Two young people from Northern Ireland, aged between 18 and 24, will have an opportunity to speak at the 2024 Nuffield Farming Conference.

The three–day event takes place in Belfast between November 19 and 21 next year.

The selected duo will be part of the Nuffield Farming ‘Next-Gen’ Scholarship Programme.

A pilot scheme for the programme will run in 2024. It will be open exclusively to young people in Northern Ireland with a demonstrable interest in the dairy industry.

Nuffield

Tom Rawson, vice-chair of Nuffield Farming scholarships, attended the recent launch of the ‘Next-Gen’ programme, held at the Agri-Food and BioSciences Institute (AFBI) in Hillsborough.

He confirmed the significance of the new scholarship and its specific relevance to Northern Ireland’s dairy sector.

“Next-Gen will provide young people, aged between 18 and 24 with an opportunity to secure an in-depth knowledge of the UK’s dairy farming sector in 2024.

“It will also allow the scholarship recipients, and all the initial applicants, to find out more about Nuffield farming scholarships and the key role played by the Nuffield organisation at the very heart of the farming and food industries,” he said.

Scholarship programme

Two applicants will be selected by the Northern Ireland Nuffield Farming Association to take part in a fully funded, 30-day dairy sector study programme in the UK during the early summer of 2024.

The programme aims to give young people the opportunity to develop their understanding of the industry, while also building networks and future opportunities.

The application period for the ‘Next-Gen’ scholarship is already open, it will close on January 31, 2024.

Interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place in early February 2024, and scholarship recipients will be announced by the end of that month.

Dairy

The study tour is supported by the Nuffield Farming Dairy Group and will provide an overview of the UK dairy industry.

The scholars will participate in a dairy tour in North Wales, and visit more than ten other dairy businesses.

In addition, the scholars will be assigned a mentor and give a presentation about their experiences at the 2024 Nuffield Farming Conference, which will be held in Belfast.

Following a successful pilot programme, the Next-Gen Scholarship will be made available to young people across the UK in a variety of sectors, with up to six scholarships awarded each year.

Rupert Alers-Hankey, director designate of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, said that the programme aims to develop young talent within the industry.

“It is an exciting initiative for Nuffield Farming and forms an important part of our commitment to leading positive change in agriculture.

“We hope that taking part in the programme will enable young people to establish themselves in the industry, while also getting a flavour of all that Nuffield Farming has to offer.

“Launching our pilot programme in Northern Ireland is particularly special as the Nuffield Farming Conference returns to Belfast in 2024,” he said.

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10 young farmers from across Wales have been selected as the recipients of this year’s Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarships.

A total of £4,000 has been awarded to the scholars wishing to broaden their knowledge of agriculture following a donation from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Mutual Charitable Trust.

The scholarship programme, administered by NFU Cymru, was set up in memory of the late Gareth Raw Rees who, for many years, was a delegate on the NFU Council and chair of the NFU Cymru education committee.

Gareth believed fervently that travel was an important form of education for young people.

This year’s award were recently presented by Jim McLaren MBE, chair of NFU Mutual’s board of directors.

Scholarships

This main winner of this year’s scholarships is William Davies who was awarded £1,000 to help fund his travels to the US.

The 24-year-old farmer from Howey in Powys, is a graduate of Aberystwyth University and is heavily involved with the family beef and sheep enterprise, alongside his contract shepherding business.

The award will help fund a two-month study trip to the US to learn more about livestock farming.

“I hope to enhance my stockman skills from visiting ranches in Montana and Wyoming and to learn more about the US’s red meat industry.

“I feel this will be invaluable as the marketing and production of red meat is constantly under scrutiny and it’s vital to have a well-rounded and educated understanding of worldwide production.

“This in turn not only helps at individual farm level but also helps future proof the red meat industry within the UK,” William said.

Travel

There are nine further recipients from the scholarship programme this year who are each receiving a financial contribution to help with their travels.

Elizabeth Preston, from Presteigne in Powys, received £700 towards a four-month trip to New Zealand.

The 22-year-old Aberystwyth University graduate will visit dairy farms in New Zealand to learn more about regenerative agriculture and how these principles could be applied here in Wales.

Carys Dyke, a 19-year-old sheep and beef farmer from Howey, near Llandrindod Wells, also receives £700 towards a six month visit to New Zealand sheep and dairy farms.

The former pupil of Ysgol Calon Cymru also studied at Reaseheath College where she has recently attained a Level 3 Technical Extended Diploma in Agriculture.

Aberystwyth University graduate Tudor Roderick, from Brecon, will receive £400 towards a one-month trip to Australia.

The 25-year-old beef and sheep farmer will visit Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania to learn about their sheep breeding programmes.

The remaining six recipients from the scholarship this year will each receive £200 to help with their travels.

