DairyNZ supports vocational education reforms
DairyNZ is supporting a proposed new learning model for apprenticeships and traineeships that would see training, education, and pastoral care delivered together to provide the best chance of success.
In the past year, the Farmer Time for Schools programme which seeks to connect New Zealand school students with farmers, has experienced further growth.
The programme was set up by Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc to provide Kiwi kids with a glimpse of farm life through live video calls with farmers.
In the past 12 months, the program has achieved a 14.1% increase in student participation.
Marie Burke, Farmer Time for Schools national coordinator, says the programme continues to have a meaningful impact on students, teachers, and farmers.
“This initiative has proven its value time and time again by providing invaluable learning experiences for young Kiwis,” Burke says.
“We see students develop a real connection with the land and their food, while farmers gain a sense of pride in sharing their knowledge,” she adds.
This year, 1,253 students took part in the programme, with 57 farmer-teacher pairings bringing farming and food production to life in the classroom.
The programme covers a range of curriculum areas, including English, science, social sciences, technology, and mathematics. It also introduces students to a range of farm types, including sheep and beef, dairy, deer, horticulture, arable, and beekeeping.
Throughout the year, students explore key farming topics like sustainability, animal care, soil health, technology, and the role the climate plays in food production.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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