nuffield ˆ˚# !˚ #ˆ˜˚ · program (gfp) in 2014 to cater for the additional scholars wishing to...

2 Chairman’s Report - Stuart Wright

2 Nuffield International Calendar

3 Report from Australia - Andrew Johnson

4 Report from New Zealand - Julian Raine

5 Report from Canada - Barb Stefanshyn-Cote

6 Triennial World Conference and Study Tour

7 Report from Ireland - Bill O’Keeffe

7 Latest Scholar reports

8 Report from the UK - Stephen Watkins

10 Report from France - Sarah Singla

11 2014 Australian Scholars

15 2014 Canadian Scholars

15 2014 French Scholars

16 2014 New Zealand Scholars

17 2014 Irish Scholars

18 2014 UK Scholars

Have you booked your trip to the Triennial yet? It’s Canada’s turn to show their agriculture to the world

- and they can’t wait to show it to you!

For over 60 years, the Nuffield Scholarship programme

has been providing unparalleled opportunities to some of

the world’s best agri-food producers and professionals.

Nuffield Canada is pleased to host and present the next

great opportunity for you to learn more about agriculture,

make a contribution to the topic, rekindle old relationships

and make some new ones.

trieNNial World CoNFereNCe aNd study tour

Halifax - Charlottetown - South West Ontario

juNe 15 - juNe 28 2014

international newsNuffield

International Chairman - STUART WRIGHT - Tel: (64) 03 318 3897, Email: [email protected] Secretary - JIm GElTCH - Tel: (03) 5480 0755, Email: [email protected]

2014 contents

January 2014

Nuffield international website gets a facelift

www.nuffieldinternational.orgNuffield International has launched a new version of its website, carrying new artwork and the abilityto be viewed on IOS and Android mobile ‘phones.

As before, the content includes up-to-date informationon upcoming events, all scholar reports since 2006,newsletters and each Nuffield country’s links andmanagement profiles. In addition, the website hosts theInternational Scholar Database which will also be updatedin 2014 to display on IOS and Android machines.

The database is accessed via Scholars using their‘user name’ and ‘password’. Please note that individual Scholars are now responsible for updatingtheir own data and it is important that your details arekept up-to-date.

If you need assistance with this, please contact yourrespective database manager, as follows: uk - MikeVacher, France - Benoit Presies, australia - Barry Horn,Canada - Karen Daynard, ireland - John Tyrrell, NewZealand - Barbie Barton, Zimbabwe - Barry Horn.

1 Nuffield International

Twitter and Facebook accounts have been set up bymost Nuffield countries helping to spread news andinformation about the Nuffield Scholarship schemeand farming activities worldwide.

In addition, Twitter accounts are increasingly beingset up by new Scholar groups and individuals,allowing them to share news and views about theirtravel and study experiences, as well as to relay up-to-the-minute coverage of events and conferences.

Keep tabs on all Nuffield news, views and personal encounters from around the

world by following:

Australia - @nuffieldaustCanada - @NuffieldCanada

United Kingdom - @NuffieldFarmingNew Zealand - @NuffieldNZ

Book the dates iN your diary– you will not want to miss this event!

More information on page 6, or visitwww.nuffield.ca/triennial

CatCh the latestNeWs oN tWitter


NuFField iNterNatioNal CaleNdar

1-8 march 2014 Contemporary Scholars Conference Sydney and Canberra Nuffield Australia22-23 march Queensland Autumn Tour and AGm Brandaberg, Queensland Nuffield Australia4-6 April 2014 New Zealand Biennial Conference Wairakei Resort, Taupo Nuffield New Zealand23-24 April Frank Arden memorial Conference Harper Adams University Nuffield UK15-28 June 2014 Triennial Conference Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nuffield Canada

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island18-22 Sept 2014 Australia National Conference launceston Nuffield Australia

2014 Global Focus tours1-16 march Global Focus (Brazil) - AU, NZ, Brazil, mexico, UK1-16 march Global Focus (South Africa) - AU, South Africa, Kenya, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, USA28 may - 11 July Global Focus (China) - AU, Philippines, China, USA, Canada, Netherlands, France, Ireland31 may - 16 July Global Focus (India) - AU, India, Qatar, Ukraine, Brussels, France, USA

date event Venue host

For further information, please visit www.nuffieldinternational.org

2014 scholars announced

As 2013 came to its end, preparations for thenext Nuffield year are well underway. Allcountries have now announced theirScholars for 2014 and they will meet for theContemporary Scholars Conference inSydney early in march.

This is always an exciting event where newScholars have the chance to meet, mix anddebate with their contemporaries and set thescene for their scholarship year and beyond.

triennial Conference

The Triennial Nuffield Conference is set forJune and our Canadian hosts have plannedan exciting event on the Eastern Sea Boardof Canada, with the theme of “Prosperitythrough innovation”.

I encourage all Scholars to make the effortto attend if they can to experience a uniqueevent which crystallises the Nuffield ethos,challenges the mind, and provides a greatopportunity to renew old friendships and

develop new ones. Registrations are now open and our

Canadian Scholars are looking forward toyour support and participation.

retiring Board Members

During the year, at Nuffield InternationalBoard level, Terry Hehir and BarbStefanyshyn-Cote have retired as their termsas chairs of their respective countries,Australia and Canada, are completed.

I would personally like to thank both ofthem for their invaluable input as we havedeveloped Nuffield International into anorganisation that represents the collectiveideals of all participating countries.

