AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION and labour organisation

Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: SABINA IOLE GIUSEPPINA FAILLA

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

The course covers the rational use of agricultural machinery and the organisation of work on farms where machinery is used for agricultural activities, taking into account and integrating the technical and technological aspects, as well as the agronomic, socio-economic and environmental constraints that arise in different territorial contexts.

Applying knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course of lectures and practical exercises, students will be able to:

- correctly apply the methodology for evaluating the work organisation on mechanised farms;

- proceed with the mechanisation of farms, designing machinery fleets in relation to business objectives and agronomic, socio-economic and environmental constraints;

- take into account and organise the technical, technological, environmental, economic and human factors that contribute to the achievement of objectives;

- operate with respect for natural and environmental resources and in accordance with ergonomic and operator safety criteria.

Making judgements

Through seminars and educational visits, students will acquire the skills necessary to define the criteria for choosing machinery based on company objectives, while respecting the local area and the environment.

Communication skills

Classroom exercises and active participation during lessons will enable students to develop appropriate technical language and improve their communication skills.

Learning skills

Students will acquire technical and professional knowledge useful for entering the world of work and/or higher education.

Course Structure

Lectures, with presentations of case studies, technical examination, drafting of technical papers.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the Syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

A basic understanding of Agricultural Mechanics and Financial Mathematics is useful.

Attendance of Lessons

The discipline is evolving and positively affected by ongoing research; consequently, however supported by texts and the lecturer's handout, it requires assiduous attendance, even if not mandatory, especially with a view to writing the project that will be discussed in the exam.

Detailed Course Content

The course addresses issues relating to work organisation and the choice of agricultural machinery fleets in relation to an analysis of the operating context. It then goes on to address aspects of calculating the costs of machinery fleets and defines the break-even point for buying or hiring agricultural machinery. A project is drawn up to design a machinery fleet or verify an existing one. Group management, idea formation and motivation complete the course.

Textbook Information

1 - Professor’s hand out and power point (in function of the managed topics)

2 - M. Lazzari e F. Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda

3 - L. Bodria, G. Pellizzi, P. Piccarolo - Meccanica e Meccanizzazione Agricola - Edagricole

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Definitions - Mechanization and business structures	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
2	Composition of the fleet of Mediterranean crops in relation to the needs of the crop and the agricultural, social and infrastructural context	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
3	Machines that release eco-sensitive materials: delivery times and surfaces served	Lecturer's teaching materials
4	The work and its elementary phases: survey, time analysis	Lecturer's teaching materials
5	Evaluation of work organization	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
6	Work capacity of agricultural machinery in continuous and discontinuous machine sites - queues of machines	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
7	Farm machinery fleet; project parameters: - useful and available periods - productivity, - available surfaces, working width of machinery	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
8	Mutual sizing of tractors and operating machines	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
9	Value, residual value and depreciation of machines	Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda-Lecturer's teaching materials
10	Depreciation, provisions and reintegrations in farm management and for the new establishment, renewal, conservation of the fleet	Lecturer's teaching materials
11	Financing and calculation of internal or company financing for the purchase or renewal of the fleet	Lecturer's teaching materials
12	Outline for drafting the project	Lecturer's teaching materials
13	Operating costs per hour and per unit of product	Lecturer's teaching materials
14	Comparison between the costs of different machinery fleet and the break-even point for buying or hiring agricultural machinery.	Lecturer's teaching materials

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Final oral examination. This includes the discussion of a project written by 1 or a maximum of 3 students, which addresses the design of a machine fleet or the verification of an existing machine fleet, written according to guidelines discussed in class and published in the teaching materials. The project is written in collaboration with the lecturer and colleagues who attend the scheduled meetings and must be sent to the lecturer no later than 4 days before the exam date.

The oral interview is assessed on the basis of the relevance, accuracy and comprehensibility of the answers, the ability to make connections between the topics in the programme and to give examples consistent with the topic under discussion, the quality of the content and the appropriateness of the technical language used.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o DSA) through the referring professor within the department, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

The evaluation follows the following scheme:

Not eligible	Knowledge and understanding of the topic: significant shortcomings and inaccuracies Ability to analyze and synthesize: irrelevant with frequent generalizations Use of references: completely inappropriate
18-20	Knowledge and understanding of the topic: very modest with evident imperfections Analysis and synthesis skills: barely adequate Use of references: just appropriate
21-23	Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge is slightly above the minimum acceptable level Ability to analyze and synthesize: a fair bility to analyze and synthesize information, presenting arguments in a logical and coherent manner Using references: use standard references
24-26	Knowledge and understanding of the topic: good knowledge Analysis and synthesis skills: good analytical and synthesis abilities, arguments are presented consistently Using references: use of standard references
27-29	Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge more than good Ability to analyze and synthesize: considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis Use of references: the topic has been explored in depth
30-30 cum laude	Knowledge and understanding of the topic: excellent knowledge Ability to analyze and synthesize: excellent abilities of analysis and synthesis Use of references: important insights

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1. Elementary phases of work and work capacity of machinery fleets.

2. Covered areas and working times in machines with release of materials.

3. Evaluation parameters of the machinery fleets.

4. Calculation of the farm - financing quota for the purchase of machinery and equipment.

5. Annual and hourly costs, formulas and graphs.

Degree Course in

Agricultural Science and Technology