Nine people would lose their jobs when the organisation, formed more than 10 years ago, closed early next year.
Lincoln said it was closing Farm:Skills, the parent company of FarmSafe, because Government policy was redirecting vocational training to industry training organisations. It came less than two years after Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse launched the Safer Farms programme.
It also followed a decision by the university to cease vocational training at levels two and three.
FarmSafe training included agrichemicals, health and safety. All training would cease on December 15.
That meant about 3000 people who received vocational training each year would have to find another provider or do without following decisions by several institutions to cease operating.
Lincoln Telford division has stopped using third party providers, Landcorp has closed its farm cadet scheme and PGG Wrightson was reviewing its Agriculture NZ business.
Lincoln said all inquiries regarding approved handler certification would be referred to Colin Spence of Agrichemical Consultancy and Certification on 0800 555 905.
Spence was a FarmSafe contractor for three years but was told last week his contract had been cancelled before days later being asked to fill the training and certification void.
He said he was moving quickly to get up and running and asked for patience but said he could process urgent certificate renewals if needed.
Meanwhile, Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre chief executive Arthur Graves confirmed he and Southland’s SIT were working with Lincoln to try to find a “way forward around Telford”.
He was an advocate for the training offered by Telford and Taratahi, describing it as “vocational education in its purest form”.
“I am really interested in making sure the Telford model isn’t lost to the sector.”
Graves said student interest in Taratahi was higher this year than previously, with more than 300 applications for its various courses. The heightened interest was attributed to better promotion of agricultural careers.
“I’m really encouraged.”
The introduction this year of contestable funding for training providers was a way to encourage a realignment of primary sector training.
To meet industry’s needs training should be less fragmented but not centralised and focused on levels three to five qualifications, certificates that acknowledged academic study and vocational practice.
“It is important that this improved realignment is not just about who are the most resilient providers but it’s also to ensure that the better alignment of skills meets the future needs of industry.”
