New woolshed for Taratahi

A new woolshed for Taratahi Agriculture Training Farm was opened this month by Agriculture and Forestry Minister David Carter to accommodate the rising number of students.
Student numbers at Taratahi have more than doubled since 2008 and sheep and beef manager Paul Crick said the original woolshed at Mangarata was "very rundown" and not suitable for running shearing courses.
"With the increase in student numbers comes the need for more resources to ensure quality learning opportunities.
"Taratahi's growth is a clear signal that there is a great demand for our form of agricultural training and we are committed to continue growing to meet learner and industry demand which are critical to our country's economy, employment, environment and national identity."
Mr Crick said one of the most vital ingredients for the future of farming was education.
"Young people entering the agricultural industry are our future and, at Taratahi and other training providers, we are giving them the skills and confidence to learn essential and practical skills as well as to move with new technologies and embrace change.
"Change is a constant factor in running a sheep and beef business."
Mr Crick said it was important to not "anchor them down" with traditional ways and perceptions of sheep and beef farming.
"It is important for young people to know the value of a hard day's work and to learn the importance of being reliable and having a positive attitude, but it is equally valuable that we don't anchor them down.
"This is not about trying to reinvent the wheel, it's about harnessing the experience and history that has gone before us along with embracing new technologies and raising our awareness of the environmental issues in order to reprioritise what we do and why we do it."
Mr Crick also outlined his vision for the future of farming as $7kg for lamb, $5kg for wool, $4.50kg for beef and $8kg for venison.
"Upon reflection, this is probably more like an hallucination.
"Not only do we live in changing times, but we operate at the mercy of the market and mother nature."
The market was changing and will "never go back to the way it was. We are being challenged continuously by our customers to provide not only more information about the origin of our products, but also the manner in which they have been farmed as well as their potential environmental impact."
Ever-changing and unpredictable Mother Nature was another major force farmers had to contend with.
"No amount of marketing or slick sales talk will change her mind. We are quite literally at the mercy of the climate and we have started experiencing more climate extremes.
"The good news, however, is that despite these times from the mid-80s on, throughout the changes, hardships and adversity, innovation has come about through necessity."
Of the realistic future, Mr Crick said the vision for sheep and beef farming had to be sustainability - financially and environmentally.
"The key drivers for this are innovation, technology and education," he said. "Our businesses need to strive to be profitable through production, along with a focus on improving the environment and to work within our climatic constraints while meeting the market's needs."