This is a process that is still in progress aswe develop the Nuffield brand globally anddebate the issues to reach a consensus onthe best way to continue that development.

Andrew Johnson, the new Australianchairman, is Terry's replacement and the new Canadian chairman is 2011 Scholar,Kelvin meadows.

One of the privileges of this job, as NuffieldInternational Chairman, is the chance to meetsome outstanding younger people involved inagriculture from all the Nuffield countries. RobCook is one of those people who certainlymade an impression with me.

an inspiration

Rob hails from the remote outback of theNorthern Territory of Australia, where he and

his family farm cattle on the Suplejack Downs Station.

Rob had a serious helicopter accident in2008 that left him a C4 tetraplegic. But thisdidn’t stop him completing a NuffieldScholarship in 2011, which is when I had theprivilege of meeting him and his wife.

He has recently published a book called“When the dust settles”. If you want a greatread about a recent Nuffield Scholar thatgives you a flavour of outback Australia, plusan inspirational story about an individual'sstruggle with adversity then I highlyrecommend it.

All the best for the rest of the year, and Ilook forward to meeting many of you inCanada in June.

Chairman’s reportSTUART WRIGHTNuffield International [email protected]

“one of the privileges ofthis job is the chance to

meet outstanding youngerpeople involved in

agriculture from all theNuffield Countries.”

With all Best Wishesto Nuffield scholars and

their families, to sponsors and supporters...

For a very happy, healthy andprosperous year ahead!

Beat the challenges and grabthe opportunities.

NuFField iNterNatioNal

2014

at the recent australian aGM, i wasappointed chair of Nuffieldaustralia. i’d like to thank mycolleagues for giving me theopportunity to serve not onlyaustralia, but Nuffield internationalon each respective Board.

shaping opportunitiesI’m a 2005 Scholar and farm a diversifiedoperation including pork, beef, lamb, wool andcrops with my brother, our partners and parentsover several locations in South Australia.

I am, “more than ever”, passionate andexcited about the prospects of agriculture intothe future. Nuffield has been instrumental inshaping opportunities for me and I can onlyencourage further development of Nuffieldcountry and international programs to fosterthe next agriculturalists. I look forward tomeeting many of you over the pursuing years.

National Conference

At our National Conference in Perth, NuffieldAustralia awarded 21 scholarships from 25offered. A fantastic result. There wassignificant engagement from all sectors, butparticularly the horticulture industry whichwon six scholarships.

Four GFPsWe have added one more Global FocusProgram (GFP) in 2014 to cater for theadditional Scholars wishing to participate.

36 scholars from every country areparticipating in the four GFPs, adding greatlyto the dynamics and strength of the program.

On behalf of Nuffield Australia andInternational, can I extend a big thank youand congratulations to Jim Geltch whotirelessly works continuing to improve theexperience and opportunity of our scholarsfrom every country have. Well done!

learning post scholarshipsIn Australia, we place particular emphasis onpost-scholarship opportunities - withencouragement to take part in courses suchas the Executive Program for AgriculturalProducers in Texas USA, as well as theWorshipful Company of Farmers’ Challengeof Rural leadership and Farm Businessmanagement courses, both in the UK.

Combined with a range of executivedevelopment, management and directorcourses and ad hoc speaking andpresentation engagements, our Scholars areregularly on the front line, pushingthemselves and agriculture.

New directorsOur board welcomes four new directors,including, for the first time, two externaldirectors; mike Taylor and DonaldmcGauchie.

We mike and Donald we are privileged tohave two people who bring a wealth ofexperience and knowledge to our team.

Combined with Nuffield’s Jane Bennettand michael Chilvers, Nuffield Australia iswell positioned and I look forward to workingwith the board over the coming years.

2014 CsCAustralia is hosting the 2014 CSC in Sydneyand Canberra in march. This will be a highlyinteractive and affordable week-longnetworking experience. We look forward towelcoming our contemporaries there andfurther strategizing NI initiatives with the board.

In this respect, Australia continues tosupport the initiatives of Nuffield Internationalto seek out financial support to award aNuffield International Scholarship outside thecurrent Nuffield countries.

Can I wish you all the very best in healthand seasons, and take this opportunityhoping you have a safe and merry Christmasto you and your families.

australiaANDREW JOHNSON Nuffield Australia [email protected]

aNdreW Broad, a 2006 scholar, isone of the latest australian politicianselected as the federal member forMallee, Victoria, in october 2013.

“I am here today because even my kelpiesheepdog, Duke, was getting sick of mecomplaining about the direction of ourcountry,” Andrew said as part of his maidenSpeech. “I had worked, after finishing highschool, in shearing sheds and on farms andhad saved some money towards a depositfor a farm. At the age of 22, I bought my firstfarm and, to my horror, every cent that I hadsaved was paid to the government as stampduty. The government had taken four years ofmy labour as stamp duty, and I didn't evenget to see the stamp!

He continued: “I hear commentators talkabout food security. The first imperative offood security is that we must get youngpeople involved in agriculture. The second isthat the person who grows the food mustmake a fair living doing so.”

Andrew is a former president of the

Victorian Farmers Federation where he stoodup to the Rudd-Gillard Government on issueslike the carbon tax and a poorly draftedmurray Darling Basin Plan. He is also a boardmember of ‘Australian made, AustralianGrown’ and a delegate to APEC (Indonesiaand Russia) where he has helped to developthe 2020 Asia Pacific Food Security Plan.

