5 May 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
There is a need for a young educated workforce to meet the future needs of the land sector. That’s according to Tony Pettit, Head of Education in Teagasc, who was announcing Friday, 26th May – three weeks from today – as the closing date for applications for agriculture college full time courses.
“The farm population is ageing, with more than half of farmers being over 55 years of age and less than 6% under 35 years of age. ‘New blood’ will be vital to sustain a vibrant farming sector particularly for the expanding dairy sector. The recovering economy is also opening up opportunities in horticulture with occupations in landscape and design, nursery stock production and retailing, and sports turf management benefitting,” according to Tony Pettit.
Friday, 26 May 2017 is the closing date for agricultural college full-time courses. Interested applicants are advised to submit their application forms in the coming weeks. Application forms can be downloaded directly from www.teagasc.ie or obtained from agricultural colleges.
Teagasc full-time Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture courses are offered at:
Teagasc Clonakilty, Co Cork
Teagasc Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan
Teagasc Kildalton, Co Kilkenny
Teagasc courses are also offered at the three private agricultural colleges:
Gurteen Agricultural College, Co. Tipperary
Mountbellew Agricultural College, Co. Galway
Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry, Co Limerick
Full-time Level 5 Horticulture Courses are offered at:
The Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9.
Teagasc Kildalton Horticulture College, Co Kilkenny.
The application closing date for horticultural courses will extend to August 2017.
Open Days on horticultural courses are taking place on 18th May at Teagasc Kildalton College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny and on 12th August at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9.
A Level 5 forestry course is offered at Teagasc Ballyhaise College. Equine courses (both Stud Management and Horsemanship) are offered at Kildalton College.
Closing date for the Teagasc Professional Diploma in Dairy Herd Management is Friday 5th May 2017. Application forms are available at www.teagasc.ie or directly from Kildalton College.
Teagasc Agricultural Colleges and Teagasc Regional Education Centres offer both part-time and distance education Green Cert Programmes for adults on an on-going basis. Details of these courses can be obtained from college and local education offices.
Full details of Teagasc courses can be obtained from www.teagasc.ie or from Teagasc colleges and centres and private agricultural colleges.