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ABC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Agriculture subjects introduced at Perth high schools amid skills shortage
Finn Sugars is just one of many year 12 students trying to figure out his next chapter in life before his upcoming graduation. "I think I want to go to university, but I want to go into data analytics and finance in agriculture," he said. Finn is enrolled in the recently developed Agribusiness ATAR course at Guildford Grammar, to equip year 11 and 12 students with practical knowledge and technical skills needed for modern careers as the farming workforce ages. "So far we've learnt about free-trade agreements with different countries, how Australia sits in international markets, things like that," Finn said. He added that being surrounded by boarders sparked his curiosity around agriculture, considering he didn't grow up on a farm. "I've been able to visit places like Corrigin, to understand more about sheep, the price of them, different types of breeding," he said. As part of the subject, Guildford students had been given access to local agribusinesses and the chance to engage directly with local producers. Western Australia's largest citrus producer Moora Citrus's chief executive officer Shane Kay said his business needed people who could work with technology. "Businesses like ours are moving towards using more and more technology; you need those experienced people to run certain aspects of the business," Mr Kay said. "There has always been a lack in that middle-management area where you might want irrigation managers or people who understand computers, you need them to be able to run and manage those. Scotch College is another Perth school in the early phases of ATAR agribusiness. Teacher James Rees said there was an increase in students choosing agribusiness at the school. "We have 22 students who have enrolled to take the course next year, that's up from nine students this year," Mr Rees said. He believes the potential of this type of education is limited only by the capabilities and expertise of the teaching staff. "I think understanding how primary production works is important. The barrier is finding schools that are willing to take the risk on a new subject and allocate the resources to that," Mr Rees said. Further south of Perth, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar is collaborating with the University of WA (UWA) to assist in exploring innovative ways to apply science and technology to support the future of farming. UWA's Andrew Guzzomi said farming machinery was becoming more sophisticated and would need people to develop and use it. "I think it is because of a lack of exposure. "It's not just me that has noticed this gap. Skills Australia has officially recognised that there is an area lacking in these skills. He said their work had received strong support. "At the University of Western Australia we are fortunate to have funding from the federal government and the Grains Research Development Centre to address these needs." Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School principal Matthew O'Brien said the school's journey toward greater agricultural engagement began two years ago with the leasing of land to establish a school farm. "The business of farming is becoming more complex, we have parents coming to us asking, 'What are we doing as a school to develop this?'" he said. "So we are developing a program to assist with those science and business skills, with the help of Andrew and UWA." Mr O'Brien said the school had deliberately chosen not to offer ATAR agricultural subjects at this stage, as part of a considered strategic approach. "We are wanting to build first the pipeline earlier on so then the students have the desire to do the agricultural ATAR subjects with integrity when we get to that point."
ABC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Favourable conditions hint at fruitful citrus season across Australia
Challenging weather, labour issues and low stock have hit Australian citrus growers for the past few seasons, but this year could turn things around and break the industry export record. In Moora, 170 kilometres north-east of Perth, the tough conditions brought by recent seasons have taught growers a number of important lessons. Moora Citrus is the largest citrus producer in Western Australia, with an estimated 10,000 tonnes of fruit expected to be picked across its three Mid West orchards. Chief executive Shane Kay said 2024 had been a particularly light year. "We average around 8,000 tonnes per year and we were below that," Mr Kay said. Mr Kay grows lemons, mandarins and grapefruit, but it is the oranges he has his eye on right now. Cold weather is required to turn the fruit from green to orange on the tree. Once picked, packing sheds then use equipment which grades fruit based on blemishes. Marked fruit will go to lower priced offerings, while first grade product is sold to retailers locally or exported internationally to markets which pay a premium for high quality fruit. Though the colour does not affect the taste or internal makeup of the fruit, Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock said appearance had a massive influence on the price. "In Australia in particular, we've sort of been coached into believing that fruit mustn't have any blemishes on the outside," Mr Hancock said. He said production across Australia would be strong in 2025, as well as demand from international markets. Export demand has been strong enough to potentially break the record tonnage sent out of Australia, which was set in 2019 at 304,000 tonnes and had an export value of $541 million. Chinese markets took the majority of exported fruit, importing 83,000 tonnes. Last year over 280,000 tonnes of citrus were exported, with a value of $590 million. Most international markets for citrus sit in Asia, with large volumes going to Japan, China and Thailand as well as the United States, Canada and United Arab Emirates. "The fruit size is looking good as well. We need fruit to be of a certain size for it to be in that profitable market range because cost of production in Australia is very, very high," Mr Hancock said. One of the biggest costs facing growers is wages. "Our wage costs have just continued to climb and it's not really aligned with the returns we get," Mr Kay said. "So that's causing some challenges; we're trying to find ways of increasing production and improving efficiencies." In his Moora orchard, Mr Kay is implementing a three-hectare trial block of protective netting. It has so far proven successful, helping to decrease wind impact and water use. "We're doing a cost-benefit analysis of that right now, because it's not cheap," Mr Kay said. "But there are some really good water savings which is important."
