activity, students took part in a lamb survival and post mortem workshop to identify the causes and study the impact of lamb losses in the sheep industry.
They initially observed several post mortem operations on lambs to identify the reasons they died.
The students were then given an opportunity to conduct a post mortem to gain experience themselves.
The activity was conducted by Ken Hart who operates a private consultancy, Ewetopia, that runs workshops for sheep farmers on lamb mortality statistics, identifying causes of lamb losses including ewe nutrition and dystocia and misconceptions about lamb mortality.
Field trips and workshops are an integral part of the highly regarded Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management noted for producing work ready graduates who are keenly sought by employers in agriculture and agribusiness.
Lindsay McNeill is the media officer for CSU School of Agribusiness.