Key facts
Cost: $2,000 + GST
Duration: 8 weeks
Delivery mode: Online
Time commitment: Approximately 48 hours of online study and written assessments and 2 hours of online tutorials and oral assessment.
Overview
This course was developed with the support of the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand (FANZ). The course will:
- introduce the participants to the scale and operation of agriculture and its importance within New Zealand
- provide a framework for appreciating ‘systems’
- provide an understanding of major drivers that have continued to shape New Zealand's agricultural systems.
The course will also highlight how a rural professional can engage and communicate with a farmer. It will reinforce that while systems are complex, there are common ways of describing them and that potential changes at a system level have multiple impacts and multiple solutions.
What you'll get
Successful participants will receive a Massey Certificate of Completion in Analysis of New Zealand Agriculture and have their achievement and 5 credits added to the academic records at Massey University.
Entry requirements
This course is suited to students or professionals holding a bachelor’s degree.
Learning outcomes
- Describe systems concepts and apply these to a farm system.
- Explain key factors that shape farm systems.
- Identify issues unique to different farm systems.
Course content and structure
Assessments
Assessment type | Assessment title | Weighting (%) | Link to learning outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Test | Online quiz: Farm systems concepts and components. | 40 | 1, 2, 3 |
Oral/performance/presentation | Interview: Compare and contrast different farm systems and outline further steps to better understand the farm systems. | 60 | 1, 2, 3 |
Requirements to successfully complete the course
To successfully complete the course, participants need to complete the online quizzes and competently describe key aspects of farm systems and how to interact with farmers.
Registrations
For all course enquiries and to register your interest, please email Fiona Bardell at F.M.Bardell@massey.ac.nz.
Contact information

Other short courses you might like
Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management in New Zealand Agriculture
This course will cover nutrient cycling, water movement, sustainable farm practices and nutrient budgeting.
Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management in New Zealand Agriculture
This course will cover nutrient management, recent research and nutrient budgeting issues. You'll develop nutrient management plans that meet production goals for actual farm enterprises.
Farm Dairy Effluent: System Design & Management
This course focuses on the design, management and auditing of farm dairy effluent (FDE) systems.
Introduction to New Zealand's Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Management
This course focuses on understanding greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral production systems and includes how to reduce and mitigate emissions.
Intermediate Freshwater Farm Planning
This course is designed for industry professionals interested in upskilling in the concepts and components important for the development of freshwater Farm Environment Plans.
Advanced Freshwater Farm Planning
This advanced course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to produce New Zealand industry-standard, farm-scale, freshwater Farm Environment Plans for dairy, beef and sheep and arable farms.
Understanding Herbicides
This course will give participants a good grounding in the principles of using herbicides to control weeds.
Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment
This course will introduce you to life cycle thinking as a concept and Life Cycle Assessment as an analytical tool to support environmental management.