If you think your future lies in fields, forests or farms, you should investigate the range of courses offered by Teagasc. The agriculture and food development authority offers residential and non-residential courses in 15 colleges - 11 agricultural and four horticultural.

Courses include general agriculture, horse breeding and training (see opposite page), pig production, poultry production, forestry, farm machinery, production horticulture and ornamental and leisure horticulture.

Dr David O'Connor, Teagasc's head of education, says that in terms of numbers the biggest course is the certificate in agriculture - about 900 students are doing this course each year.

"It's aimed at young farmers and people who want to work in the agriculture industry," he says. "About 200 of these students will not have come from farm backgrounds." The one-year course is offered at all of the 11 agricultural colleges.

A three-year farm apprenticeship, organised by the Farm Apprenticeship Board, provides an alternative route into agriculture for those who don't come from farms, says O'Connor.

If students wish to continue studies after the certificate in agriculture, there are a number of courses in specialist areas such as farm machinery, pigs, poultry and dairying. These two-year courses are usually divided between time spent in college and work experience.

Students who complete the certificate in agriculture can also do a certificate in farming (general agriculture). This involves a further two years' work experience on the home farm or another farm - at least 12 weeks must be spent on a farm other than the home farm. They must also do project work and 80 hours of formal course work.

People already working on farms, who don't want to go to college on a full-time basis, can do the certificate in farming by attending part-time courses at the local Teagasc centre. About 400 to 500 people usually take this option.

About seven to eight per cent of agriculture students are women. "While the farm inheritance pattern continues as it is - invariably passing to the son rather than the daughter - the makeup of the courses reflect this," explains O'Connor. Gender balance on the agriculture courses is unlikely to change until social change comes about, he says.

By contrast, about one-third of the students doing horticulture are women. "We have a one-year certificate in horticulture and students can opt for a two-year follow-on course," says O'Connor. The course is delivered in modules and students can elect for certain modules. The bulk of employment opportunities are in the amenity horticulture area.

The certificate covers the scientific and economic principles underlying horticulture. Soils, plant identification, production and use are studied. The emphasis at the National Botanic Gardens is on amenity horticulture, while the other three colleges - An Grianan, Kildalton and Warrenstown - cater for both production and amenity horticulture.

The follow-on diploma includes nine months' work experience. Students study the first-year subjects in more depth and they also study economics, business management, staff supervision and personnel management. The traditional distinction between amenity and commercial horticulture has become obsolete, according to Teagasc. So, an applicant is not offered a place at the college of first choice should consider seriously consider the other colleges.

A certificate in forestry is offered by Ballyhaise College, with students spending the academic year in the college and then a further six months' skills training with Coillte or a private forester.

AS well as its more traditional offerings, Teagasc has a parttime certificate in rural enterprise. "Increasingly, people who inherit farms, especially small farms, will need to supplement their income," says O'Connor. This course provides some training and placement for people going to work off-farm.

The type of enterprise varies widely but O'Connor mentions dry stone wall construction, tiling and working in a tourist office. Teagasc co-operates with the VECs and FAS in the delivery of the rural enterprise course.

Fees for full-time Teagasc courses are covered on the opposite page which deals with the certificate in horse breeding and training. There is substantial non-means-tested grant aid available, courtesy of Teagasc and the European Social Fund.

Plenty of jobs are available in agriculture, horticulture, horses and forestry, says O'Connor. Like tourism, agriculture is experiencing a labour shortage.