Farm 

Certificate II in Agriculture

The aim of the College Farm is to train students in current, best practice and safe agricultural operations.  We provide an array of enterprises for students to learn and gain experience in, and our trainers give all students the opportunity to try their hand at each task to improve their skills and knowledge. Cert II involves the completion of 16 units of competency which are made up of knowledge questions and practical observations.

Our Year 12 students have spent the past 556 days working on completing these competencies and a few have made it already!  Others still require some work to be done.

Keep working at your competencies, ask trainers for paperwork, submit what you need to, and learn everything that you can.  Trainers will be reminding you about practical observations that are required, Mrs Iles will be emailing you and your parents about outstanding paperwork, and those that haven't finished Skills Journals will be placed on Compulsory Prep.  Not long to go now!

Piggery

Term 3 is off to a flying start in the piggery!  We sold a record 321 pigs since mid-June with the system running smoothing and pigs gaining weight fast.  We are up to our 4th batch of grower pigs in the new domes, and they seem to be adjusting well to semi-outdoor life in the straw.  Even on 3 degree mornings, the pigs are warm and cozy in their bedding. 

We installed our new electric heat mats in the farrowing shed and after being programmed, piglets moved straight onto the warm mats with much delight. 

Three of the Cert III gilts have farrowed successfully.  Icespice, McFlurry and Mary are now officially sows and nursing their new litters.  Students will record their gilts farrowing performance as part of their Certificate III in Pork Production. 

Mrs Iles

Assistant Farm Manager