The aim of the Cotton Production Course is to provide students with the necessary scientific and practical skills for sustainable cotton production. The units were designed for those people already in the cotton industry and to those wishing to enter the industry in the future. Students will learn how the cotton crop grows, how to manage the crop and the factors that affect the sustainability of cotton production in Australia. The course is funded by the Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre (Cotton CRC) and delivered via the University of New England (UNE).
You are advised to apply in the calendar year before you wish to undertake the course. Normal time for completion is two years (one unit per semester) by part time external study. It is possible to complete the cotton production course in one year (i.e. two units per semester), but most students (>95%) take two years because they are also busily employed. Students can start in first semester with the ‘Applied Cotton Production’ unit
or mid year with the ‘Cotton Protection’ unit. Assessment is by a combination of assignments, residential practical school (one 3-4 days school per unit) and an examination. The type and weighting of components for assessment varies in each unit.
If you would like to apply for the Cotton Production Course contact
Dr. John Stanley (cotton course coordinator) on 02 6773 3758 or 0428 223 332.
Please note that applying to do the Cotton Production Course is a two-step process. Firstly to be admitted into the University of New England; secondly to be enrolled in the cotton units you chose. The process is different for undergraduates and post graduates and also depends on whether you are already doing other courses at UNE, another university or starting the admission process. So go to the UNE web page at http://www.une.edu.au/for/future-students/ and follow the prompts that fit your situation to reach appropriate application forms.
The Cotton Production Course is made up of the following units.
|
Unit Name |
Unit Code |
Which Semester and When |
| * |
Applied Cotton Production |
Cott 300/500 |
1st Semester (March to June) |
| * |
Cotton Protection |
Cott 301/501 |
2nd Semester (July to November) |
| * |
Cotton and the Environment |
Cott 302/502 |
1st Semester (March to June) |
| * |
Cotton Farming Systems |
Cott 303/503 |
2nd Semester (July to November) |
Unit details are presented later on in this guide.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Cotton Production Course receive the same set of note and presentations from industry experts. They only differ in workload the level of assessment.
The postgraduate course is offered to students who already have a relevant university degree (or its equivalent, usually a degree in science, biology or agriculture). All students wishing to enter the postgraduate cotton course need to read the information at
http://www.une.edu.au/for/future-students/postgraduates/pg-admission.pdf . New students apply via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) but current or past UNE students can apply directly using the postgraduate admissions form also at this link.
On graduation from the cotton production course, students receive a ‘Postgraduate Certificate in Rural Science (Cotton Production)’ from the UNE, that is, a recognised university award made up of the four specially designed units on cotton production. Further four units in agriculture can be added to this to reach a coursework ‘
Masters in Agriculture (UNE)’ or other higher degrees. Many students complete the Cotton Production Course and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grains Production Course (also offered at the UNE) to achieve a coursework Masters.
All external (off campus) students wishing to enter the undergraduate cotton course apply directly to the UNE via the Undergraduate Admission Application Form available from the UNE web site at
http://une.edu.au/for/current-students/forms/ug-admission.pdf. I invite all applicants to contact me, the course coordinator Dr. John Stanley (02 6773 3758, 0428 223 332) to discuss your course of study and your application. Students completing the four units of the Cotton Production Course at the undergraduate level receive recognition from the UNE and the Cotton CRC that they have completed the four cotton production units. This should be recognised throughout the cotton industry as equivalent to the ‘Certificate in Agriculture (Cotton)’ that used to be awarded.
The Federal Government has recently removed all undergraduate certificate awards from all Australian Universities. Therefore, undergraduate students wishing to do the cotton production course can only do so as part of a 'Diploma in Agriculture (UNE)
’ or as a selection of units paid for on a full fee paying basis. An undergraduate diploma requires eight units of relevant study so students complete four units of the Cotton Production Course and add four other units, often from the Gains Production Course (UNE/GRDC).
Postgraduate enrolling in the Certificate of Rural Science (Cotton) (i.e. postgraduates) will be liable for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) (currently $926.00 per unit if you defer payment through the taxation system) or with a 25% discount ($740.80) if you pay up-front (i.e. if you do not defer payment). Students enrolling in the undergraduate course can pay in one of two ways. If completing the units as part of a ‘Diploma in Agriculture’ then it is the same as for the postgraduates above. It is possible to do the course as non-award units as a full fee paying Australian student. This fee is approximately $1000 for each units in the Cotton Production Course. The full fee for international students based in Australia is approximately $2050 per unit, but please enquire directly to the UNE international office for details on fees and admission requirements (02 6773 5045).
