Farmers encouraged to ‘give back’ by training the next generation

A record-breaking number of students have applied to be part of the Growing Future Farmers programme next year but a lack of farm trainers is biting, especially in Otago and Canterbury.

South Island student success lead Amy Priest, of Lumsden, said 150 students had applied to take part in the programme and there was an urgent need for more people to train students.

"We are still on the hunt for some bloody good humans that want to train these guys up."

Farm trainers on sheep and beef farms take a student, generally aged between 16 and 20, on the two-year programme to give them practical skills, training and experience in agriculture. The farm operation could include deer.

The number of trainers available would account for 89 student placements nationally.

She believed a lack of accommodation on farms might be stopping some potential trainers from applying.

There were ways around the issue, such as students flat-sharing on a property near farms.

More than 120 students were placed on more than 100 farms this year.

For the first time, students must pay a fee to attend the programme from next year, a change which had not impacted demand.

The programme runs for 44 weeks between mid-January and early December.