Macra Agricultural Skillnet, established by its contracting organisation Macra in 2015, is one of the major networks serving Macra members, those involved in farming, and a wide range of agri businesses.
Its purpose is to drive upskilling and sustainability on all levels in the industry. This is achieved by developing and delivering a wide-ranging programme of subsidised training events, further education and development opportunities.
Macra Agricultural Skillnet significantly contributes to the work of Macra through joint delivery across a range of programmes.
The network supports Macra clubs and regions, its Young Famer Development Groups and discussion groups in delivering and part-funding local training needs which include workshops, information sessions and technical seminars.
Here is a flavour of what Macra Agricultural Skillnet has to offer in the coming months from Hoofcare, DIY AI, to UCD Professional Academy courses and the Macra Podcast.
Macra Agricultural Skillnet
Hoofcare
It offers professional Hoofcare programme for farmers who wish to upskill or take up a career in hoof trimming. The course is both theory and practical-based and runs for 11 days in total.
In order to gain the full professional qualification, participants will go on to complete a number of practical check days and assessment days
There are a number of Hoofcare courses running, with the below coming up shortly:
- april 24-27, in Clane, Co. Kildare;
- May 2-5, in Co. Donegal.
The four-day course cost is €1155. It is payable as a deposit of €350 and participants will be invoiced for the balance of €805, or €840 for non-members of Macra. Full payment must be received in advance of the start date of course.
To book a place on these hoofcare courses, click here.
IGFA courses
This course is for those in a feed business dealing with the production, supply chain and manufacture of medicated feed. Following the training session, a link will be sent to participants to complete a multiply choice quiz.
After successfully passing this quiz, participants will receive a certificate of attendance via email (within two weeks of completion).Two dates available to attend.
This course will be delivered online from 9:30a.m to 11:30a.m on Tuesday, June 24, by Cornelia O’Connell, Irish Grain and Feed Association (IGFA), who has been involved in the Irish feed industry for over 20 years and with the European Feed Industry medicated feed task force.
For those that can’t make that date, there will be another course delivered online on Tuesday, July 4, at the same time.
This course will cover the following areas:
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) general understanding;
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and animal feed;
- Medicated feed manufacturing regulations Europe;
- Medicated feed manufacturing regulations Ireland;
- Manufacturing MF – best practice.
The cost per participant is €75 for members of IGFA, with an additional small surcharge of €35 for non members.
To book your place, click here.
Macra Agricultural Skillnet also part-funds the following courses with IGFA:
- Feed labelling and feed claims online course;
- Feed regulations and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) for animal feed manufacturing;
- Feed Safety Management System for retailers and wholesales of Animal Feed.
To find out more about these courses, click here.
UCD Professional Academy courses
Macra Agricultural Skillnet is partnering once again with University College Dublin (UCD) Professional Academy to deliver a range of substantially subsidised short programmes across IT and digital, management, marketing, leadership, finance and much more.
These courses are delivered in many formats to suit career and lifestyle including full-time online, on-campus and part-time morning and evening courses, with a range of start dates from March and onwards.
See the UCD Professional Academy website for details of all available courses, delivery options, and start dates.
Book and pay on the Macra Agricultural Skillnet website, when you have done so please email [email protected] or phone; 01 426 8905 for access to our preferred course and dates.
DIY AI
Macra Agricultural Skillnet organise week-long courses in do-it-yourself (DIY) artificial insemination (AI) on a monthly basis. This course will commence on Monday, May 8, and run to Friday, May 12.
The first day, which is a theory day, will be online over Zoom and the subsequent days will be on farm in the Kildare/ Wicklow area.
Participants will be contacted by Dunmasc Genetics with details of location, times and any other relevant information a number of days before the course commences
To book your place, click here.
Scanning
There are various Ultrasound Scanning courses taking place over the coming month.
Macra Agricultural Skillnet is organising courses in Bovine Ultrasound Scanning. The complete Ultrasound Scanning Course is delivered in four phases.
Participants may have an interest in completing phases to suit their learning needs, from a basic knowledge to advanced ultrasound scanning.
Phase one of the overall Ultrasound Scanning Course Offering is a four-day course covering the finding and examination of reproductive organs, palpitation of cows to identify and understand open cows, pregnant cows and structures on the ovaries. No scanner is used.
The course is ideal for farmers who want to improve understanding of gestation and reproduction; vets who want to earn continual professional development (CPD) points are welcome.
Participants must have completed an AI course in order to undertake a scanning course. Phase one training costs €490.
Please note that the four different phases in the scanning programme must be completed in sequence.
To book your place, click here.
Macra podcast
Macra Agricultural Skillnet is proud to support the Macra Podcast, which discusses all things related to young people in Ireland.
Hosted by Macra, a youth organisation established over 75 years ago which focuses on effecting change for young people in Ireland, the podcast explores the issues affecting young people mainly between the ages of 17-35, but also wider topics that affect a broader demographic.
A spotlight is shone on the issues affecting young farmers and the youth of Ireland while also discussing the internal workings of Macra and how members benefit from being part of a large youth organisation.
Hosted by Macra members, it hopes to engage young people both in the organisation and also outside of it.
You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Acast and on the Macra website here.
Visit www.macraskillnet.ie for more information, or follow Macra on social media.
