Certificate in agriculture

THE COURSE

Agriculture industry advisory boards had major input into the development of Telford's certificate in agriculture, ensuring the 37-week course reflected farming needs.

Students on the fulltime course at Telford's campus, 7km south of Balclutha, have 30 hours of class study each week and, depending on the topics chosen, spend about another 10 hours in private study.

Work experience is done over nine weeks, in seven one-week blocks and one of two weeks for calving or lambing.

The practical skills taught include shearing sheep, milking cows, handling cows, sheep and deer, lambing and/or calving, tailing lambs, fencing, ATV riding, tractor driving, chainsawing, tree pruning, welding, mechanics, dog training, and killing sheep for dog food.

Theory topics range over animal physiology, husbandry, health, welfare and nutrition; genetics and breeding management; the production of milk, meat, wool and velvet; soils and pastures; fertiliser; biosecurity and environmental sustainability; drainage and irrigation; plant pests and diseases; identification of pasture plants and weeds; agri-chemical safety; and workplace health and safety.

Students on the NZQA-approved course use Telford learning modules - a mix of theory and practical skills that are continually assessed throughout the year.

Graduates can go on to study for the Telford Advanced Certificate in Rural Production and Diploma in Rural Business, take diploma or degree courses at Massey or Lincoln Universities or an Agricultural Industry Training Organisation correspondence course.

Skills learned are not limited to agriculture and past Telford graduates have done university studies in a range of fields, and work-based programmes in banks and stock agencies.

Graduates work as farm assistants, take management positions and can progress to farm ownership. Some work in the agricultural service sector.

Entry to the course is open to students with a positive attitude who are judged to have a reasonable chance of completing the year's study.

Preference is given to 16-year-olds or older, but mature students are welcome. Farming experience is not essential.

This year's fees are $2900.

Telford is part of a Tertiary Education Commission pilot scheme which provides assistance with accommodation costs for 16 or 17-year-old students who have to live away from home to study and who have not completed year 13 or achieved NCEA level 3. The combined income of the student's parents has to be less than $50,000.

The next course starts in February. Enrolments are preferred before the end of the year, but applications are accepted until the course starts.


WHAT STUDENTS THINK

Dean Saunders, 18

Dairy farm worker, student

Clydevale

Graduated 2003

I'm off a 500-acre (202ha) deer farm in Central Southland, but I took the dairy option in the Certificate of Agriculture because I think there is a good future in dairy farming.

I left school in May 2002, worked for eight months on a dairy farm and then started at Telford in January 2003. I might be off a farm but there's always lots to learn.

I liked it at Telford. You could ask people anything and they'd either tell you right away or, if they didn't know, would find out and tell you later.

About 60 per cent of the course was practical, which I'd rather do, and 40 per cent in the classroom.

You'd have one week sitting in the classroom and then next week you'd be helping with calving, another in the classroom and then fencing or welding or motorbikes.

New things I learned were about pasture management and fertiliser. I'd done a heap of fencing but learned more.

I really developed my skills all round. I won awards for best practical, best overall, and participation and fellowship.

I'm going back this year to do a Diploma in Rural Business so I can learn about farm management quicker. I don't want to work for others all my life. I want to start working for myself.

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK

Phil Neame

Dairy farmer

Clydevale

We've taken Telford students for three seasons to give them practical work experience. They live in the house with us and work with us.

There is a big variation in ability. Some are very experienced. As long as the attitude is right they'll do all right.

I went to Lincoln and did a Diploma of Agriculture, but it would have been great if Telford had been there then.

I'd probably like to see more emphasis on financial planning, but some students aren't very academic and it's a good practical course.

They can move on to advanced courses. They learn about tractors, pasture management, fencing - all good hands-on stuff.



Certificate in agriculture

Telford Rural Polytechnic, Balclutha

Website: Telford

Contact: Ph 0800-Telford, 0800 835 367