WHETHER it's building a fence or making your own wine, here are 12 courses that will put you on the right path this year.
1. FarmPlan21
Many farmers spend their time dealing with the day-to-day details of running an agriculture business. But sometimes you need to step back and look at the bigger picture.
FarmPlan21 is a course that encourages you to do just this, giving you the tools you need to plan for a profitable, sustainable businesses.
Delivered by the Department of Primary Industries with private and industry partners, the course covers improving farm productivity, natural resource management and adapting to climate change, plus training in a free farm mapping program called iFarm.
This allows you to map your land, paddock boundaries and features and plan for future works.
Programs can be arranged for groups.
Details: half-day or evening sessions each week for six weeks.
Where: Courses coming up include Maldon (February 8), Poowong (February 10 and February 13), Koo Wee Rup (April 16 and May 2), Hamilton (April 17) and Meeniyan (April 30).
2. BeefCheque
Whether you're running 12 or 1200 cattle, you can always get more out of your business.
BeefCheque is all about growing more grass, producing more beef and making more money.
The course covers the best pastures for livestock, grazing management, water use, soils and fertilisers, rotational and sustainable grazing, and planning to meet your beef production targets.
Most of these courses are located on-farm with sessions held at times to suit participants.
Details: Eight sessions each year over three years (timing negotiable).
Where: Rural Industries Skill Training, Hamilton, phone (03) 5573 0943
3. Operate ride-on vehicles (two and four-wheel bikes)
With ag-bike accidents making headlines, now is the time to improve your riding skills.
GO TAFE's Ride Safe ATV course will give you the skills needed to operate vehicles in varying terrain, in adverse weather conditions, with loads and attachments and when undertaking additional tasks such as spraying or herding livestock. Maintenance is also discussed.
Details: Seven hours, with courses planned for February 24 and September 7 at William Orr campus, Shepparton, and June 5 and October 16 at Rural Industries campus, Wangaratta.
Where: Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, phone 1300 468 233 or
Plus: Also available at The Gordon TAFE, South West TAFE and RIST Hamilton. NatAssess, a Victorian training organisation, offers a one-day course, with its own training track near Maryborough and its own ATVs available. Phone (03) 5461 1644.
Wodonga TAFE has quad bike training over two days on April 2 and 9, and October 1 and 8.
4. Managing sheep health
Sheep can be a relatively low-maintenance livestock, once you know what to look for and how to care for them. This course provides a holistic approach to sheep health with a focus on reproduction, worm control, sheep diseases, livestock handling, effective veterinary treatments and health protocols.
Details: Four days timed to suit participants.
Where: Rural Industries Skill Training, Hamilton, phone (03) 5573 0943
Visit: www.rist.com.au
5. Pruning made easy
Pruning can be a tricky art, but with the right guidance, you can be an expert. This course shows you new ways to prune plants to get more good quality fruit or achieve a better flowering display.
You'll also learn how to prune roses to achieve healthier plants and stronger flower stems.
Details: a one-day course, on June 19.
Where: GippsTAFE, Morwell campus.
Cost: $80. Phone (03) 5120 4500 or www.gippstafe.vic.edu.au
Plus: Other short courses at Morwell in the coming months cover seed collection, no-dig vegetable gardens and plant propagation. Pruning courses are also available at Wodonga TAFE in three half-day sessions from May 1 and October 26 (cost $200) and at GO TAFE as a one or three-day course in July.
6. Operate tractors and front-end loaders
Tractors are a vital part of farming and knowing how to use them properly is essential.
The Basic Tractor Operation course covers the safe use of tractors, with and without attached equipment. It includes routine checks and basic maintenance.
Details: one day, March 23 or September 14 at William Orr campus, Shepparton, and May 1 and October 23 at Rural Industries campus, Wangaratta.
Where: Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE. Phone 1300 468 233
Visit: www.gotafe.vic.edu.au
Plus: A separate course offers training with front-end loaders, including the use of buckets, forks and silage grabs, as well as equipment checks.
This runs on March 30 and November 6, at William Orr campus, Shepparton, and March 30 and September 21 at Rural Industries campus, Wangaratta.
