Farmer Time for Schools expands, connecting more students with farmers
In the past year, the Farmer Time for Schools programme which seeks to connect New Zealand school students with farmers, has experienced further growth.
Massey University is tweaking the format of its agricultural courses.
The university's deputy head of the school of agriculture and environment, Professor Danny Donaghy, says they are making sure there are more courses around compliance, greenhouse gases, animal welfare and other key topics. But he says that if new material is added in, some must be removed, because the degrees are just three years.
"What we are trying to do is give graduates a good appreciation of the systems that they work within and to be able to navigate these.
"Not necessarily to have the answers to everything, but we are trying to train them as to where to look for the answers rather than just filling up their heads with figures," he says.
Donaghy says in the age of online, so much more information is freely available, compared with several years ago. He says they are trying to upskill students about how and where to look for information.
"And to know good information from bullshit and to be able to navigate their way through that," he says.
Donaghy says he agrees with the report of AgFirst chief executive James Allen on the skills that will be required for future rural professionals. He says understanding farm systems is key - as is having the people skills to meet the demands of clients and deliver this in a way they require.
Finally, Donaghy says he never ceases be amazed at the high calibre of the Massey ag graduates.
He says their commitment to their studies is great to see and it's no surprise how well Massey is respected in the agriculture and environment space.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
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