Also a trained pilot, Andrew is one ofjust a handful of politicians licenced to flyand aims to fly regularly betweenmildura, his home town, and Swan Hill inorder to serve his constituency.

“Flying at 200 kilometres an hour,3048 metres above the vast malleeplains, is an ideal way to travel when yourepresent constituents living in anelectorate that covers about 74,000square kilometres, almost a third ofVictoria,” says Andrew.

“At the end of the day, I've got a bigelectorate to serve, and if I can getaround quicker and be more accessible thenit's a good thing.”

1. Andrew Broad makes his maiden speech as theFederal Member (The Nationals Party) for Mallee.

2. Andrew with his two-seater Brumby 610.

2006 scholar elected MP forMallee... and flies to work!

1

2


2014 scholars announced

Earlier this month the Nuffield NZ Trusteesannounced five successful scholarshiprecipients for 2014. They five were:

lucy Cruickshank - masterton sales and marketing entrepreneur from Wairapapa

Mel Poulton - Beef and lamb NZWestern North Island extension manager, from Woodville

Paul olsen - potato grower, from Opiki, Palmerston North

john Murphy - marlborough Garlicgeneral manager and vineyard owner

dan shand - North Canterbury sheepand beef farmer, and entrepreneur

This is the first time that we held theannouncement of the new NuffieldScholarships at a reception in Parliament.

We were hosted by the Associateminister for Primary Industry, Hon JoGoodhew. The minister not only presented the 2014 Scholars with theirNuffield tie or brooch, but also talked tothose gathered about the importance ofleadership in agriculture.

Nuffield NZ continues to select forpotential leaders in New Zealand agriculture.We see the enduring need to build humancapacity to not only meet the current andfuture on-farm challenges, but also lead thedebate on ever increasing difficult rural andnational issues affecting agriculture.

joint ventureThe New Zealand Nuffield Trustees havecontinued to work on the new joint venturewith Kelloggs and lincoln University. Amemorandum of Understanding has recentlybeen signed between the two organisationswhich details how we will work together. It isour vision to create a leadership pipeline forNew Zealand agriculture.

Juliet maclean (Nuffield NZ Trustee) andRichard Green (Nuffield NZ Director) havebeen working through the detail ofappointing a new General manager to headthe new consortium. They are pleased toannounce that the position has gone toAnne Hindson.

Sharing “back office functions” assistsboth Nuffield NZ and Kelloggs to makeanother step up to be able to afford full-time management.

Powering into the futureOur biannual conference will be held in Aprilat Wairakei, near Taupo, from the 3rd to the6th April. The theme of the conference is

“Powering into the future”. Taupo and thesurrounding area is the geothermal capitalof NZ where exciting alternative uses ofgeothermal energy are being utilised togrow our agricultural industries.

The field trip will include a look at farming

in a nitrogen ‘capped’ catchment andalternative research in the sheep industry.

At our last conference, Jim Geltch and anumber of travelling scholars were inattendance. We welcome all Nuffield visitors.Hopefully, we will see some of you there.

New ZealandJuliAN RAiNENuffield New Zealand [email protected]


anne hindson has been appointed as GeneralManager of the rural leadership Consortium, anew joint venture between the Nuffield Farmingscholarship trust and the kellogg ruralleadership Programme.

"Anne joins us with a diverse business background, includingsports and event management,” says Nuffield Trustee, Julietmaclean. “She understands the importance of effectiveleadership and the value of encouraging high levels of teamperformance. Anne has a real interest in the on-going development of people, at all stagesof their careers."

Anne’s previous experience includes Project manager for Education New Zealand,Business Advisor for the Selwyn District Council, Christchurch manager for the RWC 2011, and Director of the National Conference for the New Zealand Association of Event Professionals.

rural leadership Consortium General Manager appointed

NZ Class of 2014

Five new names were added to the historic list ofNuffield New Zealand Scholars in late October atan event held at Parliament.

The five new Scholars join more than 140others who have been awarded NuffieldScholarships in the past 60 years.

“Our Nuffield Trustees were impressed with theoverall standard of applicants and any of the final10 would have been worthy candidates for ascholarship,” says Julian, “Although the finalselection was close, for the second year in a row,I’m pleased to announce five successful Scholars.

“Their research topics will cover a range ofissues - including mobile technology, theinternational distribution of NZ’s information andtechnology, turning good farming into bigbusiness, potato (cropping) production and thepositioning of manuka and other honey off-shore.

“a Nuffield scholarshipis one of New Zealand'smost valuable andprestigious awards witha limited numberawarded each year,” saysNuffield NZ Chairman,julian raine. “to be awarded aNuffield scholarship is tobe awarded a lifechanging experience.Nuffield New Zealand isinvesting in our futurerural leaders."

From left: Dan Shand, Lucy Cruickshank, John Murphy, Paul Olsen and Mel Poulton.


It has been an active year for NuffieldCanada and I have very much enjoyedbeing a part of it.

off to a great startWe started off by hosting the 2013 CSCin Ottawa, with 60-plus Scholars andchairs from each Nuffield nation.

While the Scholars were learningabout Canadian agriculture and worldissues, the chairs took the opportunityto do some strategic planning,constructing a mission and visionstatement, and deliberating about thefuture direction of Nuffield Internationaland the possibility of having NuffieldInternational Scholars.

There were many thoughtful andintense meetings with excellentdiscussion. In my opinion, NuffieldInternational is off to a great start.

summer picnicsThis year there were summer picnicsheld in both Eastern and WesternCanada. many Scholars had the chanceto get together and catch up. We alsotook the opportunity to have a shortmeeting and discuss the direction ofNuffield Canada and future Scholars.