Students paying the full fee might be eligible for tax-deductions, for example as professional development expenditure (contact your tax adviser). Your employer might also have access to training schemes that assist with professional courses like this one.
This unit will provide the framework and principles of the cotton production system. The unit will provide the agronomic skills and knowledge of natural, human and economic resources necessary to produce economically and environmentally sustainable cotton crops. The main subject areas covered are:
1. Introduction to the cotton industry; Australia's and world cotton production and the cotton crop calendar.
2. Cotton breeding and history; Evolution of the cotton plant, breeding traits, techniques and aims. History of cotton in Australia.
3. Cotton development; Growth, monitoring and defoliation, how the cotton plant grows; morphology and physiology, the factors affecting these processes and implications for management.
4. Cotton nutrition; Macro and micro nutrients, role, critical levels in soil and plant, fertiliser types, deficiency symptoms, and sampling techniques.
5. Cotton soils classification; Soil structure identification and management.
6. Irrigation management and Farm design; Principles of water movement and usage in the plant, water use efficiency, methods of irrigation scheduling, water allocation. Principles of efficient irrigation farm design
7. Precision Agriculture; Principles and examples of precision agriculture being used in cotton production particularly: controlled traffic, electomagnetic surveys,GPS.
8. Introduction to cotton quality parameters; Cotton fibre quality and market requirements.
9. Introduction to cotton marketing.
This unit examines the main insects, weeds and diseases of cotton crops, their management, identification, ecology and relationship to each other. The subject areas include:
Section A. Insects in cotton
1. The insect problem; The effect and cost of insects to cotton production systems.
2. Insect identification and sampling procedures; Outlines the principles of identification and sampling for insects in cotton crops.
3. Insect ecology; Discusses the principles of insect ecology and its importance in developing control strategies.
4. Insect management; Examines integrated pest management strategies (biological, cultural, chemical, host plant resistance and transgenic crop management).
Section B. Weeds in cotton
1. Introduction to weeds in cotton; The effect and cost of weeds to cotton production systems
2. Weed identification and assessment; Outlines the principles of weed identification and assessment
3. Weed control; Discusses the various methods of weed control in cotton crops
4. Weed case studies; Examines the main weeds found in cotton fields and their control
Section C. Diseases of cotton
1. Introduction to plant diseases; Outlines the main disease causing organisms and symptoms of disease pathogens
2. Pathogen life cycles and infection of plants; Discusses the mechanisms of survival and dispersal and infection of plants
3. Strategies in disease control; Discusses the various methods of disease control in cotton crops
4. Cotton disease case studies; Examines the main diseases of cotton and their control
Section D. Pesticide Application
Principles and practice of applying chemicals in cotton farming systems. Outlines target definition, droplet dynamics, nozzle selection and discusses attributes of ground and aerial application methods.
The aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of the actual, and potential impact of cotton production on the environment, and an ability to apply this understanding in the development of optimal management practices for sustainable cotton production. The subject areas include:
1. Introduction to the environment; How to define the environment and a brief environmental history of the Australian cotton industry.
2. Surface and groundwater management; Examines the management of water from a catchment, production and environmental perspective.
3. Soils and salinity; Examines soil and water quantity and quality issues. How to assess the environmental impacts of cotton production.
4. Biodiversity and environmental assessment; Explores the provision of ecosystem services and how to assess the quality of native vegetation on cotton farms.
5. Climate change; Principles and some practical implications of climate change, carbon trading for cotton producers.
6. Chemicals in cotton farming systems; Explores the environmental issues involved with chemical use in cotton farming. Particularly an awareness of the fate of chemicals after application to a crop or field.
7. Legislation; The legislative requirements of cotton farming, particularly how they relate to chemical use and environmental stewardship.
8. BMP: Australian cotton industry’s environmental management system; The history, development and practical implementation of environmental management systems. In particular the best management practices (BMP) system for cotton production in Australia.
1. Communications Workshop (full day); Public speaking, presentation and media
skills. A hands-on workshop.
2. Fibre Technology; Technical aspects of the
cotton fibre to understand the ginning, classing, spinning and garment
characteristics.
3. Cotton Spinning; Technical aspects of cotton spinning.
4. Benchmarking Cotton Enterprises; Comparative Analysis of cotton
production systems.
