Primary industries education boosted by funding

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, announced on 11 May 2012 that the Government has continued its commitment to agriculture by providing the Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) with $225,000 in funding support over the next three years ... read more.

May 2012 newsletter

PIEF May 2012 newsletter ... read more.

It's time to train for the future

It is no secret that Australia is headed for a skills shortage in the next 10 to 15 years if it doesn't act quickly to train more young people ... read more.

Worrying levels of knowledge about agriculture in schools

A survey released by PIEF shows that student and teacher knowledge of food and fibre production has declined to worrying levels. It reveals that 75 per cent of students thought cotton socks were an animal product and 45 per cent could not identify that everyday lunchbox items such as a banana, bread and cheese originated from farms. The survey is a wake-up call to government says PIEF's Chair, Dr Cameron Archer.

... read media release, read survey. The survey was undertaken for PIEF by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) ... read ACER newsletter re the survey.

PIEF acknowledges DAFF, Woolworths and PIEF members Meat and Livestock Australia, Forest and Wood Products Australia, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Australian Egg Corporation Limited and Cotton Australia as supporters of the survey.

Professional agriculture - supply and demand

Professor Jim Pratley, Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture, has released an occasional paper on the supply and demand for agricultural graduates that highlights the shortage ... read more.

Australian Year of the Farmer - video

Australian Year of the Farmer has produced a video on farm productivity ... watch the video.

Fears for farming as students ignore agriculture

Professor Ian Chubb at the University of Western Sydney's Hawkesbury campus fears for farming's future as students ignore agriculture ... read more.

Phase One of 'primezone'

Our website 'www.primezone.edu.au' is becoming a one-stop web portal of primary industries resources for schools and the community. The site is expanding and will be searchable by the Australian Curriculum when finalised. We welcome feedback and information about resources that teachers are using and recommend to others. We are keen to promote news and events related to primary industries education via our website.