Smallholding Management (Level 3 Diploma)

Smallholding Management (Level 3 Diploma)

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a Level 3 Diploma in Smallholding Management. Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning Diploma in Smallholding Management is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for an exam or career through home study. What's more, because the distance learning Level 3 Diploma in Smallholding Management course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

This Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma course is aimed at those with an interest in running a smallholding, either in an employment capacity, or simply for pleasure, or to live a self-sufficient lifestyle.

The course will provide students with a sound understanding of all aspects involved with managing your own small hold, ranging from designing the build right through to marketing your service.

COURSE KEY TOPICS 
Module 1 - Introduction to Smallholding Management
Module 2 - Building design
Module 3 - Livestock selection and Management Part 1
Module 4 - Livestock selection and Management Part 2
Module 5 - Grassland Management
Module 6 - Machinery and Equipment
Module 7 - Growing Vegetables, Fruit and Flowers
Module 8 - Financial Management
Module 9 - Marketing and General Management
Module 10 - Ethical and Environmental Issues

All Students must be 16 years of age or above.

The good news is that no prior learning knowledge or experience is essential to take this course.  This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Smallholding Management and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 12 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

How is the course structured? 
The OLQA Level 3 Smallholding Management course is divided into ten comprehensive modules:

Module 1
Introduction to Smallholding Management
This first unit of the Diploma in Smallholding Management course will introduce you to the concept of running a smallholding, or of achieving self-sufficiency. The unit will provide you with the foundation knowledge required for further studies related to running a smallholding, and will help you to clarify your aims. It covers the following:

Clarifying your aims - why do you want to run a smallholding? What do you hope to achieve? Do you want to make a profit or are you looking for a sustainable self sufficient lifestyle?
Finding suitable land and property, and assessing it to make sure it meets your needs
Making plans for your land - livestock or crops? What do you hope to do with it?
Business planning and raising finance for purchase

Module 2
Building design
Unit 1 gives a general introduction to finding a suitable smallholding, and this unit continues on from there to work with plans for buildings on your smallholding.

It looks at the following:

Conversion of existing buildings
Dealing with rules and regulations such as planning permission
The design of suitable new buildings for a variety of uses, including the types of building materials that can be used, together with their advantages and disadvantages.

Module 3
Livestock selection and Management Part 1
There are many types of animal that could be kept on a smallholding, depending on land type, restrictions in place, size of area etc, as well as personal choice. This unit introduces the topic and covers:

The selection of suitable species, taking into consideration space, time, effort and cost
Keeping poultry
Keeping other small animals, such as bees
The health and veterinary attention required by livestock

Module 4
Livestock selection and Management Part 2
The subject of choosing suitable livestock and the keeping of animals is so large that it has been divided into two parts. This second part continues on from module 3, and covers the following:

Keeping sheep
Keeping pigs
Keeping cattle
Keeping horses
Other species, such as goats and alpacas

Module 5
Grassland Management
The maintenance of land is extremely important, particularly if livestock are being kept in a relatively small area. This unit looks at the subject of grassland management, according to the types of species of animals being kept.

The following topics are covered:

Assessing soil type
Preparing and fertilizing ground
Removal of weeds
Maintenance of grazing
The importance of timing when carrying out certain tasks associated with land management

Module 6
Machinery and Equipment
Although small scale farming may not require as much in the way of equipment and machinery as a large scale farm, some machinery and equipment will be required in order to run the smallholding effectively. This unit covers the following:

Working out what you will need
Manual tools versus powered machinery
Choosing suitable machinery
Maintenance of machinery

Module 7
Growing Vegetables, Fruit and Flowers
This unit looks at the concept of a 'market garden' and introduces you to the growing of various plants on a smallholding. By the end of your study on this section you will have been introduced to the following topics:

Choosing suitable crops according to land type
The importance of rotation of crops
Planting and sowing, and the work involved
Increasing yields
Allowing the public in to 'pick your own' and the implications of this

Module 8
Financial Management
Even if your smallholding is not expected to make a profit, effective smallholding management requires sound financial management in order to be successful.

The following topics are discussed in this unit:

Bookkeeping and maintaining financial records
Grants that are available
Budgeting and financial forecasting

Module 9
Marketing and General Management
Following on from the previous unit, this section looks at the importance of good management of a small business enterprise or successful self-sufficient unit, and also covers the important legal issues that need to be complied with. It covers the following:

Commercial production of produce versus self-sufficiency
Selling your produce
Dealing with paperwork
Health and Safety issues and how to comply
Employment of labour on a smallholding

Module 10
Ethical and Environmental Issues
This final unit of the course examines the various environmental impacts of farming on a small scale, and looks at the legislations affecting this type of activity. You will be introduced to the following topics.

The disposal of waste from farming activity
Organic methods of farming
The impact on the environment and how to reduce or minimise negative impact Keeping up with changes in legislation relating to environmental issues

OLQA Level 3 Smallholding Management Diploma 
This course leads to a Level 3 Diploma for successful learners. This means that it is accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3). In accrediting the programme at level 3, OLQA attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 3 national qualification.

Accreditation by OLQA is a guarantee of quality. It means that this learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by experienced educational professionals and is quality assured by OLQA.

The enrolment fee for the Level 3 Diploma in Smallholding Management home study course is £518.75, though for a limited time we are offering you the opportunity to pay only £415 which is a 20% discount if you enrol online and pay in full.

You can also opt for our Easy Payment Plan and enrol online today by paying a deposit of £103.75 and then 4 equal payments of £103.75 per month. The first instalment is paid about a month after you receive your course.