BY GARY HASLEM, SHORT COURSE MANAGER, CAFRE - GREENMOUNT CAMPUS

Lambing season is drawing to an end on most farms across Northern Ireland and the farm is returning to normality and routine.

The last thing on the minds of most shepherds will be shearing. However, as in every year, no sooner is lambing finishing on the hill farms than shearing will be starting on the lowland farms. Any shepherd will tell you that the secrets of a successful shearing day can be summed up in three ways. Be prepared, hope for good weather and have a shearer who knows what they are doing!

At the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) we can help with the preparation and having a shearer that knows what they're doing. CAFRE, in conjunction with the British Wool Marketing Board's shearer training team, are holding a series of shearer training courses across Northern Ireland in May and June.

These courses are aimed at everyone - from the complete novice to the competition/contract shearer - and cover every aspect of the shearing process from setting up the equipment and pens to packing and presenting the fleece for sale.

The training courses are to be held in the following locations;

Saintfield, Claudy, Castlederg, Maguiresbridge, Ballycastle, Glenwherry, Kilcoo, Glenariff or Draperstown. The courses last for two days, with many being run on Friday-Saturdays, starting at 9.30 am and finishing around 4.30 pm (or when the last sheep is shorn).

With the short season for shearing and the demand for places on these courses, places are allocated on a first come / first served basis. With the course being free to farmers, their employees and their family members it is important to book early to avoid disappointment.

For further information and an application form contact the Short Course Administration at Greenmount Campus on 028 9442 6704 or e-mail tochalene.graffin@dardni.gov.uk