There was excellent discussion with the outcome being – full steamahead. It was fortunate to have Alanmillar, our acting executive director,attend both picnics.

Our Western Picnic was at the homeof Joe and Joan linnell. The EasternPicnic was held in madoc, Ontario.

2014 triennialAnother large project for NuffieldCanada is the 2014 Triennial which iscoming in June.

Thanks to all of the Scholars thathave been involved in the organisationof this fantastic event, especially BarryCudmore, who is chairing the project.

The event begins on June 15th inNova Scotia and concludes in Albertawith a rodeo. What could be moreentertaining!! Please check out thewebsite for all of the detailshttp://nuffield.ca/triennial/.

We have worked on a new logo andwebsite that will be going live shortly.

New reports, newscholars

Since my last annual report, I ampleased to announce that we have threenew reports added to our collection –Kelvin meadows, leona Dargis andSarah megens.

We have enjoyed the presentations ofBrenda Schoepp and Crosby Devitt.

We have three scholars travelling theglobe – Gayle Creutzberg, Blake Vinceand Clayton Robbins. You can checkout their blogs at http://nuffield.ca.

And, we have three new scholarsraring to go – Cheryl Hazenberg, DarrylChubb and Steven Wolfgram.Congratulations and good luck to you all.

Passed on...It has also been a sad year for NuffieldCanada with the passing of six of ourmembers - Raymond loo, larry Yeo,Ken Ferguson, mervyn Hamilton, R macSprowl and John mclean.

Unfortunately, Raymond loo was inthe midst of his Nuffield experiencewhen he lost his battle with cancer. Hehas been recognised by Nuffield Canadaas an Honorary Nuffield Scholar.

sponsorship newsAs we wind down our activities thatwere funded by CAAP, we look back onthe strides that we have made - a reviewof all Canadian Nuffield Scholars, moreawareness of our program, increasednew Scholar preparation andengagement, and a clearer direction for our future.

We still have work to do, but we havecome a long way, baby!

In regards to sponsorship, I am verypleased to report that progress hasbeen made with not one, but twosponsors coming on to supportScholars for the next three years.

Thanks to Glacier media forsponsoring a Canadian Scholar and alsoto Grain Farmers of Ontario forsupplying funds for a grain farmer from Ontario.

In addition, both organisations aresupplying money directly to NuffieldCanada to support the program. We aregrateful to them both and are using thisas a spark for the rest of our campaign.

New chairAs I step down as chair, I am happy toreport that Kelvin meadows will betaking my place.

I am very honoured to have beenelected chair and, only due to anoverworked agenda, do I step back.

I want to sincerely thank RodBradshaw, who continues with theduties of secretary and treasurer, andAlan millar for all of their extra effort and hard work. I truly appreciated your assistance.

I see continued great things from ourScholars and wish everyone the best inall of their endeavours.

Warmest regards, Barb

CanadaBARB STEFANYSHYN-COTENuffield Canada [email protected]

kelViN MeadoWs isa 2011 CanadianNuffield scholar. histopic delved into thefactors thatcontribute to asuccessful farmer-owned value chain,including farmerinvestor relations andexpectations, as wellas plant capitalization andboard/management composition.

For over 20 years, Kelvin was a pedigree seedgrower, and an owner/operator of a seedcleaning and export business in Saskatchewan.

During his farming tenure, Kelvin had theopportunity to spend 10 years as director andchairman of the Saskatchewan CanolaDevelopment Commission, which gave himexposure to different aspects of the food industry.

After divesting themselves of the farm in2008, Kelvin and his wife, Shelley, moved intovalue-added food processing through aninvestment in Avena Foods Inc, a Regina-basedgluten free oat milling plant where Kelvincurrently sits as chairman of the board.

They also own and operate a landdevelopment company, seed crop inspectionbusiness and Kelvin recently joined theBusiness Development team at Input Capital,the world’s first canola streaming company.

Kelvin sees great value in the Nuffieldprogram and looks forward to his time aschairman of Nuffield Canada.

n kelViN MeadoWsNeW ChairMaN

Nuffield in the news!In November 2013, three Nuffield Scholarsgave interviews for Global News Canada.Crosby Devitt (2012 NSch), Brenda Schoepp(2012 NSch) and Harold Perry (2006 NSch)each spoke confidently about the value of aNuffield Scholarship and expertly about theirarea of agriculture. http://globalnews.ca/video/980435/nuffield-scholarship-recpients

The excitement starts on June 15th in Halifax, Nova Scotia,then heads to Prince Edward Island on the 20th, followedby Ontario on the 24th.

With a theme of ‘Prosperity through innovation’, we’ll bemeeting with some of Canada’s top agricultural and foodentrepreneurs - including the extraordinary retailer, PeteLuckett, the man behind some of Eastern Canada’sstrongest brands and the success of Canadian premiumgrocery stores and food service distribution in Halifax(www.peteluckett.com).

We’ll be looking at and sampling some of the bestCanadian fruit, vegetables, freshly-caught seafood, wine anddairy. At the same time as learning about renewable energy,food marketing, growing of ethnic (or new) crops, and seeingsome of Canada’s top agricultural research stations.

We will also be providing memorable trips through thebeautiful Annapolis Valley, the Bay of Fundy, theConfederation Bridge and Niagara Falls.

