Multi-Skilling - the next generation
22 September 2009

Are you interested in agriculture but your farm is unable to support an extra full-time income? Do your parents want you to learn a trade? If so, have you considered the Multi-Skilling programme?

The Multi-Skilling course offered by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) aims to give students the opportunity to train in agriculture and another discipline so that they have the necessary skills to farm part-time and secure employment off farm. This programme, aimed at 16/17 year olds, gives you the option of combining an agriculture education with a trade area.  

Agriculture training takes place in the Greenmount Campus through six residential block releases of one week in duration. The dates will be pre-arranged with your training organization, with the first Block Release beginning on 26 October.

The Level II Work-Based Diploma in Agriculture is practically based, with an emphasis on learning using the Campus farms. Class teaching is kept to a minimum. Skills include:

  • Livestock Husbandry and Nutrition: animal health and welfare, feeding, breeding, animal selection for breeding/beef.
  • Grassland Management: grass and weed identification, weed control, grazing systems, fertilizer sower calibration.
  • Machinery Skills: tractor driving, driving with trailers, pre-start checks and maintenance.
  • Health & Safety: risk assessments for farms, disease prevention, Manual Handling.
  • Record Keeping: herd records, movement records, births and deaths records, medicine records, banking and VAT records.

The Multi-Skilling programme is geared at those who want to secure full-time employment in their chosen trade area as well as farming at home part-time.

After successfully completing the Level 2, there is the option to progress through part-time study to the Level 3, which is a more management-based qualification.

If you would like further information, please contact Greenmount Campus on Freephone 0800 028 4291 or Enniskillen Campus on Freephone 0800 328 2237.

William McKeown onlivestock skills practice

William McKeown (Banbridge) on livestock skills practice at CAFRE

Samuel Johnston practising his on-line skills

Livestock movement permits are completed online by Samuel Johnston (Fintona)