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Martin McKendry, CAFRE director said: “As a college we are delighted to have developed invaluable collaborations with agri-food and land-based businesses.

“The support these companies offer to our students demonstrates their commitment and recognition of the value CAFRE students supply to the industry.

“We greatly appreciate this financial support offered, and your investment in new talent entering the industry,” he added.

Awards to CAFRE students

Bursary awards of £1,500 were awarded to 49 CAFRE first year students. These are offered to assist students with costs related to studying.

Some of the first year students are planning to “take the opportunity to travel to enhance their studies and improve their employability prospects”.

Seven second year degree students received £2,500 scholarships linked with the opportunity to complete a paid period of work placement with the sponsor.

The college said that the scholarships offer a fantastic chance for students to connect with businesses and showcase their career potential.

This year the students were judged through video applications. The college claims the process proved to be a rewarding and inspiring experience, for students and sponsors alike.

Four awards events were hosted across the college, attended by agriculture, equine, food and horticulture recipients and their sponsors.

Across the events, the industry sponsors had a common message – students have demonstrated professionalism, and commitment to pursuing a career in the agri-food and land-based industries.

The college said it was noted by many of the returning industry sponsors that “it is fantastic to see, year after year, the high calibre of CAFRE students with a passion and energy for the agri-food and land-based sector”.

“As the agri-food and land-based industry looks to the next generation, the future looks promising for our bursary and scholarship winners,” CAFRE said.

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Applications for the Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Scholarship, supported by the insurance branch of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU Mutual), are now being accepted.

The scholarship provides successful applicants the opportunity to learn more about agriculture in different countries, and makes up to £3,000 available to those selected.

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust donates towards to programme, which is seeking applicants considering travelling in the UK, Europe or further afield to learn more about agriculture.

The closing date for applications is June 23, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 25, at this year’s Royal Welsh Show

NFU Cymru county advisor, Peter Howells, said: “The scholarship fund was launched in 1984 in memory of the late Gareth Raw Rees MBE from Ceredigion whose considerable energies had always been directed towards promoting the interests of young people in farming and in the countryside. 

“He was a firm believer in the inestimable benefits of travelling towards the fulfilment of a broader and more rewarding education.”

The scholarship is managed by the Raw Rees family, NFU Cymru, NFU Mutual, Wales Young Farmers Club (YFC), the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University and the Future Farmers of Wales.

Chair of NFU Mutual’s advisory board for Wales, Trevor Lloyd, said the scholarship offers “fantastic opportunities” for young people to travel and learn about farming methods in other parts of the world.

“In today’s fast changing agricultural industry, it’s vital that our young farmers gain a wider perspective to help them farm successfully, which is why NFU Mutual is a strong supporter of the scholarship scheme,” he said.

“Over the years we’ve received some exceptional applications from some very capable and enterprising young people and have been able to support their efforts in visiting and learning about a variety of agricultural techniques employed across the globe.

“We very much look forward to receiving some equally impressive applications once again in 2023.”

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Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has opened its travel scholarship, worth £4,000, for applications.

Applications are open to anyone above the age of 18 working in the red meat sector in Wales. The scholarship will provide the winner with the opportunity to study an aspect of red meat production or processing anywhere in the world.

Those interested in applying can obtain the application form via the HCC website and are encouraged to fill it out and submit it before the closing date of Friday, April 28.

HCC’s industry development executive, James Ruggeri, said the scholarship has been running for over twenty years and provides an “unrivalled opportunity” for anyone involved in the red meat industry in Wales.

“France, New Zealand, the USA and Chile are just a handful of destinations where HCC scholars have travelled to in recent years,” he said.

“Unlike other scholarships, there is no upper age limit on the HCC scholarship. We are looking for ambitious individuals who are committed to improving their own understanding whilst also playing a part in developing the industry as a whole.”

An ‘amazing opportunity’

Scholars can choose to study any topic within the red meat supply chain. Study trips can last up to six weeks and scholars are expected to write a scholarship report and share their findings with the wider industry upon their return.

The 2022 scholarship winner, Charlie Cooper-Harding, used his trip to travel to Chile and South America where he studied beef industry productivity and perceptions.

“I would like to encourage anyone thinking of applying for this scholarship to do so,” he said.

“This is an amazing opportunity to travel anywhere in the world to study a topic of your interest.

“I have personally got so much out of the experience and have made contacts for life.”

Ruggeri said the scholarship not only provides the “unique opportunity” to study and travel internationally, but it also offers membership of the HCC Scholarship Association – a network of past HCC scholars who meet throughout the year to share advice.

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The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has partnered with the Gallaher Trust, a job development charity, to launch a scholarship programme for young adults in the area wishing to study at CAFRE.

The £65,000 in funding aims to support Ballymena’s rural community and highlight the role of the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland’s economy.

