Land-based Skills programme offers new opportunity

Land-based Skills programme offers new opportunities for farm jobs

We drink it every day, but do we understand the milk production process? Many of us enjoy delicious lamb cutlets, and the profits from one of the world’s greatest meat exports, but do we know how a lamb is born? Our supermarkets are full of vegetables, but do we know how to take care of our soil?

Many of us love the idea of working on farms, but do we have enough skills to get that dream job?

Aoraki Polytechnic is offering a new opportunity for the region, and one that because of well thought out timing will have trainees equipped to take advantage of agricultural employment opportunities in the spring and early summer, such as lambing, a new dairying season and pasture production.

The Timaru-based institution launches its Land-based Skills (Level 3) programme on June 8, offering places on a 25-week fulltime pre-employment training course packed with interesting and sought-after subjects ranging from agrichemical use and handling; fertiliser and soil management; wool production and livestock management.

Tutor Gemma Barker says, the programme offers an important pathway that could lead all the way to an agricultural degree for those of a mind to explore their fullest potential in New Zealand’s primary industry.

“In the qualification-focused work environment we are in, those without a formal qualification or training might feel at a disadvantage.

“Our training is in a real farm environment with input from specialist tutors.

“Lambing is fast approaching and that’s where many job opportunities exist. There’s nothing better than showing someone how to lamb a ewe and encouraging them to have a go,” she said.

“But it’s not just about sheep. Our students will be taught the process of calving a cow with a special focus on the animal health issues that can occur at this time.

“Animal health is only one part of farming and our trainees will learn how to feed stock and study the role fertiliser plays in growing grass.”

Mrs Barker, herself from an extensive agricultural training background, said looking after the soil on the farm was important.

“We show students how to care for it, avoid damaging it and how to improve it to achieve better grass growth.”

The programme also offered fencing training and students would learn how to put up temporary and permanent fencing.

Farmers are welcoming Aoraki Polytechnic’s new programme.

Business programme manager for New Zealand Federated Farmers Bob Douglas, who is based in Timaru, said the polytechnic programme was an excellent way to introduce new people to the industry.

“Most farmers are facing a lot of work on their properties in today’s economic climate and they certainly don’t have the time to train people,” Mr Douglas said.

“What they are looking for are people who have been trained and who are useful from day one. There is a strong demand for trained people, especially around labour-intensive periods such as lambing and calving and Gypsy Day [changeover day in the dairy industry].

“But they want skilled people who know what they are doing.”

He said the land-based skills course would be ideal and be widely welcomed by employers.

ENDS

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