Spring into Action – A busy September for Boland College Agricultural Students

September, the beginning of spring, has been a busy time for the agricultural students at Boland College. With the new season in full swing, students engaged in a variety of practical activities to provide them with critical skills for the agricultural sector. 

Here’s what they’ve been up to:

·       Kicking Off a New Production Cycle

Students prepared their planting bags to start off the new production cycle in the net house while they continued caring for the crops growing in the climate-smart greenhouse.

·       Learning Solar Power Applications in Horticulture

Students are taking part in a blended learning course on the use of solar energy in the horticultural sector. The partnership with Brainstud is a collaboration born out of the networks formed during the CoVE project.

·       Gaining Mechanical skills required on a Farm

Students had a practical session on tractor maintenance as well as gas welding during September. These sessions are vital for building self-sufficiency and technical competence.

·       Sheep Shearing and Livestock Care

During a practical assignment, students sheared sheep and learned more on general health inspections and hoof clipping. These are crucial skills for upcoming livestock farmers.

·       Ruminant Health and Management

Another highlight of the month was a practical session on ruminant livestock. Students gained first-hand experience on key concepts such as digestion, general vaccination, dosage programs and the condition scoring of sheep at different stages and ages.   

The Boland CoVE, as part of the EU funded Erasmus + project Centres of Vocational Excellence in Climate Smart Agriculture, aims to provide students with skills and competences that lead to quality jobs and careers, meeting the needs of the widespread Boland area.