Seven new PROfarm training courses for 2011

The range of PROfarm short courses for farmers has been expanded to include seven new courses, bringing the total number of courses available to 90.

Business Development Officer with Tocal College, Eric Elliott, said the new PROfarm courses will help farmers manage the complexities of increasingly variable climatic conditions.

"Managing rural properties in a changing climate makes farming more complex and challenging, so seven new courses have been developed to better help rural farmers and natural resource managers meet that challenge," he said.

"The new courses cover a range of agronomic issues important to all rural landholders, such as soil carbon, salinity, weeds and native pastures."

New PROfarm courses for 2011:

• Biological Control of Weeds
• Farming Native Pastures
• Identifying Grasses
• Salinity Concepts
• Soil life Management
• Managing Land for Carbon
• Soil Carbon Myths

"We have found that one-day courses are best suited for busy people as farmers, be they part-time or full-time, have a lot on their plate," Mr Elliott said.

"They often plan months ahead to attend a course at a particular location on a certain day, so we have to make sure that we have courses that are a good use of their time and money."

PROfarm courses are coordinated state-wide through Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre at Yanco and the CB Alexander campus at Tocal, Paterson.

Mr Elliott said more than 4000 people attend PROfarm courses each year.

"The success of these short courses has been due to the fact that most of the courses go to where the people are and there is a consistency of delivery," he said.

"A diverse range of courses is available, from those suited to the lifestyle rural property owner, to integrated management decision-making courses specifically for commercial primary producers."

For further information go to www.profarm.com.au or call 1800 025 520.