Prepare for the season ahead, with up to 50% off* fees
Well-skilled, knowledgeable staff achieve more, give more and stay longer. Train to retain your staff, verify that they are prepared for the season ahead and to give you the confidence to focus on the overall management of the farm.
On this page:
There’s never been a better time to invest in training for your staff, with nearly all dairy programmes up to 50% off in 2024. So get in touch with your local training advisor to learn more, or check out our programmes below:
Farm Assistant training (Level 3)
We’ve connected learning options with seasonal activities to give you a snapshot of how our training aligns with your farm.
Assist with Milk Harvesting and Optimising Milk Quality
Topics include: nutritional value of milk, quality milk supply and preventing contaminants; understanding the milking plant and the function of the milking components; milk quality testing and standards; milk quality post calving, mastitis, treating teat disorders and unsuitable milk.
- Duration: 5 months
- Cost: Was $747.50, now $373.75*
- Get in touch
Assist with Dairy Farming Mating, Calving and Neonatal Care
Topics include: mating management and understanding the tools that support a successful mating programme; assisting with parturition management, understanding of birthing presentation and animal records; monitoring body condition score (BCS) of pregnant cows to ensure a successful start to the season; principles of rearing young stock including the importance of colostrum, identification, and welfare practices.
- Duration: 5 months
- Cost: Was $345.00, now $172.50*
- Get in touch
Livestock Feed Supply and Demand
Topics include: livestock feed demand during the season and impacts on production; identification of New Zealand pasture species; grazing managements methods; principles of feed budgeting and nutritional value of feed and digestibility; introduction to pasture management and soil management, including soil health and fertility; fundamental of water supply systems.
- Duration: 5 months
- Cost: Was $1,035.00, now $517.50*
- Get in touch
Assist with management of livestock health and biosecurity
Topics include: biosecurity, types of diseases and how to apply best practice to migrate risk; identification and care of healthy livestock, ill health and ill thrift; use of preventative animal health measures; and obligations and practices with regards to animal welfare requirement.
- Duration: 4 months
- Cost: Was $345.00, now $172.50*
- Get in touch
Assisting with Operating Dairy Effluent Management Systems
Topics include: characteristics of a dairy effluent management systems; environmental protection practices on farm; benefits and risks of effluent application on farm.
- Duration: 3 months
- Cost: Was $632.50, now $316.25*
- Get in touch
New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture - Dairy Farming (Level 3)
This comprehensive qualification is ideal for Farm Assistants. It gives learners solid knowledge of on-farm tasks and prepares them for activities throughout the farming year.
- Duration: 20 months
- Cost: Was from $3,220, now from $1,610*
- Get in touch
Herd or Assistant Manager (Level 4)
We’ve connected learning options with senior activities to give you a snapshot of how our training aligns with your farm.
Milk Harvesting Management
Topics include: understanding Milk supplier standards; managing milk harvesting procedure and plant maintenance; livestock health.
- Duration: 4 months
- Cost: Was $632.50, now $316.25*
- Get in touch
Health, Mating and Parturition Management
Topics include: implement and monitor a livestock health plan; implement and monitor a livestock mating plan (breeding only); implement and monitor and livestock parturition plan.
- Duration: 6 months
- Cost: Was $747.50, now $373.75*
- Get in touch
Feeding, Pastoral Production Systems and Benchmarking
Topics include: implement and monitor a livestock feeding plan; benchmark the farm’s physical performance against primary industry performance targets; produce routine management reports to inform decision making for a farm production system.
- Duration: 9 months
- Cost: Was $1,437.50, now $718.75*
- Get in touch
Farm Environment Planning
Topics include: describing farm environmental risks and farming practices that mitigate environmental risks, identifying risks to farm and catchment environments and describing opportunities to improve farming practice and applying good farming practices to implement and monitor a farm environment plan.
- Duration: 5 months
- Cost: Was $586.50, now $293.25*
- Get in touch
New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture - Dairy Farming (Level 4)
This comprehensive qualification is ideal for Herd or Assistant Managers. It will enhance learners skills so they can lead the implementation of production plans.
- Duration: 20 months
- Cost: Was from $3,536.25, now from $1,768.13*
- Get in touch
Longer programmes
Interested in on-going training to develop your staff?
The Micro-credentials listed above can be completed as part of a New Zealand Certificate (levels 3 and 4 available) or even a full New Zealand Apprenticeship. And for senior staff, managers and farm owners, we also offer two Level 5 programmes:
How we support you
Our Training Advisers work alongside you to achieve the best result for your business and your staff. They’ll provide expertise on learning pathways with your business needs, undertake regular visits, and for learners, they’ll plan study nights and arrange literacy and numeracy support when required.
Get in touch
If you would like more information, or you’re ready to sign your staff into training, use the form below and we will get a Training Adviser to get in touch.
*50% off fees - Terms and Conditions
Which programmes are eligible?
All agriculture and horticulture programmes (L2 – L5).
Does it include vehicles and chainsaw micro-credentials?
No it does not.
Does this include the New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management?
No it does not as the learner is enrolled with either Wintec or Ara, not with Primary ITO (but the learner will still receive support from Primary ITO). For more information on the Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management, click here.
When does this start?
Any agriculture or horticulture programme/micro-credential enrolment that has a start date from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
Does this discount apply to non-domestic (non-funded) learners?
This 50% fee reduction only applies to domestic learners. Non-domestic learners are still governed by Government policy. For more information on the different funding policies, visit the Tertiary Education Commission website here.
NZ Apprenticeships
The 50% off will only apply to the duration of the programme that the learner has enrolled in before 31 December 2024. For example, if a learner enrols in one of our apprenticeships that includes 2 x qualifications ie a level 3 and a level 4 qualification, they will only get 50% discount off the level 3 programme because they will not have started the level 4 part of the programme until after 31 December 2024.
Am I still able to get the Fees Free if I am eligible?
Yes. Click here for more information on Fees Free.
Can employers still get the Apprenticeship Boost?
Yes. Click here to learn more about the Apprenticeship Boost.
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