NewsletterOctober 2010www.hatanz.com

HATA is the Teachers Association dedicated to the teachers and teaching of Agriculture and Horticulture in New Zealand.

Inside this issue:From the Horticulture President.......................................................................................1Young Country magazine..................................................................................................2The Autumn Muster............................................................................................................3New Zealand DVD Resources...........................................................................................4Agriculture / Horticulture scholarships............................................................................5Numeracy and Literacy Activities.....................................................................................6Keeping in Contact.............................................................................................................6Contributing to the Newsletter..........................................................................................6All the best from the HATANZ Team:...................................................................................6

From the Horticulture President Hi All

Only 23 days left until the seniors go. My, how time flies when you are having fun!After the blizzards and flooding (not to mention the earthquakes!) that many regions have suffered from, it was nice to have some descent weather for the holidays – at least it was where I live! I have just checked our hort block and found many of the plots covered in weeds so there will be plenty of outside work to do in between a bit of revision over the next few weeks.

With the new standards coming into use next year, hopefully you have had a chance to check out the resources which are available on tki for teachers to make decisions about what assessments would be best for their students. Thought needs to be given to the importance of Endorsed Certificates and the balance of external and internal assessments in terms of workload for you and the students. The assessment resources having been trialed with students from around the country over the last few months and some of which will be available for teachers to use as exemplar material to point you in the right direction of what is expected for the different grades. You obviously do not have to use any of the material on tki and can certainly continue to write your own assessments if that suits you better. At my school we will be taking the opportunity to reduce the number of credits on offer at Level One and we will be assessing the three external standards. This will mean that as teachers we will have to up-skill ourselves on livestock but we are actually quite keen on making changes, especially as the students have been interested in animals for a while now. We will also only be using the provided internal assessments as a guide and will aim to write some of our own. We will do this because then we can use those on tki as formative assessments and we will be better able to assess using the old ‘in-class, individual, silent, one hour written assessment’ (it seems that ‘test’ is now a bit of a dirty word!). This will give us a better chance of actually teaching stuff rather than having students spending weeks on research on the internet.

I recently saw some figures from NZQA which showed that in some external achievement standards the number of candidates (NZQA speak for students) has increased by over 200 on last year. This is great news as it shows that schools are interested in pursuing the academic side of

the subject not just the practical, hands on aspect. To give you an idea of the sort of numbers there are, about 1550 aiming to sit 90158 and 500 are registered to sit 90745 at the end of this year.

In the middle of last term a small group of teachers got together in Palmerston North and discussed various aspects at the Scholarship level. This was organised by teachers and run by them and it seems it will increasingly be the way that PD will be provided (or not as the case may be). It took a few keen teachers a bit of time to sort out a venue but really not much more than that, so if you know of some local teachers who would like to get together and share (and that is the most important thing to do) ideas then get in contact. It only takes a short email and before long you could have half a dozen people wanting to meet. School PD budgets should really be used for this sort of thing and you will find that it probably more useful than the old inservice training provided by the college of educations anyway.

Mason SummerfieldHorticulture President

Young Country magazine.

If you have not seen it, get a copy of the magazine ‘Young Country’. Would be great for your classroom or the school library!

Young Country is a magazine for young farmers and agribusiness leaders in New Zealand. It entertains, informs and inspires its readers with stories of people who live on the land or work with people who do. It brings stories of people who are achieving success in their farming business while enjoying the unique lifestyle and character of rural New Zealand.

Young Country gives readers a variety of stories, from in-depth features addressing issues that face the younger generation of farmers to entertaining profiles of people who’ve made agriculture their career and rural New Zealand their home. We focus on the future of agriculture and the people who take us there, whether they be young adults looking to take over the family farm or chief executives facing changing markets. Young Country reflects its readership – ambitious, curious, a tad irreverent and with a robust sense of humour.

Young Country is visually attractive with quality photography used in well-designed layouts. There are regular photo essays bringing readers an insight into otherwise unseen corners of rural New Zealand.

This is a unique publication in the agricultural world. You can now reach the people responsible for the future success of New Zealand's biggest industry.

Young Country is published by NZX Agri in conjunction with New Zealand Young Farmers. The magazine is published six times a year and is available only by subscription of $30. To subscribe to Young Country, phone 0800 852580 or www.youngcountry.co.nz.

The Autumn Muster

The HATA conference For Agriculture & Horticulture Teachers

This is an opportunity for Agriculture and Horticulture teachers to update their knowledge and skills, and discuss current developments.

You will: Gain confidence when aligning requirements of the NZ Curriculum with

Agriculture and Horticulture teaching.

Engage in workshops and field trips.

Participate in new developments in Agriculture and Horticulture production.

Network with Agriculture and Horticulture educators and industry personnel.

