Principal of Tocal College, Mr Darren Bayley, believes there has never been a more exciting or important time to embark on a career in agriculture.
“Our Australian farm industries continue to innovate and introduce new technologies and practices,” Mr Bayley said.
“We are finding new markets for traditional products plus niche markets for an ever increasing variety of novel ones.
“On top of this, the value of Australian farm production has never been more critical.”
As an example, the World Food and Agriculture Organisation recently reported that to meet demand for food, feed and biofuel in 2050, it will be necessary for agriculture to produce almost 50 percent more than it did in 2012.
To fulfil this enormous responsibility, the world and Australia will need dynamic and progressive farmers that are rewarded for their efforts.
“This is where Tocal College has a critical role to play,” Mr Bayley said.
“We are part of NSW Department of Primary Industries and therefore dedicated to providing graduates that will become the state’s best and most productive farmers.”
He also said that while the looming shortage of skilled workers in agriculture is a concern, it places Tocal’s qualified students in the box seat when choosing and applying for their first job.
Mr Bayley suggests there is a warning in the NCVER report.
“Their research into future job openings in the Australian economy indicates a ‘continuing shift towards higher-skill jobs in the labour market with the highest number of job openings being in professional occupations and the second highest being for managers’,” he said.
“These figures reflect the demand in higher skill levels and the value of obtaining full qualifications in agriculture such as those offered in Tocal’s residential courses, traineeships and online.
“For those who are not in a position to complete a full qualification, we also have partial qualification programs such as AgSkilled and the Tocal Skills Training program specialises in specific units of competency.
“The quality of the training provided at Tocal is another key reason that its graduates can be excited about their future career prospects.
“Tocal College specialises in agricultural and conservation and land management training.
“We take direction and advice from our advisory council who are all highly successful and accomplished agriculturalists.
“For example, they were very quick to predict the arrival and significance of digital farming and as a result Tocal is now the key provider of precision agriculture training to the grains and cotton industry through AgSkilled.
“Tocal has also embraced this on its farms with technologies such as GPS, auto steer and variable rate equipment and individual cow monitoring collars.
“However, perhaps Tocal’s greatest advantage is a very practical one.
“We are fortunate to have more than 2200 hectares of farm land dedicated to a variety of enterprises including a commercial, 1500 head, Brangus herd, a commercial dairy herd (recently increased to 300 head) and a free range egg farm with up to 90,000 layers.
“We also have a lucrative and nationally respected Australian Stock Horse herd plus demonstration Dohne sheep flock.
“The benefit of these enterprises is enormous.
“Most of our units are trained as ‘case studies’.
“These allow the students to be in a lecture one minute, understanding the knowledge required for a farming system and then, moments later, be performing the best practice skills described in the classroom.
“They also allow the students to see the reality of farming through all its cycles plus work through real life, problem solving scenarios.
“Lecturers and trainers also work on the farms and keep their skills and knowledge current at all times.”
In addition to training and working on the Tocal enterprises, each student is provided with opportunities to do off campus, practical work placements.
These include week long blocks in the first year, Certificate III in Agriculture course and two, month long blocks the following year in Certificate IV.
“Add to this, industry study tours to commercial farms, agribusinesses and research organisations and it is easy to see Tocal students get every practical advantage to become leaders in Australian agriculture,” Mr Bayley said.
- Visit: www.tocal.nsw.edu.au.