5.
Business; Expert sessions exploring the business and decision making processes
in irrigated broadacre enterprises.
6. Cotton Farm Consultancy (full day);
Explored by conducting a consultancy on a real cotton farm and developing
teamworking and presentation skills by presenting the results of the consultancy
both verbally and in a written report.
The course timetable is set out below.
| |
1st semester
March – June |
2nd semester
June - Nov |
1st semester
March - June |
2nd semester
June - Nov |
| Unit |
Cotton Production |
Cotton Protection |
Cotton and the Environment |
Farming Systems |
Residential
School |
Late May |
Early September |
Early June |
Late August |
Course Co-ordinator: John Stanley Ph. 02 6773 3758
Australian Cotton CRC Fax 02 6773 3238
School of Rural Science and Agriculture Mob 0428 223 332
University of New England NSW 2351 Email
jstanle4@pobox.une.edu.au
Student Centre: University of New England Ph. 02 6773 4444
Student Centre UNE 2351 Fax 02 6773 4000
Email studentcentre@une.edu.au
UNE web admission of new students link:
http://www.une.edu.au/for/future-students/
Postgraduate enrolling in the Certificate of Rural Science (Cotton) (i.e. postgraduates) will be liable for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) (currently $926.00 per unit if you defer payment through the taxation system) or with a 25% discount ($740.80) if you pay up-front (i.e. if you do not defer payment). Students enrolling in the undergraduate course can pay in one of two ways. If completing the units as part of a ‘Diploma in Agriculture’ then it is the same as for the postgraduates above. It is possible to do the course as non-award units as a full fee paying Australian student. This fee is approximately $1000 for each units in the Cotton Production Course. The full fee for international students based in Australia is approximately $2050 per unit, but please enquire directly to the UNE international office for details on fees and admission requirements (02 6773 5045).
Students paying the full fee might be eligible for tax-deductions, for example as professional development expenditure (contact your tax adviser). Your employer might also have access to training schemes that assist with professional courses like this one.
Postgraduate enrolling in the Certificate of Rural Science (Cotton) (i.e. postgraduates) will be liable for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) (currently $926.00 per unit if you defer payment through the taxation system) or with a 25% discount ($740.80) if you pay up-front (i.e. if you do not defer payment). Students enrolling in the undergraduate course can pay in one of two ways. If completing the units as part of a ‘Diploma in Agriculture’ then it is the same as for the postgraduates above. It is possible to do the course as non-award units as a full fee paying Australian student. This fee is approximately $1000 for each units in the Cotton Production Course. The full fee for international students based in Australia is approximately $2050 per unit, but please enquire directly to the UNE international office for details on fees and admission requirements (02 6773 5045).
Students paying the full fee might be eligible for tax-deductions, for example as professional development expenditure (contact your tax adviser). Your employer might also have access to training schemes that assist with professional courses like this one.
Postgraduate enrolling in the Certificate of Rural Science (Cotton) (i.e. postgraduates) will be liable for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) (currently $926.00 per unit if you defer payment through the taxation system) or with a 25% discount ($740.80) if you pay up-front (i.e. if you do not defer payment). Students enrolling in the undergraduate course can pay in one of two ways. If completing the units as part of a ‘Diploma in Agriculture’ then it is the same as for the postgraduates above. It is possible to do the course as non-award units as a full fee paying Australian student. This fee is approximately $1000 for each units in the Cotton Production Course. The full fee for international students based in Australia is approximately $2050 per unit, but please enquire directly to the UNE international office for details on fees and admission requirements (02 6773 5045).
Students paying the full fee might be eligible for tax-deductions, for example as professional development expenditure (contact your tax adviser). Your employer might also have access to training schemes that assist with professional courses like this one.
1. Communications Workshop (full day); Public speaking, presentation and media skills. A hands-on workshop.
2. Fibre Technology; Technical aspects of the cotton fibre to understand the ginning, classing, spinning and garment characteristics.
3. Cotton Spinning; Technical aspects of cotton spinning.
4. Benchmarking Cotton Enterprises; Comparative Analysis of cotton production systems.
5. Business; Expert sessions exploring the business and decision making processes in irrigated broadacre enterprises.
6. Cotton Farm Consultancy (full day); Explored by conducting a consultancy on a real cotton farm and developing teamworking and presentation skills by presenting the results of the consultancy both verbally and in a written report.