Post conference tourAnd, if you’re looking for some ‘WILD WEST’ action tofinish your tour across Canada, there is a post-conferencetour being offered throughout Alberta from June 29th toJuly 5th. Based around Edmonton, the programmeincludes a trip to the great Ponoka Stampede.

Budget friendly optionNeed more reasons to come? For Scholars post-2008,

we’re offering a new ‘budget-friendly’ option. This

“Real Canuck Triennial Tour” includes the opportunity

to be billeted with local hosts in Nova Scotia, as well as

joining backpacking and hiking tours. You will also be

able to participate in Conference Day in Halifax on

June 19th.

Nuffield Canada

Nuffield Canada will give a warm welcome to all Scholars

from all Nuffield countries in Halifax, Nova Scotia - the

Atlantic Gateway to Canada.

You will arrive on June 15th, 2014 and visit some of the most

innovative and unique agriculture operations and cultural sites

in Nova Scotia. The Conference Day, on June 19th, will

challenge your intellect and stimulate new thinking.

You will then travel to Prince Edward Island on June 20th

and tour a variety of agriculture, agri-food and aquaculture

operations. You will also get an opportunity to join in the 150th

year celebration of the Canadian Confederation. You will walk

in the steps of our founding fathers who attended the

Conference of Confederation in Charlottetown in 1864, leading

to the birth of Canada in 1867.

All the while that you are in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward

Island, you will dine on our unique and world renowned seafood

and agri-food products. This will culminate with a festival of food

in Charlottetown in celebration of our Confederation.

After a night’s sleep, we will then fly you to the centre of

Canada for you to discover the best that Ontario agriculture

has to offer, including a tour of Niagara Falls and the Niagara

wine region.

We will wish many a fond farewell and safe travels on June

28th. For those choosing to continue their Canadian adventure,

a post conference tour throughout Alberta is also on offer and

will run from June 29th to 5th July.

have you booked your trip to thetriennial yet? it’s our turn to showCanadian agriculture to the world andwe can’t wait to show it to you!

For more programme information and to register visit:

www.nuffield.ca/triennial

Nuffield Canada will be updating the conference programme with speakers, visits

and tour stops as they are confirmed.

trieNNial World CoNFereNCe aNd study tour - juNe 15 - juNe 28 2014Halifax - Charlottetown - South West Ontario


What’s in store...

2013 has been a very busy year for NuffieldIreland with the re-organisation of ourcalendar to align ourselves with otherNuffield international countries. To achievethis, we brought our selection processforward from December to early September.

six scholarships awarded

I’m happy to report that we had a very highlevel of interest in our scholarships thisyear, with over five applications received forevery scholarship.

We are delighted to announce our six2014 Scholars as:

sean Coughlan - Ballina, Co mayo(sponsored by Aurivo)

Mary delaney - Crosspatrick, CoKilkenny (sponsored by FBD)

joseph leonard - Stamullen, Co meath(sponsored by Peter Daly Trust/lIC/Dairymaster)

Finola McCoy - mullingar, CoWestmeath (sponsored by IFA/Irish

Farmers Journal)

tommy Moyles - Clonakilty, Co Cork(sponsored by meat Industry Ireland)

sean o’Brien - midleton, Co Cork(sponsored by Golden Jubilee Trust)

Putting leadership into action

Our annual conference took place in earlyNovember at mount Wolseley, Tullow, CoCarlow. The theme of our conference was“Putting leadership into action”. Speakerson the day included Nuffield Scholar,Professor John Alliston, Director ofDevelopment at the Royal AgriculturalUniversity Cirencester, who gave us hisperspective of taught leadership.

The returning 2012 Scholars alsopresented their findings from their travels:

sean Cummins - ‘Knowledge transferand the adoption of new technologies atfarm level’

andrew Gow - ‘How co-ops grow andwork together’

Micheal McCarthy - ‘OAD milking andhow it benefits Irish farmers pre- andpost-quota’

Irish agriculture looks forward to an exciting2014 and to hosting many of our fellowNuffield Scholars.

Bill O kEEFFENuffield Ireland Chairman [email protected]

ireland

73Nuffield International

“i am delighted to welcomeour six new scholars toNuffield ireland, and lookforward to seeing themdevelop their full potential,and play an important role inirish agriculture, their localcommunity and in Nuffield inthe years ahead.

“this brings to 63 the totalnumber of scholars who havebeen awarded irish Nuffieldscholarships since 1996.”

latest sCholar rePortsamy jackson (uk) - Can we learn to love the megadairy?Politics, planning and PR

robert Craig (uk) - The true cost of cheap food

david Wynne Finch (uk) - Collaboration and people

Gareth davies (uk) - Pasture ultilisation: yield from the field

james szasbo (uk) - Autonomy in agriculture

robert hodgkins (uk) - Sheep genomics: the future ofprofitable performance predictions

heather Wildman (uk) - Influencing and motivatingchange: Have dairy discussion groups had their day?

katy lee (uk) - New and emerging technologies inagriculture: What’s standing in the way?

tim McClelland (uk) - Why are you farming - business or pleasure?

rob Burtonshaw (uk) - land drainage and its role infarming’s future

kate Morgan (uk) - An examination of high welfaresystems within the pork industry

jack Clayton (uk) - modernising the game industry

ed Green (uk) - How beef production can adapt tochanges in global demand and global food culture

Michael Chilvers (au) - How systemised management of intensive mixed farms could assist expansion

Charles harrison (uk) - “Keeping up with the Johne’s”:Practical opportunities for the control of Johne’s disease indairy cattle

