Wednesday, 20 October 2021 12:55

New regs boost Massey Ag course enrolments

Written by  Staff Reporters
Senior research officer at Massey's School of Agriculture and Environmental Lucy Burkitt. Senior research officer at Massey's School of Agriculture and Environmental Lucy Burkitt.

Demand for expertise in sustainable nutrient management, environmental planning and improved freshwater outcomes has seen Massey University's range of agricultural short courses pass the 4300-enrolment mark.

Massey says the courses are tailored to the needs of science, industry, policy and regulatory bodies concerned with primary production.

The first courses were in sustainable nutrient management and soil science, but other courses have been added along the way, such as Agricultural Green House Gas Emissions and Management and Farm Dairy Effluent: System Design and Management.

Senior research officer within the School of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Lucy Burkitt, says the popularity of the courses shows the significant contribution the university has made to improved environment management in New Zealand.

"There was a gap in people qualified in these areas, so we went about filling that gap. Now, we're sending people back to farms with training that will improve the sustainability of agriculture," she says.

Professor of dairy production systems Danny Donaghy, who has been instrumental in developing one of the courses, says the shorter format of the courses are part of their appeal.

"A lot of the people who enroll in our courses are working full time, so travelling to Palmerston North for a face-to-face course just isn't feasible for them. These course offer them relevant learning that can complement their current employment," he says.

Emeritus Professor Mike Hedley has been involved in initiating and continuing the delivery of Massey's short course offerings over the years. He says what's taught in the courses has become an essential skill base for New Zealand farmers.

"If New Zealand farmers are to meet the agreed future greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater regulatory requirements that industry bodies and government have recently agreed on, they need nutrient management and farm environmental planning skills," he says.

More like this

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

Featured

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter