A Degree in Agriculture?

[Drillman]

I have a HND which I’m told stands for Has No Degree,

But in all seriousness I believe spending 3 years at Ag college (the middle year on a farm) did me the world of good, I’m a shy lad and been thrown into a situation where I Was 150 miles from home surrounded by strangers helped to build confidence,
Met some like minded people who I’m good friends with almost 30 years later and also gave me the ability to question why stuff was done the way it was at home and come up with well resoned arguments for change as and when it was appropriate.

 

[Bogweevil]

What exactly do people gain from it?
Farming is 90% hard graft and 20% inherited nowse innit?
I “did” engineering and without that I’d be well n truly felled as an arable farmer, though my old man taught me more of that than uni. The agronomist specs the chemicals, I did PA1 and 2 and FACTS. I am NROSO.
So why should I do an Ag degree.

Learnt more in my industry placements than the lecture room/Lab but the best degree around: basic science, applied science, craft/practice and funnily enough the best bit, business studies. Several of my fellow students went into accountancy and law after graduating - something about starting salaries...

 

[glasshouse]

There are still several trades in Germany - and crossing over into other conti countries- where a well structured apprenticeship is the norm.
And after the lad has qualified, his 'master' fires him, and he has to go on his 'journey', becoming a journeyman.
(Journeyman being the basic level of qualified craftsman)
He/she must travel at least XX kms from home, and cannot stay anywhere longer than YY weeks.
A master has to give a travelling journeyman work and lodgings.
The lads MUST wear the guild 'uniform' at all times, so anyone can see they're a journeyman, from such and such a guild, and conversely, should they stupidly step out of line...they know it'll get straight back to their home town.
There's lots more rules- this is Germany we're talking about after all- that initially seem silly, but absolutely work.

It's a brilliant system, answering so many issues for youngsters.
I've known many who've ended up over here on their journey, and it's always obviously a good thing for a lad- or lass- to do.

Mebbe the YFC should extend into something of the ilk, tied up with whatever colleges still actually teach farming.

Thats why germany is miles ahead of the uk in industry.
The german peasant still has his farm, his house, and a job in vw
Contrast that with uk

 

[Lowland1]

I have a degree in agriculture and business studies….from some years ago..( too many years id care to remember).

that lead to a career, at first, in agri but not hands on. However it was a career that took me to farming in Africa, America and Indonesia.

Coming from a farm in Devon that opened my eyes big time.

It then lead to non farm related work. Sitting on City trading floor at a Japanese bank

But heart was always in farming so 15 years ago I returned to the family farm.

BIG pay cut.

Even BIGGER satisfaction and quality of life.

What did uni do for?

(in no particular order)

Opened my eyes
Exposed me to other cultures and philosophies
Enabled me to travel.
build a group of friends outside agri
Meet my wife
Build a bit of capital away from agriculture

I’m all for supporting my kids to go to uni. (Second one goes in a month)

But they have to have an end game in their plan. It’s not three years to party and build debt

That’s it except for me I stayed in Africa rather than coming home and built a business and life here.

 

[Lowland1]

The degrees they hand out now are bollox.
No practical skills are taught.
I recently employed a bsc ag graduate to fix my roof, cant even drive a tractor

I did BSc agriculture in the ‘80s and they didn’t teach as any practical skills and rightly so if you wanted to learn how to milk cows you could have done an OND or similar.

 

[Jerry]

That’s it except for me I stayed in Africa rather than coming home and built a business and life here.

If Covid had not got in the way I was planning on going back to Kenya this year with the family to show them were I worked. Still Hoping to soon.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

I have a HND which I’m told stands for Has No Degree,

But in all seriousness I believe spending 3 years at Ag college (the middle year on a farm) did me the world of good, I’m a shy lad and been thrown into a situation where I Was 150 miles from home surrounded by strangers helped to build confidence,
Met some like minded people who I’m good friends with almost 30 years later and also gave me the ability to question why stuff was done the way it was at home and come up with well resoned arguments for change as and when it was appropriate.

Snap.

Though 200miles away

Working in an completely unrelated industry has helped too.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

The degrees they hand out now are bollox.
No practical skills are taught.
I recently employed a bsc ag graduate to fix my roof, cant even drive a tractor

of course there are no practical skills, if a graduate wanted to learn practical skills they would go to the local Tech college and do an NVQ3/NCA or ND in Ag. Just as I would not expect a bricklayer to design my house, I would not expect my architect to lay the trench blocks! Horses for courses.

