Agricultural Experience in Australia
Prerequisites
- Aged between 20 and 30 years
- Single and no family ties
- Minimum of 12 months continuous practical experience in one or more areas of agriculture OR currently at a University or Agricultural College wanting to gain additonal practical experience for "credits" OR have completed a recognised Tertiary Course in Agriculture
- Must be able to communicate in English
- Free of a criminal record
- Need to be in good health and no physical disabilities that will prevent you from doing "heavy" work
- Need Driver's License
Areas of Practical Agriculture
- Mixed Farming
- Dairying
- Livestock (mixed)
- Sheep
- Beef Cattle
- Cereal Cropping
- Pigs/Swine
- Horticulture
Your Placements
- Nominate THREE fields of Agriculture in which you would like to work.
- First choice is not always available.
- Receive an allowance while participating in this program.
- On arrival in Australia will spend two nights in Melbourne to participate in a Seminar prior to travelling on to your host family.
Costs Involved
- Administration Fee
- Australian Health Insurance
- Visa Fee (which is not refundable)
- On arrival in Australia will spend two nights in Melbourne to participate in a Seminar prior to travelling on to their host.
- Travel costs to yor placement
CROPPING
This is mainly Cereals (Wheat, Barley and Oats). Farmers are using Grain Crops such as Oilseed Rape, Pulse Crops (Peas, Lupins, Faba Beans, and Vetch) as a means of improving soil fertility by conducting a rotation crop program on their farms.
Cropping begins in mid-March and culminates with the harvest ranging between mid-November and late-January, depending on the region of Australia where you are working.
BEEF
Most of these activities are located on Cattle Stations in the very hot regions of Australia. Work is limited to the months of March to October. MUST have Horse Riding Skills.
LIVESTOCK (mixed)
Two or three Livestock enterprises are used on this type of farm. There are very few placements available.
SHEEP
Sheep stations are in the remoter parts of Australia and climatic conditions limit the times of the year when work is avialable.
DAIRY
The Dairying season depends on the company who buys the milk. Some Farmers are milking all the year, which means that their cows are being 'dried-off' at various times of the year. Other Farmers have a specific season which means that all their cows are calving at the same time of the year.
The busiest times of the year are from late-July to late-May.
MIXED FARMING
Due to varying climatic conditions within Australia, the Australian Farmer has to consider operating two or three farming enterprises to ensure a regular supply of Income
Mixed Farming usually consists of a Cereal Cropping program and a livestock enterprise.
Besides the regular seasonal activities involved with a Cereal cropping enterprise such as soil preparation, sowing the seed, weed control, harvesting the grain the Livestock enterprise involves activities that can be carried out in between these major cropping activities.
PIGS
These are intensive type operations. Trainees will be required to commute to work every day.