Qualifications Required in Agriculture, Horticulture or Forestry
Qualifications required
Teagasc education and training is centred on three core occupational roles
Manager: This role encompasses a significant business management dimension as a business owner or an employed manager.
Technician: This role involves taking responsibility for production and administration. This may be as a crop producer, livestock producer, breeder, horticulturist or an assistant manager.
Operative: The role of an operative or assistant is crucial to everyday operation. The role may be permanent or casual.
[For smaller scale units the roles are likely to be less differentiated, with owners fulfilling all roles in some cases.]
Teagasc has training and education programmes which will train you for your desired career.
The recommended education pathway for these careers is summarised in the following:
The Operative
Required Competences
Carry out defined work duties competently.
Exercise initiative in executing routine activities.
Assist in the overall operation of the unit.
Act effectively as a member of a team.
Recommended Teagasc education pathway:
Level 5 Certificate.
The Technician
Required Competences
Lead and carry out routine activities.
Carry out unit administration and recording duties.
Carry out certain evaluation activities.
Take routine unit decisions.
Plan for and manage problems.
Supervise resources.
Recommended Teagasc education pathway:
Level 6 Advanced Certificate – two year pathway incorporating the Level 5 Certificate and the Level 6 Advanced Certificate.
Analyse and respond to more complex business situations and problems.
Manage and lead complex businesses.
Conduct strategic options analysis.
Evaluate work and business performance.
Manage people, teams and systems.
Recruit staff and co-ordinate staff induction and training.
Recommended Teagasc education pathway:
Level 7 Higher Education apprenticeship programme
Level 7 land based higher education degree.
Benefits of Training with Teagasc
Teagasc is the leading provider of accredited further education for the land sector. Teagasc also has a major input into higher education and postgraduate education delivery through its extensive partnership with the higher education sector. Apprenticeship training is now available in agriculture, farm management, horticulture and sport turf management.
You receive specialist skills training and gain an in-depth understanding of progressive farming, crop and livestock production systems.
Teagasc courses are creative, diverse and lots of fun.
You will meet and work with students from similar backgrounds and develop friendships and networks which will last long after graduation.
You will receive internationally recognised awards.
A QQI qualification will prepare you for your future career, allow progression into higher education and increase your employment opportunities.
Opportunities are available to progress by advanced entry into second year of higher education degree programmes is possible at many Technological Universities.
You will learn by doing – a key strength of Teagasc’s education programme is its blend of classroom and practical instruction. You will spend up to 50% of your time on practical training or on work experience.
Research has shown a very high rate of return from Teagasc education through higher productivity at farm level.
Future prospects are bright with a projected increase in the world population to about 9 billion by 2050. This will result in an increased demand for food and provides exciting future opportunities for all land sectors. There will be an increased demand for professional farm managers.
Become a “Trained Farmer”
National policy has prioritised ‘young trained farmers’ for various farm schemes and incentives. Graduates of Teagasc training courses meet the training qualification to become a ‘young trained farmer’. Measures and schemes include:
Young Farmers Scheme
National Reserve Scheme – Young Farmer Category
Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS)
Registered Farm Partnerships/ Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme
Stamp Duty Exemption on Transfers of Land to Young Trained Farmers
Capital Acquisitions Tax Relief
Stock Relief on Income Tax for Certain Young Trained Farmers.
It is expected that future CAP reform will have additional benefits for young trained farmers.
Note: Education requirements for schemes are subject to change and applicants are required to meet terms and conditions when applying for various schemes.
