Community
25 July, 2025
Seed demo site for TAFE students
AGRICULTURAL students at South West TAFE will learn from the ground up with a new industry seed demonstration site at the Glenormiston campus.
As part of a partnership with AGF Seeds, 25 different varieties of grasses are being trialled on the old football oval.
South West TAFE head of industry, land and engineering, Ed Roache, said the new demonstration site would broaden the learning experience for students.
The students will play an active role in maintaining the site, applying what they’ve learned in the classroom as they monitor and support the growth of each seed variety.
“We want our students to experience the world of agriculture as far and wide as possible,” Mr Roache said.
“We’ve got the ability for students to get hands-on with livestock, pastures and machinery, this adds to that practical training by incorporating the world of agronomy, plants, grass and soils.”
Mr Roache said that through the hands-on approach, students would get an understanding “that grass isn’t just grass”.
“Students will get to learn that you get different outcomes with different varieties and that different soil types affect growth. It’s bringing a practical element to their studies.”
Most of the students are off farms and can relate this experience back to their properties.
“The beauty of this is that we’re partnering with industry,” Mr Roache said.
“If we work with industry, we know we’re going to get the best practice and outcomes for students.”
South West TAFE has more than 70 agricultural students at Glenormiston, ranging from Certificate II through to a Diploma of Agriculture.
Mr Roache said it was also hoped the demonstration trials would inspire students to look at the many different future pathways in agriculture which could lead to further studies.
AGF Seeds sales agronomist Rhys Cottam-Starkey said the company wanted to showcase some of its varieties to the area and South West TAFE wanted a demonstration plot for teaching students about growing different species.
“We put the two together and it’s something that will benefit everyone,” Mr Cottam-Starkey said.
The site is germinating at the moment and it is hoped that grower open days will be on offer in coming months.
“We have about 20 different species as well as some mixed species so we’re going to show the differences, especially what is going to be your best seed for quick feed in years when we have a really late break and dry summer,” Mr Cottam-Starkey said.