Gemma sadler (au) - Sustainable weed managementand the use of genetically engrained herbicide tolerant crops

joanne Nash (uk) - Inspection visits of value: Welfare ofman and beast

ray Vella (au) - Grazing and genetic options to grow thebeef business

dave reilly (au) - Date palms for Australia - furtherdeveloping the industry

damien Murphy (au) - Young farmer finance schemes

rhys arangio (au) - minimising whale depredation onlongline fishing

james Male (au) - lamb finishing systems - maximisingthe margins on grain finishing lambs

dr Zoe davies (uk) - movers and shakers in global pig production

steven jack (uk) - Opportunities for farming businesses in the produce sector - through provenance, innovation and brand development

For PdF copies, go towww.nuffieldinternational.org

Major changes

The past year has seen the completion ofsome major changes for the Trust. Theofficial change of director took place onJanuary 1st and gave a very short lead-intime during December for our new director,Colonel mike Vacher OBE, FCmI.

I would like to welcome mike and his wife,Poey, to the Nuffield family.

The Trustees have been very impressedwith the way mike has adapted to his newrole and how he has responded to ourrequests. It has been good to see both himand Poey at our major shows, includingCereals in lincolnshire and the livestockEvent at the NEC. This has given both ofthem a good opportunity to meet existingand potential Scholars.

mike also joined us for the selection of the2013 Scholars at our new interview date inmid-October, when our selectors awarded22 scholarships, with two more joining earlyin 2013 from the selection of the ArdenScholarship.

New timetable

This new October date has proved to be verysuccessful for the newly selected Scholars,as it allows them and their partners to meetas a group early on, link with sponsors andattend a conference where they receive theirtie or broch just a few weeks after theirselection.

I would like to take the opportunity tothank all selectors for the time they have putinto reading all the applications and attendingthe selection interviews. I should also like tothank Professor David leaver who hasretired from the Selection Panel. In his place,I would like to welcome Emeritus ProfessorAllan Buckwell.

2014 scholar selections

The selections for the 2014 Scholars tookplace in mid-October and gave rise to 21new Scholars representing a large crosssection of those involved in our industry.Each individual was awarded theirScholarships at the Annual NuffieldConference held in Cardiff, in November,and will commence their Nuffield studies inthe New Year.

New sponsors

Nuffield would not be able to function withoutthe support of our many sponsors, old andnew. I would like to welcome two new awardsponsors. Firstly, micron, a specialist feedsupplement business, based in the South

West, which is offering aScholar sponsorship. Oursecond new sponsor, moleValley Farmers (mVF), isslightly different from ourtraditional sponsors.

mike has been workingwith mVF Chief Executive,Andrew Jackson, and hassecured an initial deal forthree years, resulting in asignificant sponsorship forthe Trust’s generalactivities.

This is the first time wehave had a farmercooperative offeringsponsorship and will, I amsure, be a greatopportunity for bothorganisations.

special thanks

The reports that Scholarsproduce have again beenedited and put on line byAnne Beckett - and we allextend our thanks to Annefor this valuable work. mythanks must also go to theboard for all the hard workput in this year.

2013 annualConference

The 2013 AnnualConference was held onthe 21st and 22ndNovember at the Vale Resort, Cardiff, with atotal of 18 Scholars presenting their findingsover the two days.

The event was hosted by a Welsh ScholarGroup (chaired by 1998 Nuffield Scholar,Wyn Owen), who were delighted to reportthe highest delegate numbers for manyyears, with over 350 individuals attending thefirst day.

Over 400 delegates then went on to enjoya fantastic three course meal at the ValeResort, at which the ‘Steven and Gill BullockAward for Nuffield Innovation’ was presentedto 2002 Scholar, Donald macPherson.

New board members

Retiring as board trustees in November 2013were Joe Franklin and Robert Parker, whohad both served two years. Also retiring wasNigel Pulling, who has been a long-termexternal member of the board, serving underfour chairmen.

At the 2013 AGm, Scholars Ed Green (asthe Returning Scholar Trustee) Julie mate(NSch 1987) and louise manning (NSch 2007)were welcomed to the board, along withJames Brooke Turner as the external trustee.

rsC award

As guests of the Worshipful Company ofButchers, mike and I were invited to lunch atButchers Hall in london in early November -and were greeted with an award.

The speaker at the event was thePresident of The Royal Smithfield Club andfollowing his talk, we were presented with TheRoyal Smithfield Club Bicentenary Award.

The is award is given to an individual ororganisation that has made a majorcontribution to the British livestock industry.

I was delighted and surprised to receive thison behalf of Nuffield UK, as this is the first timethis annual award has been presented to anorganisation, rather than an individual.

STEPHEN WATkiNSNuffield UK Chairman [email protected]

united kingdom


The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust wasannounced as the recipient of the 2013 RoyalSmithfield Club Bicentenary Award inrecognition of the Trust’s significantcontribution to the UK meat industry.

"Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust hasprovided over 800 people in agriculture,associated industries and the rural community thechance to travel to expand knowledge andunderstanding,” says RSC Chairman, AngusStovold. "These individuals have delivered benefits to our industry through knowledgetransfer, inspiring commitment and development of tomorrow's leaders.

"If you are lucky enough to be a NuffieldScholar, doors throughout the world open whichprovide access to the world's leaders in food and farming.”

From left: RSC President, Andrew Gilmour, Nuffield Chairman,Stephen Watkins; NFST Director, Mike Vacher; and RSC Chairman,Angus Stovold.

