However, the Primary Industry Trades Academy programme for schools is helping fill the gaps, combining senior secondary classroom learning with hands-on experience and the national certificate credits earned count towards NCEA qualifications.
Mosgiel's Taieri College's Trade Academy (TA) programme encourages senior pupils to gain work experience on farms, or in horticulture and forestry, as well as studying core subjects including English and maths. Local farmers, forestry and horticulture businesses support the programme by providing placements.
After completion, the pupils then move into full-time work within the sectors, with further training as a Modern Apprentice or through other tertiary providers such as Primary ITO (formerly AgITO).
Zara McGregor and Jarod Jamieson, both of Mosgiel, attended Taieri College's Trades Academy before leaving to work full-time on Outram dairy farms.
Both are continuing their studies through Primary ITO and both hope to move up the farm management ladder.
Dairy farmer Chris Peat, of Outram, who is a lower order sharemilking with 770 cows, supports the programme and employs Denton Hayward, who also went through the Trades Academy.
Mr Peat said there was a demand for quality staff in the industry.
Employers knew TA school leavers were ''work-ready and willing to work''.
''It gave them two feet in the door,'' Mr Peat said.
Zara said she spent two years with the TA and was one of the first to graduate.
''I have always wanted to be on a farm,'' Zara said.
Since beginning work she has studied animal health and animal husbandry and is looking forward to her first calf-rearing season.
She wants to continue to move through the industry to become a manager.
Jarod spent a year with the academy before leaving to work on the farm.
''I had always wanted to go farming and it was a challenge to learn all the different stuff,'' Jarod said.
Both are working on NCEA levels for Agribusiness Management through Primary ITO.
Training adviser Rebecca Williamson-Kavanaugh said the TA had prepared the pupils to a high standard.
''The most important thing [for the programme] is the support and networking opportunities from employers,'' Ms Williamson-Kavanaugh said.
''The pupils start work knowing what to expect and they are there because they want to be.''
She said having people such as Mr Peat, who were prepared to take the young people on, was an important feature of the programme.
College principal Paul Bolton said pupils earned their National Certificate in Primary Sectors levels 1, 2 and 3, and worked towards the Modern Apprenticeship programme.
They have 25 on the programme this year and in addition to work placements for the seniors, they have 15 field trips to various agricultural, horticultural and forestry sites in the area during the year.
''We have had more than 40 in the previous two years and next year anticipate further growth, with more places available,'' Mr Bolton said.
College careers adviser Fiona Smeaton said most of the pupils who went out on farm placement gained employment.
Jayden Crawley and Caitlin Barclay, both of Mosgiel, are both enthusiastic about their placements. Jayden is gaining experience on a dairy farm and had been learning fence maintenance, break feeding and moving stock. He had also tried his hand at milking and is thinking about further training.
''It is a great opportunity to find out what it is like,'' Jayden said.
Caitlin said she spent a day a week on the Invermay farm, at Mosgiel, learning about deer and sheep with the focus on animal health.
One of the highlights so far was the chance to try her hand at pregnancy scanning.
''That was pretty cool.''
Now she is thinking about possibly training as an AI technician or going to Telford.
TRADES ACADEMY
• In 2011, the New Zealand Primary Industry Trades Academy started at Taieri College with 22 pupils in the programme. Fifteen out of 22 pupils were awarded a National Certificate in Primary Sectors - Level 1.
• In 2012, 24 pupils were enrolled in the Level 1 programme and 15 in the Level 2 programme. Sixteen out of 24 were awarded the Level 1 National Certificate in Primary Sectors. Eight of the Level 2 pupils got full-time work on various farms and therefore left the programme throughout the year. Five out the remaining seven completed the Level 2 programme and were awarded the National Certificate in Primary Sectors Level 2.
• In 2013, there are 26 pupils in the Level 1 programme, and 16 pupils in the Level 2 and 3 programme. The majority of the pupils doing the work placement training should complete the programme by the end of the year.
Copy: Taieri College