Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris has today announced the launch of two new farming apprenticeships.  

The apprenticeships are divided into two roles – The Farm Manager and The Farm Technician.

The Farm Manager apprenticeship will develop managerial skills in the agricultural sector, with the "latest research" and "best practice management knowledge" to successfully run a commercial farm business.  

The Farm Technician apprenticeship trains apprentices to operate successfully within Irish farming systems, gaining skills in daily operations, and compliance with industry standards and regulatory measures.  

Apprentices will be employed by commercial farm enterprises such as arable, dairy, cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, and suckler farm enterprises.  

Minister Harris said they were "really exciting developments" for the education and farming sector.  

“These apprenticeship programmes will welcome their first apprentices in September. Embedding these programmes will be essential to securing the future of farming," he said.

“This investment will ensure the next generation of farmers can access the education they want and need, while still working on the farm.”  

Farmers Using Tractors To Make Silage; Farming (Credit Image: © The Irish Image Collection/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire)

The Farm Manager apprenticeship will lead to a Level 7 degree and will initially be available through the Teagasc Kildalton College, Piltown, Kilkenny.

The Farm Technician Level 6 will be available in Teagasc Clonakilty College, Cork and Teagasc Ballyhaise College Cavan.  

An apprenticeship in Horticulture will also be available through the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

Each apprenticeship is two years in length.

IFA’s Farm Family and Social Affairs National Chair Alice Doyle said the organisation "welcomes the new agricultural apprenticeships".

“These apprenticeships will help to develop knowledge and skills within the agricultural sector and will help with labour shortages within the sector," she said.