NuFField WiNs rsC aWard

selected on their ability toshape and lead change in theirrespective agriculturalindustries, 21 new Nuffieldscholars were announced by theNFst in october.

“Once again, the calibre of applicantswho represent associated agricultural,horticultural and rural sectors was extremelyhigh, making the selection processchallenging,” comments NFST Director, mikeVacher. “As a result, we’ve pulled together agroup of individuals who I’m sure will rise tothe challenge Nuffield presents.

“The Scholars’ report titles showcase thedynamic and broad nature of the awards,with chosen subject areas ranging fromadvances in technology in the arable sectorand premium beef marketing, through towool processing and automation inhorticulture.” The 2014 Scholars comprise of:

robert allen (Devon/South West) -‘Turning data into information: How do wemaximise the potential of digital technology?’

johnny alvis (Somerset/South West) -‘Achieving more from less - maximisingdairy farming profitability utilising limited resources’

jonathan Birnie (Tyrone/Northern Ireland)- Facilitating change within the red meatchain through the dissemination of newtechnology, enhanced cooperation andmutual sustainability’

Mark Bowyer (Norfolk/Anglia) -‘Technology into practice; how is newtechnology conveyed to arable farmers anddo they use it?’

james drummond(Northumberland/North East) - ‘Optimisingewe performance for a productive sheepenterprise and a high quality finished lamb’

robert drysdale (West Sussex/SouthEast) - ‘The future of beef production fromthe dairy herd: Is integration a model thatwould work?’

sophie edenborough (Shropshire/Westmidlands) - ‘On-farm methods to reduceantibiotic usage in broiler production’

alex Fowlie (Aberdeenshire/Scotland) -‘What role can land managers play in theemerging “New Energy" Sector’?

Bruce harnett (Cornwall/South West) -‘Intensive horticulture - man versus machine’

jen hunter (Somerset/South West) -‘modern wool processing’

Gail lewis (Powys/Wales) - ‘Sustainableland tenure for the farmer and the next generation’

Neil Macdonald (Somerset/South West) -‘Orcharding systems for the next decade’

russ Mckenzie (Cambridgeshire/Anglia) - ‘Direct drilling - mastering extremeweather conditions’

Mike Miller (Dorset/South West) - ‘All winter grazing’

allister Mitchell (Armagh/NorthernIreland) - ‘marketing premium beef -ecommerce opportunities and business models’

kit Papworth (Norfolk/Anglia) - ‘Frommuck to gold: How to manage a farmer-controlled business when it is successful’

richard Pennock (North Yorkshire/Yorkshire) - ‘Investigating different farmingsystems to improve efficiency in the UK beef industry’

laura savage (Warwickshire/Westmidlands) - ‘The edibles sector - labour andeducation 2014 onwards’

Werner strydom (Suffolk/Anglia) - ‘Howcan we reduce campylobacter in the UKfood chain?

david Walston (Cambridgeshire/Anglia) - ‘Improving yields NS profits byimproving soils’

Maeve Whyte (Warwickshire/Westmidlands) ‘Eat Your Sprouts! Tackling thefood waste issue’


2014 uk scholars announced

2014 Bullock award winner -Well hung & tender!Beef farmer doNaldMaCPhersoN from Berwickscooped the 2014 ‘steven andGill Bullock award’ forinnovation after using what hediscovered abroad on hisNuffield studies to boostbusiness and boost the Britishbeef industry.

Donald embarked on his Nuffield study tour in August 2002, spending fourweeks Down Under before heading to America to understand how farmers there turn out their famously deliciousmeat so consistently.

He found the US and Australian beefindustries, without subsidies, were morefocused on creating the best possibleproducts for customers and had pricing systems that graded meat oneating satisfaction.

On his return, Donald struggled tointroduce the same system in the UK, butwhat he learned abroad helped him to kickstart his ‘Well Hung and Tender’ burgerbusiness, selling his four-week-hung beef at farmers’ markets inNorthumberland and Scotland, withsubsequent sales going through shops,restaurants and online.

Since the 2008 financial crisis, thebusiness has focused on event cateringand employs 140 casual staff at eventsacross the North East and Scotland.

Still based out of the family’s 90-acreCastlehills Farm, the bussiness nowprovides 80% of the farm’s revenue.

“I’m chuffed to bits with it [the BullockAward] and it’s nice to get a wee pat onthe back” said Donald. “The scholarshipchanged everything for me – I’ve workedon a farm all my days and it really openedmy eyes to what else is out there. Wewould not have had the business where itis now without the Nuffield experience.”

n the steven and Gill Bullockaward celebrates uk scholarswho used what they learned ontheir scholarship to develop theirbusiness innovatively and tocontribute to the industry overthe past 10 years. an annual prizeof £1,000 goes to the winner.

association news.

2013 was a particularly positive year forNuffield France. A new partnership wascreated and we were glad to be able to selectthree new Scholars.

Our aim is to enhance our scholarshipprogramme further by finding new sponsorsand by organising new learning opportunitiesfor our Scholars. To this end, we are nowlooking to offer short courses about Frenchagriculture, CAP and communication skillsafter the selection day.

We were successful in gaining newsponsorship involving specialised magazines.This support will help to spread the wordabout our scholarships and make them betterknown amongst producers and theagricultural sector.

The two GFP tours in June 2013 were verymuch appreciated - both by the AustralianScholars and by the French, who helpedorganise the tours. As a result, Nuffield Francehas decided that it would be more beneficial ifour Scholars could also participate in the GFP.To help achieve this, a committee, comprisinga previous Scholar and a representative of thesponsor, will be set up.

