Work of Harvey Agriculture College praised

27/9/01
Harvey Agricultural College gives students practical hands-on training that would be difficult to receive from working in a purely commercial environment Education Minister Alan Carpenter said today.
Speaking at the opening of the college's field day and rapid exist dairy, Mr Carpenter said that even though the main aim was to train Year 11 and 12 students, the institution's 920ha farm generated an income up to $700,000 a year.
"This comes from the wide range of farming activities that includes a dairy, a beef stud program, citrus production, a vineyard, poultry, sheep and pigs," he said.
"They cover a broad range of expanding activities that emphasise the role of the latest technology in farming.
"Computers are having an increasingly important role in agriculture and the college's farm allows this technology to be used in real life cases such as monitoring milk quality and calculating profits in beef feed lots and the piggery.
"Also, as the college's 70 students are all boarders and undergo practical work-based training, there is a strong incentive to develop independent living skills, self-confidence and a strong work ethic.
"It equips them well to careers in all aspects of the industry from farming to industries allied with agriculture and tertiary study.
"This is an important contribution to one of our State's most important industries.
"Agriculture is worth $4 billion a year to the State with 80 per cent of the production exported."
Mr Carpenter said since the college took over the Wokalup Farm site less than two years ago, much had been done to turn it into a modern farm, including the new dairy, new pastures and fencing, piggery eco-shelters, establishment of an Angus beef stud and links formed with Curtin and Murdoch Universities.
Media contact: Owen Cole 9213 6806