 

[Lowland1]

If Covid had not got in the way I was planning on going back to Kenya this year with the family to show them were I worked. Still Hoping to soon.

You can still come it’s just you won’t be welcome on your return. Where did you work?

 

[Ffermer Bach]

It should be compulsory
Including a year working away from home like the old hnd

I don't know if you still need it, but didn't one need to do a year working on a farm before you were allowed to go to agricultural college? Many years ago, I have vague recollections when I was working in an agricultural college of my manager having a phone call from someone wanting to come to the college on placement for a few weeks to do their "year" of work prior to uni!!

 

[Jerry]

You can still come it’s just you won’t be welcome on your return. Where did you work?

I was up near mt Kenya. Between Nanyuki and Timau.

Large arable farm plus 500 Holstein milkers and 2500 merino ewes.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I know plenty with degrees who have done well and apart from the probable liver damage, it’s done me no harm.

The ones I know who have made real money though are the risk takers and few of them have degrees.

one of the lecturers I use to work with, used to say the clever people could see the dangers so didn't take risks, those who were less bright were happy to take the risks and consequently became very rich and successful

 

[Ffermer Bach]

There are still several trades in Germany - and crossing over into other conti countries- where a well structured apprenticeship is the norm.
And after the lad has qualified, his 'master' fires him, and he has to go on his 'journey', becoming a journeyman.
(Journeyman being the basic level of qualified craftsman)
He/she must travel at least XX kms from home, and cannot stay anywhere longer than YY weeks.
A master has to give a travelling journeyman work and lodgings.
The lads MUST wear the guild 'uniform' at all times, so anyone can see they're a journeyman, from such and such a guild, and conversely, should they stupidly step out of line...they know it'll get straight back to their home town.
There's lots more rules- this is Germany we're talking about after all- that initially seem silly, but absolutely work.

It's a brilliant system, answering so many issues for youngsters.
I've known many who've ended up over here on their journey, and it's always obviously a good thing for a lad- or lass- to do.

Mebbe the YFC should extend into something of the ilk, tied up with whatever colleges still actually teach farming.

my ex wife's grandfather was a mason and did that after he finished his apprenticeship working all round Europe (he was Danish by the way, so I guess they had that same system in Denmark).

 

[Lowland1]

I was up near mt Kenya. Between Nanyuki and Timau.

Large arable farm plus 500 Holstein milkers and 2500 merino ewes.

Wangu Embori.?

 

[Jerry]

Wangu Embori.?

Yes

 

[Oliveau]

I was on the last year of the old NDA course at Shutts and was often told, "Within a year of leaving you will have forgotten most of what you have been taught."
Only one or two things have stuck:
The late Chris Smart in crop husbandry lectures often repeated "We drill too deep." One of the good guys.
Another lecturer {Yates?] who told us to howls of laughter and derision that Gramoxone was useful for weed control in new leys.
Al Costley {Dipstick] leading a practical class in mowers [cutter bar if you please] and pointing to the gearbox dipstick asked us what it was. After a long, long silence he eventually revealed, "That gentlemen is the oil probe."

 

[Lowland1]

Yes

Can you play polo?

 

[Jerry]

Can you play polo?

no. Though used to visit the Nanyuki sports club most weekends.

Pink gin, tennis, golf and a curry.

 

[thesilentone]

Several years ago I was given the opportunity to speak to Bsc students at several Uni's on a specialist subject. Over time, my presentations changed from the nuts and bolts of the subject and what made it happen to the outside influences of what the engine was and the drivers to the whole market place, such as political, environmental, legislative and financial.

The students appreciated this as they had the ability and acumen to understand the basic technology, so understanding why was much more beneficial.

I also gave them a list of Political Agreements, EU Agreements, and Associations that were directly involved on a day-to-day basis should they consider a future in the Industry.

 

[Lowland1]

no. Though used to visit the Nanyuki sports club most weekends.

Pink gin, tennis, golf and a curry.

When I first came to Kenya I was in the same area but across the road. The weekend started on Thursday when they all flew off to play polo leaving me in charge with no idea what was going on or what I was doing. Monday was squash at the Nanyuki sports club. No degree could ever prepare you for Kenya.