LAND MANAGEMENT

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Professor K J Thomson

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course sets out to describe the main productive enterprises to be found in rural areas of Britain and elsewhere and to analyse the main rural areas of Britain and elsewhere and to analyse the main rural social and policy issues. Coverage includes land use and tenure; the historical development of agriculture and forestry; agricultural systems and the influence of technological change and limitations to productivity; silviculture systems and forest management techniques; main tree species for timber, amenity and arboriculture; forest landscape design; environmental conservation, the problems and methods; leisure sector activities including tourism; rural planning and environmental and physical regulations; rural communities and current countryside issues.
12 week course - First six weeks: 6 one-hour lectures per week. Second six weeks; 5 one-hour lectures and one tutorial per week.
1 essay (20%) and one two-hour written examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 1502 or permission of Head of Department.

Overview

Management Strategy; Business documents and financial recording and Principles of accounts; including Budget Builder, a computer assisted learning package See Practicals; Statements of accounts; Interpretation of accounts; Accounts, Taxation, Grants and financial decisions; Business structure and establishment.


Forest valuation; Discounting; Management accounting; The market environment.
12 week course - A total of 5 hours per week comprising lectures or practical classes.
1 two-hour written examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

LM 1502

Overview

Animal Production
The Management of selected animal production enterprises will be discussed in terms of:

1. survival, growth, reproduction and lactation


2. the role of genetics, feeding, climatic influences and farmers/stockpeople/carers


3. sound production systems in terms of health, animal welfare, animal performance,
   production efficiency and sustainability


4. product quality

Crop and Grassland Production
The management of the selected arable enterprises and grassland production will be discussed in terms of:

1. management of the physical properties of the soil


2. crop establishment


3. matching nutrient supply to crop demand


4. control of weeds, diseases and pests


5. crop harvesting, storage and utilisation.

12 week course - 4 one-hour lectures per week and a series of farm visits.
1 two-hour written examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Macmillan

Pre-requisites

Available only to students at levels 2 and above.

Overview

The course will provide an introduction to economic theory and analysis of rural activities. Topics covered include markets, demand and supply, the farm income problem, investment appraisal, cost-benefit analysis, public goods and environmental externalities and rural development. Real world examples will be used throughout to illustrate the theory and relevance of economics to rural land use and management. Special topics include organic farming and tourism.
12 week course - 3 one-hour lectures per week.
1 one-hour written examination (60%) and continuous assessment (40%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor R E L Naylor

Pre-requisites

LM 2503 or BI 2001 or BI 2502 or BI 20A2.

Overview

The role of agriculture and forestry in the maintenance of rural biodiversity; incorporating conservation measures into farming and forestry systems; policy, the legislative framework and schemes to promote wildlife conservation, biodiversity and sustainability.
12 week course - 2 one-hour lectures per week plus guest lectures, 1 farm visit, 2 three-hour practicals, 1 three-hour presentation.
1 two-hour written paper (60%), practical reports (12%), poster (8%) and essay (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Macmillan

Pre-requisites

LM 2505 or EC 1002.

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

Economic theories and methods applicable to the management and evaluation of rural resources, especially their non-market aspects such as public recreation, wildlife value and pollution control, with case studies from a variety of backgrounds.
12 week course - 4 hours per week; field visit(s). Slot C
1 two-hour examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Cameron

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will cover the following topics: forest types, GB Forest history, introduction to silviculture, forest harvesting, forest products, forest/tree protection, forest landscaping, British forest policy.
Examples of field visits will include: a multiple use forest, an urban woodland, a forest nursery, a native pinewoods, a harvesting site, and a sawmill.
12 week course - 1 three-hour classroom session (lectures and seminars) and 1 half-day visit per week. Slot C
Continuous assessment (100%) – consisting of one assignment per field visit, a presentation and a written assignment (forestry proposal with associated grant application).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor K J Thomson

Pre-requisites

LM 2505 or EC 1002.

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

This course examines the range of policy instruments that impact on the rural economy, by reference to both the sector of the economy and the type of policy. Different approaches to policy analysis will be examined and particular attention will be given to economic techniques of analysis.
12 week course - 2 one - two-hour lectures per week for 9 weeks, 3 two-hour classes. Slot F
1 one-hour written examination paper (80%) and continuous assessment (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Macmillan

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

This course requires that students undertake a period of work experience of 15 weeks at approved establishments. The experience may be gained at any time prior to entering fourth year. A report on a six-week period of such work must be submitted by the end of third year and forms the basis of the assessment.
Continuous assessment based on report on six-week period of work placement (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor K J Thomson

Pre-requisites

Notes

(i) Students should note that this is a six week course which will be taught in the first half of the second semester.
(ii) Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

The role and nature of tourism and recreation in the rural economy, relevant policies evaluated from both economic and social perspectives: techniques appropriate to the management of leisure-related businesses.
6 week course - Two or three-hours lectures / discussions per week; one or two visits / case studies. After an introductory week, recreation and tourism are taught as parallel threads. Slot E
Two in-course assessments: 33% for each in course assessment; 33% for end of module summative assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 2003 or LM 2503 or Permission of the Head of the Department.

Overview

This course examines some of the non-financial issues and skills involved in managing an organisation or business, particularly rural and farm businesses and organisations. Topics covered include: the nature and scope of management, the role, responsibility and skills of the manager, strategic and project management, negotiation, personal development, decision making and risk.
6 week course - 1 session (lecture, seminar, tutorial) 3-4 hours per week. Slots B and C
1 two-hour written examination paper (80%) and essays (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Hazlerigg and Dr M A Pinard

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course replaces AG 3806. Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

The course includes a review of research methods, techniques for reviewing literature and critical reading, data collection, organisation, analysis and presentation, experiment and survey design and report preparation.
6 week course - 4 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour tutorial every fortnight, 10 two-hour classes. Slots A and E
Continuous assessment: 2 group projects; literature review exercise; data analysis exercises (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 2003, LM 2503 or Permission of the Head of the Department.

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 4.

Overview

This course examines some of the non-financial issues and skills involved in managing an organisation or business, particularly rural and farm businesses and organisations. Topics covered include: the nature and scope of management, the role, responsibility and skills of the manager, strategic and project management, negotiation, personal development, decision making and risk.
6 week course - 1 session (lecture, seminar, tutorial) 3-4 hours per week. Slots A, E and F
1 two-hour written examination paper (80%) and essays (20%).