Dates: 17 – 21st April, 2011

Venue: Telford Rural Polytechnic, Balclutha

Cost: Live in only $464 (If paid by Early bird date 25/02/11, if paid after this date an additional $100 applies)

Course Organisers: Andrew Thompson, Ross Redpath, Mike Woodlock & Kerry Allen

Registrations close 11 March 2011

New Zealand DVD Resources.

The Film Archive of New Zealand have compiled 3 titles, Viticulture, Aquaculture, and Dairy Industry (an extensive 3 Disk title) aided by Dave Jackson from the Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu with the funding from the MOE which was to be used in their lending library. Unfortunately, the MOE pulled their funding, meaning The Film Archive of New Zealand had to close an enormously successful DVD Library in April. HATA has been able to secure 2 copies of each of these DVD’s to lend out to their members. This will be a loan service where HATA member schools can loan the DVD’s to show their classes. A questionnaire will be provided to fill out for feedback for The Film Archive. We would like a 3 week turn around on the DVDs. All the clips on the DVD’s have been taken from programmes and advertisements from TV New Zealand over last 50 years. Below are brief overview of the contents. More detailed contents of each of the DVD’s have been attached to this newsletter or attached to the email that this newsletter was sent out in. Check out the content pdfs and you'll see how extensive they are. If you are wanting to loan one or all of these DVDs, please let Kerry know via email (james.allen@clear.net.nz), which DVD that you are wanting and the address that you would like it sent to. We hope that you find them useful.

Brief overview of the Dairy Industry:Part of a new series of compiled material on New Zealand Resources aimed at supporting learning experiences in Geography, Agriculture and Horticulture and region specific studies.

Part One: HistoryLooking at the history and the development phases of New Zealand’s dairy industry from its earliest phases to the major industry shakeup in the 1980s. This includes documentary historical overview and a collection of historical footage that includes: early government footage; NZ Milk Board footage; examples from early 1980s Country Calendar; and some must see 1960-1990 television commercials.

Part Two: The Modern IndustryAn overview of the modern industry including: local and boutique supply; breeding and genetics; pasture and feed; animal health and milking; organics; and research.

Part Three: Marketing and Industry StructureCareers and farm ownership: sharemilking, variable (equity, lease etc.) ownership, Māori ownership structures. Industry structure: Westland Milk Company, localised operations, Fonterra. Economic returns - the 2007 and 2008 payouts and ramifications.International trade: dairy exports and Europe 1984, The EEC 1991, DOHA 2005, WTO 2005, Trade and the EU 2006, US export subsidies 2009. Environmental Issues: Canterbury irrigation; environmental planting; Environmental Report 2004; Fish & Game versus the Dairy Industry; Charlie Pederson versus the Greenies; Climate Tax 2006; water catchment priorities; Fonterra after the Melamine fiasco; Greenpeace and the palm kernel debate; Dairy’s public image and TV advertising 2009.

Brief overview of the Aquaculture Industry:

This title looks at the history and the development phases of New Zealand’s aquaculture industry: the pre-farming industry with oysters and lobster, and public collection of paua and mussels; early farming experimentation and consolidation in the 80s; the modern industry in the 90 and 2000s – mussels, oysters, paua, hapuka and kingfish; industry issues – the seabed and foreshore legislation, allocations & customary rights, red tape & industry expansion, environmental concerns. 

Brief overview of the Viticulture Industry:

Part one: This disk begins by looking at the history and the development phases of New Zealand’s wine industry up until the first major incursions into the UK market, the Cloudy Bay phenomena and the wine glut of 1985. The second section looks at regions and varietals using the example of winemakers and vineyards.

Part two: This disk focuses firstly on the vocabulary and characteristics of New Zealand wine and secondly on industry issues and growth.

Agriculture / Horticulture scholarships

ZESPRIZESPRI is offering several scholarships worth $3000 each to secondary school students choosing to study horticulture or related field at a New Zealand tertiary institute.

Applications for the 2010/2011 Zespri Horticulture Scholarships Programme close at 5pm on October 15 2010. The scholarships will be offered at the end of the 2010 year, for study in 2011. Each scholarship is for one year only.

In addition to the cash towards fees, scholarship students also visit ZESPRI. To request a brochure and application form please contact ZESPRI communications coordinator Claire Smart on 0800 15 355 or email claire.smart@zespri.com . Applications forms are available from www.zespri.com.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Scholarships

Ballance Agri-Nutrients offers up to four scholarships per annum to encourage people to enter the agricultural industry. Each scholarship is valued at $4,000 per annum and can be held for a maximum of three years. The awards are made to subsidise study at tertiary level in either the general primary industry field or in engineering.

The company recognises that the continued success of New Zealand's agricultural industry is dependent upon the quality of people it attracts. The changing face of farming, with its increasing reliance on science and technology, means that quality tertiary education plays an even greater role in the industry than in the past. Ballance Scholarships allow New Zealand's talented youth to take advantage of the training on offer in this country.

