Green Certificate Farm Training Program

Green Certificate Farm Training Program

Last Reviewed: April 2009

The Program

In cooperation with industry, Saskatchewan Agriculture's Regional Services Branch administers an apprenticeship style, on-farm skill-training program called the Green Certificate Farm Training Program. This program has been adopted from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development where it has been running since 1975. Trainees can acquire skills in one of several agricultural sectors, including feedlot, cow/calf, dairy, sheep, crop, irrigated crop production, and aerial application. Three levels of training are available in each area covering skills for technicians, production supervisors, and managers/owners. Program training starts at the Technician Level and where desired, progresses to Supervisor and on to Business Manager. This program provides practical hands-on training curriculum for agriculture in Saskatchewan.

Training as an Investment

Profits in today's global marketplace come from the competent use of knowledge and skills to operate farms. Under the practical Green Certificate training system, farmers can develop and retain the competent staff they need to meet their farm's business goals.

Why Train?

Training improves the profitability of the farm operation by improving technical skills, knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and production efficiency. Improved work ethic and work performance also result from the increase in self-esteem, job status and image that result from training. The Green Certificate Farm Training Program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a farming career.

Participants agree to:

• Obtain all the necessary information and resources to complete the training process.
• Actively plan and carry out all the necessary on-the-job instruction and/or learning.
• Seek and utilize all available materials, resources and courses to increase skills and knowledge.
• Regularly assess competence according to the training objectives outlined in the curriculum.
• Participate in regular program testing sessions.

Government Support

Funding for the program is provided by Saskatchewan Agriculture. This funding provides administration and training tools such as curriculums, books, and certification. Current resource materials used are produced by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

What does it cost you?

Employers: Time and facilities for on-the-job training, staff release time and time to develop training skills.

Trainees: Required to contribute time for training, and cover some travel expenses for test days.

What we are looking for?

Trainees:

• Need to have a sincere desire to develop or upgrade their skills.
• Must possess basic skills in reading and writing, and be at least 15 years old.
• High school trainees are eligible for high school credits when the Green Certificate Farm Training Program is used in relation to the school-based Agricultural Production Technician Curriculum (ATEC). ATEC is the Green Certificate Farm Training Program adapted for classroom curriculum by a certified teacher. Students can earn up to three credits from grades 10-12 for one course. For example, cow-calf production technician.
• Must currently be employed on a farm or have access to a training farm.

Trainers:

• Supervises the trainee on a day-to-day basis.
• Spends time in personal training and testing and has a genuine interest in effective staff management.
• Will be trained and supervised in the role of teacher and coach.

Farm Training Sites:

A suitable training farm has:

• Equipment and facilities to allow training on every core skill listed in the Green Certificate Farm Training Program.
• A minimum of five years successful business experience in the area being trained.
• Sufficient enterprise size and cash flow to employ an apprentice trainee.
  

Family Businesses:

Family members are encouraged to apply.

Saskatchewan Agriculture administers a program in Saskatchewan called the Green Certificate Farm Training Program. This program is a way of conducting staff training on Saskatchewan farms, or in the agriculture industry. Funding is provided by Saskatchewan Agriculture. The Green Certificate Farm Training Program strives to be a farming oriented program. Its goal is to train individuals to competently fill key roles in the farming industry.

The Green Certificate Farm Training Program's objectives are:

• To develop technical and managerial skills in those desiring to enter or continue a career in farming.
• To provide the means for certifying the achievement of skills by a formalized practical testing system.
• To develop and maintain a base of competent employees for the agriculture industry.
• To increase knowledge in farm management and improve human resource planning in agriculture.
• To encourage students to carry on with further education in agriculture or veterinary medicine.

Agriculture Sectors Covered by the Green Certificate Farm Training Program

The Green Certificate Farm Training Program currently covers several areas or skill profiles in agriculture, including:

• cow/calf beef production
• feedlot production
• sheep production
• dairy production
• crop production
• irrigated crop production
• aerial application

Training is structured around these seven skill profiles, which list all the competencies (skills or tasks) required for proficiency in a particular training area.

How the Program Works

In each of the agriculture areas, there are three levels of training:

• Level 1: The first level is production technician training, which is on-the-job training focusing on the practical aspects of farming. These skills are essential for basic employment on a Saskatchewan farm.
• Level 2: The second level is production supervisor/manager training, which includes a mixture of on-the-job training and self study, with some written assignments and testing required. This set of job skills is relatively complex and requires a significant amount of decision making ability, as well as physical dexterity.
• Level 3: The third level is farm business management and business plan training and is meant for individuals who will become major decision makers or owners/operators in a farming operation. In Saskatchewan, trainees who progress through Levels 1 and 2 will be encouraged to register in the Certificate in Agriculture Program (CAP) from the Centre of Continuing and Distance Education at the University of Saskatchewan.

The program's main goal is to help participants receive a training curriculum representing the skills needed to obtain the Green Certificate. The trainee receives most of his or her training through apprenticeship-like, on-the-job training under a competent trainer-farmer. The farmer is also responsible for the major assessment of the trainee's proficiency in farm skills. The trainer will sign off each skill in the skill profile as the trainee becomes competent in the skill. Trainees are evaluated by a Green Certificate tester on the basis of the ability to demonstrate specific skills. The tester is a person who is currently in the industry at a farming level (performs or supervises the same tasks routinely) and is generally involved in the program as a trainer.

Trainees progress at their own rate. Once all of the evaluations are complete and the trainee is deemed competent in all skills, he or she will be awarded the appropriate level of the Green Certificate.

Saskatchewan Agriculture is working in co-operation with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Alberta has been running their Green Certificate Farm Training Program since 1975, with full industry support. The specific skills which form the basis of the curriculum were identified by Alberta farmers in the various industry specializations and cover the job entry requirements for those specializations. Training content and acceptable standards of proficiency were also established with the majority of input from farmers. Materials have been adopted for use in Saskatchewan.

The Green Certificate Farm Training Program provides managers with the curriculum materials required to train staff for the skills necessary for employment in agricultural industries. This can work to enhance growth in such industries by supplying skilled workers.

Research has shown that training aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of employees can improve production and positively affect the self-esteem and work ethic of the staff. The Green Certificate Farm Training Program is committed to bringing these benefits to agriculture operations in Saskatchewan.

Contact:

For additional information or to apply for the program, contact:

Jim Birch, PAg
Coordinator, Training and Skills Development
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Regional Services Branch
226-3085 Albert Street
Regina, Sk, S4S 0B1
Tel: (306)787-8191