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  • Apply for CAFRE’s Level 2 Agricultural Business Operations course

    Date published: 1 July 2025

    Are you working in Agriculture and would like to achieve a formal qualification?

    Mark Kelly from Dungannon completed his Level 2 Agriculture Business Operations course in dairy production through part-time study at Loughry Campus.

    Applications are being accepted to study part-time on the Agricultural Business Operations course delivered by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Applications for the Level 2 Certificate course can be made online at: www.cafre.ac.uk and will be accepted up to Thursday 31 July 2025.

    Course Manager, Kenneth Johnston, explained: “The course will be delivered one night per week over 20 weeks from September 2025 until February 2026. We use a blended approach of online and face to face delivery at the three CAFRE campuses of Greenmount, Loughry and Enniskillen. Learners can select which enterprise to study with classes in beef, sheep, crops and dairying being offered.”

    Mark Kelly from Dungannon, completed the dairy production course at Loughry Campus earlier in the year commenting: “I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot from it. The course suited me as it was held in the evenings with flexibility of both online and face-to-face delivery. I have always had a keen interest in farming having grown up on a farm with suckler cows and beef cattle. After leaving school I completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked in the industry before returning home to farm. Having invested in a new dairy unit five years ago I was keen to gain more knowledge about dairy production. The Level 2 course met my needs and provided me with a formal qualification in agriculture.

    “Completing the course enabled me to meet with others, with different farming backgrounds and reasons to be there. I enjoyed the course and really increased my knowledge of dairy production. I especially enjoyed the visit to a Technology Demonstration Farm which opened my eyes to technologies and innovations which I previously hadn’t considered. I have no hesitation in recommending the course to anyone interested in agriculture and hoping to achieve a worthwhile qualification. The course has given me additional confidence to make more informed management decisions,” added Mark. 

    Applications are now open to study for a part-time Level 2 qualification. Classes are delivered on Monday to Wednesday evenings; however, days will become more limited as classes fill up. It is recommended that you apply early to ensure you secure a place on an evening that best suits you. The cost of the course is £150.

    If you require any assistance when booking, please contact: CAFRE Industry Training Administration on 028 9442 6880 or email: Industry.TrainingAdmin@daera-ni.gov.uk

    Notes to editors:

    1. Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
    2. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.

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