Ballance Scholarships are open to immediate family members of any Ballance shareholder or company employee.

Applications for the 2011 Ballance Scholarships are now open. Winners will be notified in early December 2010 and results announced publicly in early January 2011.

Enter online here.

Sharing.If anyone would like to share their thoughts on the type of courses or standards that they will be offering next year with reasons behind your thinking, please let us know and we will share it with all the other HATA members. Also if you have any ideas/strategies/worksheets which do actually work and you are willing to share, please send to me as well on james.allen@clear.net.nz. Thanks Kerry.

Numeracy and Literacy Activities

Level 1 Ruminant digestive system mix and match

mouthContains only bottom incisors but a full set of molars for chewing food

oesophagusTube that carries food down to the rumen

rumenSite of carbohydrate digestion. Bacteria and fungi digest the cellulose to make VFA

reticulumBacterial digestion continues here

omasumRemoves excess water from the semi digested material. This water comes from saliva

abomasumThe site of protein digestion by enzymes (chemicals)

duodenumFirst part of the small intestine, carries on digesting protein

pancreasA gland that releases enzymes into the duodenum

liverReceives the blood leaving the small intestines and stores many vitamins and some fat. The attached gall bladder produces bile

Small intestineHas villi and is very long to allow for the absorption of digested material

caecumContains bacteria that carry on digesting any remaining cellulose

colonFirst part of large intestine. Absorbs excess water to form faeces

Rectum Stores faeces until removal via the anus

Animal Reproduction Level 2

CARD GAME to revise Lessons 1 to 7

Teacher InstructionsTake the following terms, enlarge them and place them onto cards. You have several options for use with small groups; as a mix and match activity, card game, flash cards, memory game etc etc

Testes Produce male sperm

Ova Produce female eggs

Optic Nerve Relays the daylight hours to the Retina

Pituitary Gland Receives messages fro the Retina.Produces hormones

Decreasing hours of daylight Received by the Optic Nerve

F S H Follicle Stimulating HormoneTriggers the development of the follicle

Oestrogen Prepares the female reproductive system for pregnancy

Luteotropric Hormone Responsible for Ovulation

Testosterone Hormone produced by the male

Hormones Chemical substance that stimulates the sex glands to activate.

Level 3 Keywords Mix and Match.

Attributes Biological factors

Decision making process

Demand

Factors such as pests, diseases, competition etc that influence production

Involves choosing between alternatives.

Relationship between various market prices of a commodity and the quantities consumers are willing to buy at these prices.

Factors such as supply, demand and supply structure that influence the profitability of an enterprise should be considered in more detail.

Economic factors

Environmental factors

Factors Generic products

Light, temperature, water, nutrients etc. that influence production.

Are single specifics, eg. Soil pH seasonality of rainfall.

Products resulting from a species. Eg, apples, sheep.

Refers to a specific breed/ variety/ cultivar. Eg. Granny smith, merino

Specific products

Gross margins

Locally significant

Nationally significant

A measure of the net income produced by an enterprise after meeting direct costs. Fixed expenses need to be paid for out of this value.

Production only in a specific area with little economic effect on the rest of the country

Production at a level throughout the whole country, or in specific parts of the country, of major economic importance.

The factors that influence the size and structure of the market.

Market Marketing Market Market

forces manipulations opportunity

Process of bringing together buyers and sellers to exchange goods and services

The introduction of measures that artificially affect supply and demand for a product

Ias a point or time of sale where demand for a product exists.

Historical changes that occur in demand that affect resulting prices and allow market forecasts to be made.

Market trends

Primary producer

organisation

Principles Supply

Groups representing producers that have influence on, and can manipulate the market for a specific commodity

Are broad fundamentals, eg. Laws of nature/economics.

The amount of product or commodity available on the market at any given time.

Characteristics that are present in the generic product at harvest that affect marketability

66 WORD SUMMARY for class, and the topic is

After reading through the text, try to write a summary using exactly 66 words. The aim is to fill in every box and have a better understanding of what you have read.

You should finish with a summary paragraph not just a list of words.

Thinking Map / Pictionary Diagrams / Organiser

Keeping in Contact.Please let us know if you change your email contact, address or job! We love to hear from you and we want to stay in touch!

Contributing to the Newsletter.Please feel free to contribute an item of interest, a news item, an interesting website or in fact anything. If you do have a contribution to the HATANZ Newsletter, please contact Kerry (james.allen@clear.net.nz).

All the best from the HATANZ Team:Kerry Allen james.allen@clear.net.nzTrudy Gee geetr@tbhs.schoolzone.net.nzMason Summerfield summerfield.mason@lindisfarne.school.nz