Later, students progress into animal management, focusing on poultry and cows in Grade 9.
Grade 10 delves into horticulture, forestry, wool, and red meat, culminating with regenerative agriculture and technology such as precision agriculture.
In TCE senior agriculture, students engage with ag enterprise, a level two subject that allows them to learn and manage their own enterprise, either individually or as a class. Agricultural systems, a level three subject, covers a range of topics from ecosystems to animal and plant production systems, as well as business and finance principles.
Students opting for agriculture in Grade 8 learn sustainable produce cultivation, tending to the ag plot weekly to oversee the growth of edible plants. They manage garden needs, monitoring and treating pests and diseases to minimise food waste. Emphasising sustainability, weeds are composted for future crop nutrients, and recycled coffee grounds from the kitchen are used as mulch.
Regular visits to agricultural industries provide students with firsthand insights from industry experts, tailored to each term’s unit of study. These offsite visits offer opportunities to understand the business and enterprise management intricacies.
Launceston Grammar’s agriculture program is led by a qualified teacher with expertise in the field, ensuring adaptable content delivery for a richer learning experience. The School boasts an orchard, expansive agriculture plot, herb gardens, and native wooded areas, allowing students to explore diverse ecosystems crucial for sustainable food production.
Hands-on learning is integral, empowering students to grow, manage, and consume garden produce, fostering a deeper understanding of food origins and consumer roles in agricultural systems. Poultry management and animal welfare is showcased in Terms 2 and 4, with student involved in poultry husbandry. Through this, students learn about egg collection, quality control, eggs sales and hen health. This provides a rich understanding of markets, supply and demand as well as biosecurity and food safety.