The scholarship will enable two students to access a two-year agriculture-related course through CAFRE to a foundation degree level beginning in September 2023.

The students will have their course fees covered and will receive a technology bundle worth £1,500 to help them with their studies.

Individuals wishing to apply must be over 18-years-old, from the Ballymena area and wishing to further their farming skills and qualifications but who may not be able to pursue their studies for financial reasons.

The scholarship will continue for a further two years after the initial intake, benefiting a total number of six students.

Chair of the Gallaher Trust, Ian Paisley, said the scholarship fund would really benefit young people hoping to study agriculture and also the wider Ballymena area.

“Farming in the Ballymena area plays a vital role in the local economy and with the agriculture industry facing many challenges, it’s important that we equip young farmers with the resilience and skills that will support them in managing a sustainable farm business,” he said.

“As a result, we are supporting this scholarship programme in partnership with the Ulster Farmers’ Union to the value of £65,000 for young people who are keen to develop their farming knowledge by studying at CAFRE.”

Membership director of the UFU, Derek Lough, said the union was looking forward to working with the Gallaher Trust.

“The Gallaher Trust’s Scholarship is a great initiative. It will encourage young people, local to the Ballymena area, who might otherwise have been put off by the costs, to continue their training at CAFRE,” he said.

“Young farmers are the future of the agriculture industry and this scholarship helps us to support them as we work together to find solutions to the various challenges facing the sector.”

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Applications for 2024 Nuffield Farming Scholarships are now open, and will be accepted until July 31, 2023, the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) said today (Thursday, January 19).

The charity awards approximately 20 individuals each year with the opportunity to research topics of interest in farming, food, horticulture, forestry or any other countryside and ancillary industry.

Scholars are able to travel anywhere in the world for a period of no less than eight weeks to further their knowledge and understanding of their chosen study topic.

A bursary of approximately £7,500 will be given towards the scholars travel and subsistence expenses.

In addition, the trust and the individual award sponsor will meet their travel and expenses in relation to the pre-study briefing and Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC). The total value of a scholarship is in excess of £13,000, the charity said.

On return from their travels, the scholars present their findings, the conclusions they have reached and the recommendations to the industry in a variety of formats, including a written report and a presentation at the annual Nuffield Farming Conference.

Scholars are selected with a view to developing tomorrow’s leaders within their individual business and the industry as a whole.

The organisation urged anyone interested in applying for a 2024 scholarship to attend one of its open evenings, which will be held from April onwards.

Nuffield Farming Scholarships

The NFST is a charity organisation that awards scholarships annually in the UK to young people between the ages of 22 and 45 from across the agricultural industry.

The charity aims to unlock an individual’s potential and broaden horizons through the scholarships, providing opportunities to study and travel overseas.

It said that Nuffield Farming Scholarships provide an “amazing opportunity that can benefit careers, industry and business, as well as advancing personal development”.

The Nuffield Farming team also said that it is available to provide support to applicants throughout the scholarship application process and it can be contacted via its website.

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Seven young farmers from across Wales have financially benefited from this year’s Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship.

A total of £3,800 has been awarded by the management committee to scholars wishing to broaden their knowledge of agriculture, following a donation from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Mutual Charitable Trust.

This year’s awards were presented by Jim McLaren MBE, chairman of NFU Mutual’s board of directors at the Royal Welsh Show.

This year’s main winner is Manon Lewis who receives £1,200 to help fund her travels to New Zealand.

22-year-old Manon, from Meifod in Powys, will shortly be graduating from Harper Adams University with a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science.

The award will help fund a four-month study trip to New Zealand to learn more about livestock farming.

Scholarship recipients

There are six further recipients from the scholarship this year who are each receiving a financial contribution to help with their travels.

Sioned Davies, from Merthyr Cynog near Brecon, receives £750 towards a
six-month trip to the USA and South America. The 24-year-old will take a sabbatical from her role as a Product Development Executive with Oxbury Bank to advance her knowledge and understanding of agriculture.”

Daniel Evans, a 20-year-old beef and sheep farmer from Silian, near Lampeter, also receives £750.

He will spend six months in New Zealand where he hopes to learn more about their grassland management and utilisation of forage crops.

Also New Zealand bound is 20-year-old Teleri Morgan from Bow Street, near Aberystwyth and she receives £500 towards a three-month trip to New Zealand.

She is currently studying Agriculture and Animal Science at Aberystwyth University.

Three of the recipients from the scholarship this year will each receive £200 to help with their travels.

Richard Jones, from Dolgellau, who studied at Reaseheath College before taking over the running of the family farm, receives £200 towards a two-week trip to Japan.

Richard is also a member of the NFU Cymru Next Generation group.