Tractor courses are also available at RIST Hamilton, South West TAFE and The Gordon TAFE.
NMIT runs a tractor course with a theory session on safety, maintenance and servicing, plus three days of on-farm training at Yan Yean. Wodonga TAFE offers Tractor Training on March 13 and 22.
7. Practical beef marketing
Knowing how to produce the best cattle is just one element to farming - knowing how to sell it is just as important but often overlooked.
This program aims to boost producers' understanding of beef marketing, consumer needs and modern management and to see an increased number of cattle meet market specifications.
Participants will follow cattle through to slaughter, including interpretation of carcass data.
Details: eight days with flexible start times through the year.
Where: Rural Industries Skill Training, Hamilton, phone (03) 5573 0943
Visit: www.rist.com.au
8. Operate and Maintain Chainsaws
In untrained hands, a chainsaw can be a dangerous tool.
This course develops competency in the maintenance, preparation and operation of hand-held chainsaws.
It covers licensing and OH&S requirements, work hazards, protective equipment, tools and materials required, routine maintenance, cutting methods and environmental implications.
Details: dates to be determined.
Where: The Gordon TAFE, Geelong, phone (03) 5225 0628 or
Visit: www.thegordon.edu.au
Plus: Also available at South West TAFE, GO TAFE and as a one-day course through NatAssess.
Wodonga TAFE offers chainsaw training in two day sessions on March 1 and 8, May 3 and 10, July 5 and 12 and September 6 and 13 (cost $250).
9. Backyard Self-Sufficiency
You don't have to be a certified organic operation to want to farm in a natural, healthy manner.
This workshop teaches participants how to work with natural systems to boost soil fertility, beat weeds and pests and produce healthy vegetables.
It covers propagation, planting, compost, worms, chickens, pest control and how to design natural systems.
Details: costs $60, 9.30am to 3.30pm, March 31.
Where: Riverina Community College, Wagga Wagga, phone 1800 000 212
Visit: www.rcc.nsw.edu.au
10. Guide to wine making
If you've ever dreamed of producing your own wine, here's just the course to set you on the right path. Dookie's Concepts in Viticulture and Wine Science course runs under The University of Melbourne's Community Access Program.
It has six modules - an introduction to viticulture, soil, grapevine structure and function, pests and diseases, wine microbiology and wine chemistry.
Details: eight hours a week for 11 weeks, plus a one-week compulsory session from February 27.
Where: The University of Melbourne's Dookie campus, near Shepparton, phone 136 352 or
Visit: www.handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2012/AGRI90030
Plus: NMIT also runs an Introduction to Wine course.
11. Farm fencing
Why pay expensive contractors when you can build your own fences?
At these workshops at NMIT's farm at Yan Yean, you'll build a six-strand fence as well as cover theory and practical sessions at the Epping campus.
Topics include equipment required, fence selection, safety issues and legal requirements, basic design and operation of a fence, electric fences, construction, fencing knots and gate construction.
Details: three weekend workshops in March (dates to be determined).
Where: Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, phone (03) 9269 1042
Visit: www.nmit.edu.au
Plus: Farm fencing courses are also available at South West TAFE and The Gordon TAFE.
12. How to use chemicals
This course is a must for anyone wanting to use chemicals on their property. The AgVet Chemical Users Course (Level III) - formerly known as the Farm Chemical Users Course - is the industry standard for training in chemical use, storage and handling.
This course covers pest identification, required actions, label interpretation, issues associated with chemical use, formulation types, weed and pest control application, animal health, transport and disposal, preparation and clean-up, recording and other procedures.
The course can also be taken by distance learning and online.
Details: Two to eight days throughout the year.
Where: Auschem Training Victoria sessions at Cranbourne, Shepparton, Glen Waverley, Wodonga, Wonthaggi or Wangaratta, phone (03) 5622 2055 or
Visit: www.auschemvic.org.au
Plus: Training in working with chemicals is also available at The Gordon TAFE, South-West TAFE, Wodonga TAFE, RIST Hamilton and NMIT.
GO TAFE has week-long courses planned in February, March, May, June and September.
