He said a second and third stage of the pilot would be released next year as the apprentice scheme developed to meet the needs which people wanted.
Mr Lewis qualified to farm management level through the former national farm cadet scheme before going lower-order sharemilking.
The cadet scheme was wound up by 1990s budget cuts and he said the new apprentice programme would now offer a premium pathway for people wanting to work in the dairy industry, reducing reliance on migrant labour.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has estimated New Zealand will need an extra 50,000 qualified workers in the primary sector in the next eight years.
Federated Farmers will support the employers of dairy farm apprentices with a new farm charter providing workshops and other training in employment contracts, health and safety, payroll procedures, staff mentoring and other issues designed so farmers could pass a Department of Labour audit and meet industry-best standards.
Primary ITO chief executive Dr Linda Sissons said her organisation had been working alongside Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, which was adding the apprentice pre-work skills programme to pre-employment programmes they already ran.
"As the Federated Farmers apprenticeship pilot progresses, Primary ITO will connect with other pre-employment courses around New Zealand to assist appropriate people into apprenticeships," she said.
"As the end of the school year approaches, we will be aiming to recruit school leavers who have been involved in Trades Academy schools programmes in the primary industries. We will also be working with NZ Young Farmers to get the message out to their TeenAg clubs in schools."
Completion of an apprenticeship would include proven ability of practical farming skills and the achievement of NZQA-recognised qualifications at Level 3 and Level 4 through Primary ITO. These qualifications will cover skills including animal husbandry, animal feeding and animal breeding.
Assessments to achieve the NZQA qualifications would involve apprentices demonstrating the ability to apply their knowledge into the workplace, rather than exams.
Dr Sissons said career development was a focus of the scheme. "We want our apprentices to grow their careers and to put them on the track to leadership through clearly defined pathways and support. We have ambitious aims for them. We want them to become farm managers and owners one day."
