Our younger readers will be familiar with vehicle simulation through playing video games, which provide a realistic interpretation of driving cars, planes and other vehicles. However, simulation has been regarded as an essential training tool in educational institutions and in business for many years to train pilots, and drivers of trucks, trains, trams and other vehicles.
Now, for the first time in Ireland, a John Deere simulator is in operation to train forest harvester and forwarder operators. Last week, Andrew Doyle launched this new initiative in Ballyhaise College along with a new forest machine operator training programme.
Purchased by Teagasc with funding from the Forest Service, the use of a simulator is a new approach to training operators of modern harvesting machinery in Ireland. Forest industry representatives, through the Forest Harvesting Training Forum, support the initiative as it allows trainees to work in a complex technical process so that supervisors can identify their aptitude to work in a highly technical environment. This can save considerable time and money as the cost of training on real machinery can be prohibitive for new entrants.
The course, along with other forestry courses in Ballyhaise, is preparing the sector for increased activity over the coming years, especially in harvesting. However, planting, harvesting and maintenance activity can only increase if there is a sufficient number of trained operators and contractors on the ground to carry out the work.
Between Coillte and the private forestry sector, a continuous supply of highly skilled operators will be required over the next decade to plant, harvest, construct roads, transport logs and carry out maintenance work in our forests. This was acknowledged by Minister Doyle in Ballyhaise. “Recruitment and training are necessary to maintain standards and to maximise the timber resource potential,” he said.
“This strategic approach to upskilling existing operators and introducing new operators is essential for maintaining a sustainable forest industry and rural economy,” Minister Doyle maintained.
Revenue
“A vibrant forestry sector provides an important source of revenue for the rural economy, but the increase in timber production requires a trained workforce to enable harvesting, extraction and transporting of this timber. The training programme being put in place will deliver recognised certification for students and is an important step in underpinning this sector,” he added.
The simulator training initiative is just one of many forestry programmes in Ballyhaise. “The established Level 5 and Level 6 forestry courses currently deliver comprehensive training in forest safety, sustainable forestry, environment, silviculture and forest calculations as standard,” said Marianne Lyons, forestry lecturer at Ballyhaise.
“A practical learning period is also a requirement of the course,” she said. “New entrants into the forest harvesting industry are advised to complete a minimum of a Level 5 forestry qualification before embarking on the harvesting machine skills qualification. Existing operators who are not in a position to attend full-time courses will still be able to fulfil various assessment criteria to become certified and qualified to the proposed recognised Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) level.”
She said that the machine harvesting programme recognises for the first time the range of skills and knowledge necessary to be a professional harvesting operator and complements the existing industry standard. “The forest machine operator training programme will allow individuals access to a structured, quality assured training process, which is supported and recognised at all levels of the industry,” she maintained.
The courses comprise three separate harvesting components:
Forwarder operator: extraction of timber from forest to forest road.Harvester operator: select, fell and segregate logs in thinnings to ensure optimum production as well as ensuring the quality of the remaining crop.Harvester operator: clearfelling or final harvest.The training resources will be accessible to new entrants and existing operators with options to advance and build on training and education, if desired. Computerised high-spec harvesting machines and forwarders have changed the face of timber harvesting in Ireland in recent years. The Ballyhaise course not only acknowledges this but also provides career opportunities for skilled operators in forest harvesting.
Further information on course content and application forms are available by contacting Teagasc, Ballyhaise College, Co Cavan, by emailing ballyhaise.
college@teagasc.ie or call 049-4338108.
Our younger readers will be familiar with vehicle simulation through playing video games, which provide a realistic interpretation of driving cars, planes and other vehicles. However, simulation has been regarded as an essential training tool in educational institutions and in business for many years to train pilots, and drivers of trucks, trains, trams and other vehicles.
Now, for the first time in Ireland, a John Deere simulator is in operation to train forest harvester and forwarder operators. Last week, Andrew Doyle launched this new initiative in Ballyhaise College along with a new forest machine operator training programme.
Purchased by Teagasc with funding from the Forest Service, the use of a simulator is a new approach to training operators of modern harvesting machinery in Ireland. Forest industry representatives, through the Forest Harvesting Training Forum, support the initiative as it allows trainees to work in a complex technical process so that supervisors can identify their aptitude to work in a highly technical environment. This can save considerable time and money as the cost of training on real machinery can be prohibitive for new entrants.
The course, along with other forestry courses in Ballyhaise, is preparing the sector for increased activity over the coming years, especially in harvesting. However, planting, harvesting and maintenance activity can only increase if there is a sufficient number of trained operators and contractors on the ground to carry out the work.
Between Coillte and the private forestry sector, a continuous supply of highly skilled operators will be required over the next decade to plant, harvest, construct roads, transport logs and carry out maintenance work in our forests. This was acknowledged by Minister Doyle in Ballyhaise. “Recruitment and training are necessary to maintain standards and to maximise the timber resource potential,” he said.
“This strategic approach to upskilling existing operators and introducing new operators is essential for maintaining a sustainable forest industry and rural economy,” Minister Doyle maintained.
Revenue
“A vibrant forestry sector provides an important source of revenue for the rural economy, but the increase in timber production requires a trained workforce to enable harvesting, extraction and transporting of this timber. The training programme being put in place will deliver recognised certification for students and is an important step in underpinning this sector,” he added.
The simulator training initiative is just one of many forestry programmes in Ballyhaise. “The established Level 5 and Level 6 forestry courses currently deliver comprehensive training in forest safety, sustainable forestry, environment, silviculture and forest calculations as standard,” said Marianne Lyons, forestry lecturer at Ballyhaise.
“A practical learning period is also a requirement of the course,” she said. “New entrants into the forest harvesting industry are advised to complete a minimum of a Level 5 forestry qualification before embarking on the harvesting machine skills qualification. Existing operators who are not in a position to attend full-time courses will still be able to fulfil various assessment criteria to become certified and qualified to the proposed recognised Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) level.”
She said that the machine harvesting programme recognises for the first time the range of skills and knowledge necessary to be a professional harvesting operator and complements the existing industry standard. “The forest machine operator training programme will allow individuals access to a structured, quality assured training process, which is supported and recognised at all levels of the industry,” she maintained.
The courses comprise three separate harvesting components:
Forwarder operator: extraction of timber from forest to forest road.Harvester operator: select, fell and segregate logs in thinnings to ensure optimum production as well as ensuring the quality of the remaining crop.Harvester operator: clearfelling or final harvest.The training resources will be accessible to new entrants and existing operators with options to advance and build on training and education, if desired. Computerised high-spec harvesting machines and forwarders have changed the face of timber harvesting in Ireland in recent years. The Ballyhaise course not only acknowledges this but also provides career opportunities for skilled operators in forest harvesting.
Further information on course content and application forms are available by contacting Teagasc, Ballyhaise College, Co Cavan, by emailing ballyhaise.
college@teagasc.ie or call 049-4338108.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: