Historic agricultural college prepares for bumper intake

Becoming a farmer has changed in many ways — as procedures evolve, it’s more than just handing down the knowledge of the land from generation to generation.

Becoming a farmer has changed in many ways — as procedures evolve, it’s more than just handing down the knowledge of the land from generation to generation.

Tocal College is gearing up for another influx of students and it’s another healthy crop on its way, according to Darren Bailey, the school’s principal.

“The courses have filled so quickly. It comes off the back of what has been fantastic conditions in the main for primary industry and agriculture,” Bailey said.

Australia’s agriculture sector is booming as farmers reaped a record $66 billion for their produce last year, despite a global pandemic and trade tensions with China.

Tocal farming students at work.

“Farming is challenging and complex. There are plenty of challenges like drought, floods, and the occasional mouse plague but the industry is going great right now. it’s a $20.9 billion industry, nationally it’s heading towards $100 billion. Commodity prices are high across the board. That’s the backdrop of what encourages young people into it,” Bailey said.

The year’s application for courses at Tocal has been strong with 95 enrolments set to become living residents on campus in 2022. The school is also close to filling its capacity for local day students and its trainee programs are filling, which sees students working around the state but then arriving at Tocal for intensive training blocks.

As the technology element in agriculture constantly grows, it’s vital the college keeps its students up to speed with the latest farming measures. Courses in land management and conservation, cultural burning techniques, remote sensing, and its aboriginal rural training program are constantly getting updated.

Tocal Agricultural College has been skilling up farmers for decades. Here, Charlie Elliott lays the first bricks for the chapel at the college in 1964, watched by his boss Jim Cook. Supplied by Nancy Rummery

“Every year there are so many things changing in agricultural technology. It’s light-years from 30 years ago. Precision agriculture, user technology on farms, use of drones for applications, mapping, spraying, I could go on. It’s more than knowing how to milk a cow or use a tractor. We’ve had 50 apply for our certificate 3 in the agriculture program and 25 for the second year which is certificate 4. We’re also fully subscribed for the horse breeding and training course.”

Last year the school adapted to change as the coronavirus continued to cause havoc, as protocols were put in place and that will continue.

“We managed to avoid disruption. We set a Covid safe bubble for our full-time residential programs. We continued to run those programs through the year safely. The students completed their courses at the end of the year and were ready to take up jobs.”