Whangarei A&P Society has devised a modern live-in, on-farm training course called a farm intern programme and 50 farmers have responded, 20 of them willing to start next year.
“Northland farmers say they can’t find trained farm staff so this is their opportunity to do something about it,” society manager Chris Mason said.
The new course was conceived by the A&P Society with input from former Federated Farmers field officer and agricultural tutor Malcolm Fuller and the resources of NZ Land-Based Training, an established private education provider in Whanganui.
The two-year training programme will consist of levels 2, 3 and 4 NZ Certificate in Agriculture with practical experience and life skills.
The organisers have no doubt of the numbers of young people wanting to get a start in farming in the north but gauging the willingness of farmers to take on cadets was the first step.
Mason said a range of farmers with different businesses have put up their hands, some because they were once farm cadets themselves or have employed them in the past.
The course will consist of a two-week orientation in February in health and safety, livestock and chemical handling followed by levels 2 and 3 study in the first year and level 4 in the second.
Cadets will live on-farm and work on-farm four days of the working week, with one day together in the classroom.
Encouragement of membership of Young Farmers and participating in group activities like attending field days, shows and adverse-event responses will help them become functional members of rural society.
The student training allowance of about $200 plus board and keep should be paid during the first year, followed by the second year on a starting wage, Mason said.
Whangarei A&P is not seeking a commercial interest, only providing co-ordination, she said.
The certificates will be issued in the name of Land-Based Training.
Support has been received from Northland and Auckland Federated Farmers and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has been approached.
The employing farmers will also form a group for support and advice, particularly on co-ordination of farm diaries and big events like shearing and calving.
“Participating farmers will need strong systems and each placement will have to be the right fit.
“We are looking for win-win – the young people to get properly started in agriculture and the farmer to have a useful staff member with practical skills,” Mason said.
The plan is to have 12 interns starting in 2020 and 12 the following year.
