For the second year in a row, we have experienced a fantastic winter cropping season across Eastern Australia and farmers are looking forward to again harvesting big crops.
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Also, as was the case last year, farmers and harvest contractors are facing a shortage of experienced and skilled workers to assist with harvest operations due to COVID-19 movement restriction.
To respond to this challenge, Tocal College has further developed the harvest training course trialled last year at Dubbo, NSW.
The new courses, which provide both basic training in tractor operation and specialist training for grain harvest machinery operators, were delivered for the first time at Quandialla, in Southern NSW, at the end of September.
The two courses are designed to be delivered in succession and cater firstly for people with limited tractor operation experience and then for those with good tractor driving experience but no exposure to operation of specialist grain harvesting and handling equipment.
Introduction to Tractors for Harvest Operations (one day) and Harvest Operations (two day) provide skills and knowledge for participants covering the processes of grain harvest from the field to bulk storage, WHS and basic operation of a combine harvester and grain handling practices.
Modern grain harvesters are extremely expensive to operate, and it is crucial for the efficiency of the operation that they are kept working in the crop as much as possible.
The focus of this revised harvest training program is therefore on introducing and building participants practical skills operating a grain cart or 'chaser bin' to move grain from the field to a truck or in-field storage and keep the harvester moving.
A skilled and efficient chaser bin driver is integral in the operation by helping control the cost of harvesting every tonne of grain for which the farmer is paid.
Participants are shown the basics of how harvesting machinery works and the requirement for daily servicing and maintenance.
They have the opportunity to simulate the harvest operation by driving a tractor and chaser bin next to a harvester and unloading into a truck or field storage bin.
This simulation helps build their skills so as to be able to carry out this task with confidence.
As participants are individually supervised by a Tocal trainer in the cab while practicing these tasks, the course can only be delivered to fairly small groups of six students per trainer.
For harvest operation training to be realistic and relevant, it is essential that the college is able to demonstrate and provide practical experience with typical modern equipment.
This was made possible due to the support of grain growers Josh and Sarah Curry, Majors Point, Quandialla, as well as Sean Nowlan, providing access to their equipment and a suitable site for delivery.
Further delivery of this training will continue throughout October at Mungindi, in Northern NSW and the Macquarie Valley.
This delivery is only possible with the support of leading producers providing suitable facilities and equipment for the college to deliver the training.
The grain harvest this year will commence in the north of NSW at the end of October with farmers and contractors now looking to recruit staff for their harvest crews.
Anyone with the required skills and experience will be able to find a position without any problem.
For those interested in harvest work who do not have suitable experience, the option of training is now available.
These new courses are delivered in partnership with industry and both are fully subsidised to eligible participants in NSW under the NSW Government AgSkilled program.
- For further details of the Tocal College harvest training program see:
