1st student farm technicians to graduate

The first class from a new farm technician apprenticeship program will graduate this month.

They've spent three years training for careers in the agricultural industry at Slemon Park in Summerside.

P.E.I. is the first province to offer a blue-seal certification for farm workers. The program is run by teachers from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, with participation from the P.E.I. government and local farm groups.

"I wanted to better my knowledge in dairy farming," said student Jeff Stewart. "I take pretty seriously, enjoy what I do. Who knows, might be on my own some day."

Although some students may have spent years working on a farm, the classroom time is giving them an expertise they didn't have before.

"Different cropping techniques, cereals, grains, foliage, everything," said student Lawrence Purdy, who works on a potato farm.

The program was started because farmers saw a need for skilled workers because farming has become much more complex over the years.

"When you think aerospace is technical, when you think of farming, it can also be very technical. …we're looking at, on a dairy farm, you're trying to be bacterial resistant, you're trying to stay clean, everything needs to be sterilized. When talking potatoes, you're needing disease resistance in the field," said Gwyn Bellfontaine, with the P.E.I. Agricultural Sector Council.

The course covers just about everything students need to know about such subjects as tractor safety, using a chainsaw, basic welding, pesticide application and first aid.

Although the first class of graduates is small, the program is growing.

The students spend eight weeks in the classroom over the winter. In the spring, they'll take what they've learned and spend the rest of the year with mentors on the farm.

Students will graduate with a blue-seal certificate, which means they'll have a level of training that's recognized at any farm in the province.