Elliw Dafydd, from Silian near Lampeter, receives £200 towards a two-week trip to Peru as part of the NFYFC International Programme.

Elliw works as a freelance actor alongside her role on the family dairy farm, which has recently diversified by setting up a milk vending business.

Rhodri Williams, from Whitland in Carmarthenshire, is currently studying for a masters degree in Agricultural Engineering at Harper Adams University and he receives £200 towards a two-week trip to Southern Europe.

Rhodri is currently on an industrial work placement for Claas machinery at their headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany.

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For those interested in learning more about the scholarship and the application process, an informal, non-obligatory introductory session will be held at 6:30pm on January 13.

The event will be hosted by Nuffield alumni officer Charlotte Merson and 2019 scholar Sarah Pick.

Applications are open to those working across the farming, food, horticulture, rural or associated industries.

With around 20 scholarships awarded each year, successful applicants are provided a substantial bursary to fund travel to study their chosen topic.

Additional funding is also available for scholars to attend the Contemporary Scholars Conference, training sessions and other events.

What is the Nuffield Farming Scholarship?

A Nuffield Farming Scholarship is considered an investment in the personal development and knowledge of the scholar, as well as that of their respective industry.

By sharing their findings and experiences, scholars bring fresh insight and ideas that inspire change and drive the industry forward.

Mike Vacher, director of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, explained the important role that Nuffield scholars play, especially during times of change.

“Nuffield Farming Scholarships provide a unique opportunity within the food and farming industry.

Not only do scholars undertake an in-depth, global study about a chosen topic, but they are also in a unique position of influence to share these findings with the wider agricultural community and show the way forward.

“This opportunity provides the foundation for scholars to both succeed in their own business as well as impact the wider industry.

“Nuffield Farming fosters the careful development of future leaders, who will be vital as the industry explores opportunities and meets the challenges that exist outside of the EU.”

“In light of the uncertainty surrounding travel and other restrictions, the Trust will continue to support scholars to ensure they are able to make the most of this opportunity and produce the high-quality work that has come to be expected of this experience,” he said.

Scholarship eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must work within the farming, food, horticulture, rural and associated industries or are in a position to influence these industries;
• Applicants must be aged between 22 and 45 years (the upper age limit is 45 on July 31 in the year of application);
• There is no requirement for academic qualifications;
• Applicants should be well-established in their career, demonstrate a passion for the industry they work in and be three years post-tertiary education;
• Candidates must be resident in the UK and hold a UK passport or be working directly for UK agriculture;
• The trust seeks people with very special qualities;
• Scholarships are not awarded to anyone in full-time education or to further research projects.

When applying for a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, applicants are encouraged to begin the process well ahead of the July 31 deadline.

The Nuffield Farming Office is able to connect applicants with existing Nuffield scholars who can provide support and advice about the application process.

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The 20 scholars, who come from across UK farming and rural industries, will seek guidance from industry leaders, experts and pioneers as they undertake their studies.

“Following an unprecedented and challenging year for UK agriculture, we are pleased to announce our 2021 scholars,” said Mike Vacher, Nuffield Farming director.

They have been carefully selected for both their passion for their chosen topic, and for their potential as future leaders within UK agriculture. Our 2021 scholars have selected a range of topics that span the breadth of the industry, including livestock, soft fruits, aquaculture and workforce diversity.

“A Nuffield scholarship is a life-changing experience, and will no doubt prove invaluable to both scholar businesses and to the industry as a whole.”

The 2021 Nuffield Farming Scholars are:

• Ranald Angus (Caithness, Scotland);
• Ian Baggs (Dorset, South West);
• Matthew Blyth (Sussex, South East);
• Anna Bowen (Ceredigion, Wales);
• Richard Copas (Buckinghamshire, Central);
• Dan De Baerdemaecker (East Sussex, South East);
• John Gray (Angus, Scotland);
• Keith Gue (West Sussex, South East);
• Geoff Guy (Nottinghamshire, East Midlands);
• Camilla Hayselden-Ashby (Kent, South East);
• Robert Howe (Lancashire, Northern);
• Aisla Jones (Greater Manchester, Northern);
• James MacCartney (Rutland, East Midlands);
• Chris Manley (Somerset, South West);
• Adrian Marshall (Suffolk, Anglia);
• Emily McVeigh (Suffolk, Anglia);
• Navaratnam (Theeb) Partheeban (Essex, Anglia);
• Gary Thompson (Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland);
• Edward Towers (Lancashire, Northern);
• Claire Whittle (Wrexham, Wales).

“On behalf of Nuffield Farming, I wish the 2021 scholars the very best of luck as they prepare to start their studies.

“We are excited to hear more about the knowledge and experiences you gain over the course of your journeys.

“In these ever-changing times, what you bring back with you will play a vital role in driving UK agriculture forward,” added Vacher.

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