Rural Science...So you're a vet?

Each year there are hundreds of students that graduate with an agricultural degree. This year, there are as few as 15 rural science students that will graduate from my university.

Some may ask why?
The degree is challenging. I'll be the first to admit it. Sure, it requires some level of intellectual ability, as do all degrees. However, I believe that it is the level passion and dedication to the degree that is what drives students to continue the course.

There are countless occasions that I have been asked whether or not I am going to be a vet. The simple answer is no. However, I do make sure that I take the time to explain to people what rural science is all about - whether they have a background in agriculture or not. I think this is really important. Not only to inform people that may be interested in studying the degree but also so that consumers know that there are qualified people in the agricultural industry that are helping the nation produce food and fibre for them day in and day out.

What is rural science all about?
To put it simply, rural science is a very broad agricultural degree. As the title suggests, it is science based and so there are many scientific principles that are learnt as well as how these can be applied to a farming system as a whole.

There has been many hours spent in laboratories learning about biochemical and physiological processes of animals as well as phenology of plants and crops. We have been on many field trips across the region and have been exposed to many different farming operations in areas such as:

• Horticulture (Fruit & Vegetable Production)
• Viticulture (Wine Production)
• Cropping - Grains & Fibre Production
• Pasture Production
• Beef & Lamb Production
• Wool Production
• Sugar Production
• Intensive animal systems such as Poultry and Beef Production

Below is just a snapshot of some of the things we have learnt about or been involved in:

What keeps these cattle happy? We have learnt about pasture production and utilisation in the New England.

This little chicken was part of an animal nutrition trial looking at different diets for broilers.

There is a fascinating world that exists underneath the surface of the soil.

Do you take sugar with your coffee? This is just one of the interesting industries that we learn about!

We learn about farming systems as a whole. Starting from the soil, to the plants, to the animal production systems, through to meat processing or crop harvesting and finally, the economics of the whole system. I think the key to all of this is being able to solve problems that exist on-farm. Unlike other industries, our clients/patients (i.e. animals and plants) cannot communicate with us, so we need to be able to use our problem solving skills to find the solutions to problems.

What can you do with a rural science degree?

As graduates, there are opportunities to pursuit careers in plant and animal production such as agronomy, animal and plant genetics, beef and lamb production, wool production, animal nutrition, intensive animal production such as poultry and pork and finally research in all of these areas....the list goes on and on! I think that the most exciting thing of all is that there could be jobs in this industry that do not even exist yet!!