Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3)

Level 3

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Do you enjoy the outdoors, rural life, and working on the farm? The UCOL Te Pūkenga Farming Systems and Equipment programme will provide you with a range of highly valued skills for the pastoral farming sector.

Quick info

Level: 3

Locations: UCOL Te Pūkenga Wairarapa in Masterston

Duration: 1 year full-time (44 weeks)
(See Course Hours & Duration for details)

Dates:
07 Feb 2023 - 08 Dec 2023

(Call 0800 468 265 or register your interest http://www.ucol.ac.nz/contact-us )

Domestic Fees: *
$4261.28

Scholarship info

Find out if you're eligible for fees-free study

International Fees:*
$15,105.00

Additional Fees
Compulsory course costs may apply.

* Fees are indicative only, and are inclusive of the student services levy and GST (goods and services tax). The fee shown is for one year of study.

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Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3) is a conjoint programme consisting of the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture Farming Systems (Level 3) and the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3). This programme is intended to provide you with the skills and knowledge to undertake a farm worker role assisting with pasture and livestock management and safely operating vehicles and equipment. After completing this course, you will be able to undertake a farmworker role assisting with pasture development, livestock management, and safe operations of agri-vehicles and equipment. You will also gain the literacy and numeracy skills needed for work in the primary industry.

This programme uses blended delivery – combining in person, online, and in-work learning.

Course Hours & Duration

This programme runs for 44 weeks, including 6 holiday weeks.

Per week, your learning will include approximately:

Class Time

19 hrs

Lectures, tutorials and/or online recordings.

Timetable set by your lecturer.

Industry Experience

12 hrs

In-work activity.

Study Time

2 hrs

Study in your own time. You can also choose to study part-time or possibly by paper. Talk to us about your options with this programme.

Career & Study Outcomes

On successful completion of this programme, you will be able to carry out a range of works with limited supervision. You could work on pastoral farms as a farming assistant undertaking harvesting and dairy works, work as general farm hand, and operate heavy machinery in a rural workplace.

If you decide to continue your education, you may enrol into New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Dairy Farming, Breeding Livestock Farming, and Non-Breeding Livestock Farming.

Course Information

Note: As a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, UCOL Te Pūkenga is committed to providing the best learning outcome for you. As part of this, all programmes are currently being reviewed to make them portable, consistent, and closely aligned with the needs of the industry. When published, this course information is correct, but the courses offered may change over time. If you have any questions call an Enrolment Advisor on 0800 468 265.

From 2023, UCOL Te Pūkenga and the programme you have enrolled in will become part of Te Pūkenga. So, if you join UCOL Te Pūkenga in 2023, you will be awarded Te Pūkenga certification. And, if you are a current learner graduating in 2023, you will be awarded a co-branded certificate.

This programme consists of 125 Credits;

Soils (4 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills relating to the principles of soil science and soil management in relation to pasture growth. After this course, you will be able to:

Relate on-farm soil management practices to improved pasture growth.
Determine soil pasture growing properties.

Growing and Using Pasture (12 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills related to growth, monitoring and using pastures, and relating pasture production to feed demand. After this course, you will be able to:

Relate pasture composition to pasture production.
Relate pasture management to differences between pasture growth and livestock feed requirements.
Determine pasture quantity and quality.
Assist with grazing management.

Animal Health and Welfare (24 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills related to the health, care, and handling of livestock and the administration of animal remedies to livestock. After this course, you will be able to:

Apply the Animal Welfare Act’s Five Freedoms to farming.
Relate on-farm practices to common livestock health issues.
Appropriately handle livestock in a range of situations.
Administer animal treatments as instructed.

Animal Breeding and Production (20 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills in relation to tasks associated with animal breeding and production. After this course, you will be able to:

Relate breeding management to livestock production.
Assist with lambing and calving.
Assist with heat detection and mating.
Provide shearing support.
Dag and crutch sheep under supervision.
Use milking techniques that retain milk quality.

Technology in Farm (5 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills in the use of tools as well as relate common technology to farm production. After this course, you will be able to:

Relate technology tools to improved farm production.
Use common technology tools in a farming context.

Sustainable Practices (10 Credits)

Learners will apply knowledge and skills around sustainable practices in relation to common farming practices and identify opportunities to reduce the impact of farming practices on soil and water resources. After this course, you will be able to:

Relate legislation to sustainable on-farm practices.
Identify opportunities for reducing the farming impact on soil and water.

Health and Safety (10 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills around work in relation to health and safety requirements and practices and display safe working behaviours. After this course, you will be able to:

Apply the Health and Safety at Work Act to farm work.
Minimise health and safety risks when working in a farming context.

Vehicle Operation (25 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills of basic maintenance and operation of agri-vehicles and mechanised equipment commonly found in the primary industries. The student will also develop a good practice that reduces the environmental impact when using agri- vehicles. After this course, you will be able to:

Adhere to safe strategies when using agri-vehicles.
Identify and complete basic maintenance on agricultural vehicles.
Understand and consider the environmental impacts when using agri-vehicles and mechanised equipment.

Personal Wellbeing (5 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills in relation to maintain personal well-being, personal budgeting, and food preparation in preparation for working in the primary industries. After this course, you will be able to:

Understand the importance of taking care of personal well-being in relation to working on the land.

Farm Maintenance (10 Credits)

Learners will develop knowledge and skills to construct temporary electric and common permanent fences for the primary industry. After this course, you will be able to:

Construct and maintain fences, both electric and permanent in a farming context.
Understand fencing principles.
Undertake activities related to farm maintenance.

Domestic Entry Requirements

NCEA Level 1
OR
Equivalent academic achievement
OR
On a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Executive Dean

English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you must also demonstrate English language skills equivalent to an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 5.0 with no band score less than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). UCOL Te Pūkenga is a TOEFL testing centre.

For more information about NCEA Credits see the UCOL Te Pūkenga NCEA explained page.

International Entry Requirements

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international learner applicants.

English language proficiency
International learner applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS Academic score of 5.0 with no band score lower than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). UCOL Te Pūkenga is a TOEFL testing centre.

Under 20 years of age
In addition to this, international applicants under 20 years of age must have NCEA equivalency.

Advice & Guidance

Learners need to be aware of the physical requirements for operating in the rural workforce. Learners will be advised to put any special needs or requirements in writing and advise the Programme Leader before the programme begins.

Work experience

This programme contains a minimum of 456 hours of work experience over ten core courses to allow learners to develop their practical skills in an agricultural setting. You'll need to budget for associated travel costs.

For any required work experience component of the programme, should a learner be placed with an employer that has a ‘zero tolerance for drug and alcohol policy and the student does not agree to have a drug and/or alcohol test prior to being placed on work experience, then that student may not be able to complete the programme.

Additional costs
While UCOL Te Pūkenga provides some personal protective equipment, learners must supply their own gumboots, overalls, wet weather gear and sturdy work shoes.

Recognition of prior learning
Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including Cross Credit, Credit Transfer and Assessment of Prior Learning may be made on the Recognition of Prior Learning Form where a student believes all learning outcomes for a course have already been met. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UCOL Te Pūkenga Academic Statute and other relevant policies and procedures.

Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:

National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
Check if you're eligible for additional support or a scholarship. If you're 19 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email (not via the online application form).

Blended Delivery
This programme uses blended delivery – combining in-person, online, and in-work learning. Please contact the programme leader for more details.

Additional Costs

While UCOL Te Pūkenga provides some personal protective equipment, students must supply their own gumboots, overalls, wet weather gear and sturdy work shoes.