SACE Stage 2 Agricultural Systems study plan

Map the four assessment domains onto a one-page weighting chart so study time matches the 25% split

Define agricultural systems terminology (inputs, outputs, feedback, subsystem, enterprise) in your own words in a glossary

Classify three South Australian farming systems by enterprise mix and identify their main inputs and outputs

Sketch a systems diagram linking soil, water, climate, and management components for one local enterprise

Compare two contrasting production systems (for example mixed cropping versus intensive horticulture) across inputs, labour, and risk

Explain how feedback loops such as soil fertility decline or pest outbreaks regulate a farming system

Describe the main production stages for one crop and one livestock enterprise from establishment to sale

Identify the management decisions that most affect yield and profitability in each enterprise

Outline a seasonal calendar of management operations for one enterprise across a full year

Explain how soil testing informs fertiliser and amendment decisions

Describe integrated pest management strategies and justify their use over routine spraying

Calculate a simple gross margin from given yield, price, and variable cost figures

Explain how water availability and irrigation scheduling influence production decisions

Describe the environmental impacts of nutrient runoff and leaching from farm systems

Compare management practices that reduce off-site environmental harm

Summarise how livestock management affects soil and water condition

Define sustainability indicators (soil health, biodiversity, water use efficiency, carbon) and explain how each is measured

Analyse a farming practice for its trade-offs between productivity and environmental impact

Describe salinity, erosion, and acidification processes and their management responses

Explain how biodiversity and native vegetation contribute to agricultural resilience

Explain how climate variability and seasonal forecasting inform enterprise decisions

Describe how markets, supply chains, and pricing influence enterprise choice

Identify the role of cooperatives, contracts, and value-adding in farm business viability

Evaluate one diversification option using productivity, environmental, and financial criteria

Describe precision agriculture technologies (yield mapping, variable-rate application, remote sensing) and their benefits and limits

Explain how digital records and farm management software support decision-making

Assess the cost, adoption barriers, and returns of one technology for a small farm business

Compare traditional and technology-assisted monitoring for a specific production problem

Synthesise all four domains into an integrated case study of one South Australian enterprise

Practise timed responses to extended-answer questions across each domain

Review weak areas identified in earlier deliverables and re-test them

Explain how enterprise decisions balance productivity, sustainability, and technology