We have our sights set on making moreprogress this year and will try to find newsponsorship with the aim of selecting at leastfive Scholars in 2014.

Speaking about the future, NuffieldFrance is looking forward to welcoming theCSC in 2015!

scholar newsPatrice PoBel (NSch 2008) went into

the beer industry after his scholarship andhas recently won a major award for hisproduct. Brewing beer at Pont d’ Ain nearlyon, he picked up the world title for Pale Beer at the World Beer Awards inOctober 2013.

Nicolas de WatriGaNt (NSch 2007)grew up studying agriculture and specialisedin the horse racing industry. He has recentlycreated his own bloodstock agency inFrance and is successfully selling horses tothe Royal Family in Qatar.

Changing industryThe structure of French agriculture ischanging. The number of farms isdecreasing and the farms are now muchbigger. In France, this trend began a longtime ago, in the middle of the 19th Century,as is the case for the majority of Europeancountries. However, the real turning pointwas at the beginning of the 1960s when amodern agricultural policy was developed,first nationally and then at a European level.This marked the beginning of modernisingthe agricultural sector and led to a decreasein the number of farms.

According to the 2010 agriculturalcensus, there were 515,000 farms in France(mainland and overseas departments),compared to 665,000 in 2000. Today, theselong-term demographic changes arecontinuing and it does not seem that theywill end soon.

The 2010 agricultural census did, in fact,reveal that, in certain regions in France, only40% of farmers over the age of 50 (whowere therefore expected to retire within thenext 10 years) knew of a young farmer totake on their farm.

Farming and economicsEconomic activity in France ispredominantly carried out by a smallnumber of large businesses,

whereas agriculture remains an industry madeup of small, mainly family-run businesses.

On most French farms, the head of thefarm works alone, with occasional help fromemployees or family members. On average,French farms use 1.5 work units. However,cooperative structures are growing innumber and, in 2010, covered 46% ofannual working units (AWU).

Although there are more and more non-family members in the permanent workforce, they still only represent 16% of all farmworkers (compared to 10% in 2000).

SmEs provide another important sourceof employment in France and across Europe,and agriculture contributes greatly to thissector of the economy as well.

Since the end of the 70s, the export tradefor France has provided a healthy surplus.Although this surplus fell in 2009 because ofthe crisis and the severe decrease in globaltrade, it picked up again in 2010 (+8 billionEuros) and is expected to be even higher in2011 (around +11 billion Euros).

The agri-food sector remains key toFrench exports (representing 10 to 20% of allFrench exports). The main exports being

wine and drinks, cereals and dairyproduce.

FranceSARAH SiNglAPrésidente Nuffield [email protected]

contributions welcome...JIM Geltch, International Secretary, Po Box 586, Moama, NSw 2731, australia email. [email protected]

INterNatIoNal NewSletter:Production and layout courtesy of editor, JulIe Mate NSchemail. [email protected]

Please let usknow if you

have news toreport or

success storiesto share.

Providing easy access to Scholar reports,forthcoming national events and conferences,

links to relevant websites and news... Please take a look at the Nuffield

International website.

Nuffield international Website

www.nuffieldinternational.org


BeN BouGhtoN, fromMoree in New Southwales, receives the 2014Nuffield australiaScholarship supported bythe Grains research andDevelopment corporation.

Ben will research thepotential of UnmannedAerial/Ground Vehicles

(UAV/UGV) for the grains industry.

With his wife, Ben works in his family’s business,Gilroy Farms, which is a dryland croppingenterprise producing wheat, barley, chickpeas andsorghum. Cropping a total of 2,000 hectares, Benis involved in management decisions, includingagronomy and investment, and day-to-day farm operations.

Ben believes that while there is much value for thegrains industry in accessing precise data for better paddock management, collecting this data is expensive, time consuming and often confusing.

He says UAVs and UGVs offer huge potential in allagricultural enterprises, but particularly in grains.

“This data could be used in applications such asweed and disease monitoring, water movementand vegetation mapping, facilitating variable ``rate fertiliser application and yield forecasting,” he explains.

Ben hopes to visit the USA, Europe, and Brazil toconduct his research.

email: [email protected]

KareN BrocK, from

winkleigh in tasmania,

receives the 2014

Nuffield australia

Scholarship supported by

horticulture australia

limited using voluntary

contributions from

Nuffield australia and

matched funds from the

australian Government.

Karen hopes to reduce the assessment time ofsoft berry fruit by developing a technique forplacement of gene markers in the plant.

With her husband, Karen owns and operatesBrocklands Pty ltd, a diversified horticulturalbusiness supplying plants and tissue culturematerial to the soft berry fruit and truffleindustries, operating a tissue culture laboratoryand running a joint venture raspberry breedingprogram among other operations.

Karen says at present it takes up to three years to get new soft berry fruits to market forassessment. However, she believes this timecould be halved by using Polymerase ChainReaction (PCR) technology to develop atechnique for placement of gene markers in the fruit.

“This could mean instant verification of pathogensresiding in plant tissue, enabling rapidmultiplication which then results in material being

released to the market in just 18 months.”

Karen hopes to visit Oregon, Arkansas andCalifornia in the USA, as well as the UK, Chile,morocco and New Zealand.


taNIa chaPMaN, from

Mildura in Victoria,

receives the 2014

Nuffield australia

Scholarship supported

by rabobank.

Tania will research citrusvarieties grown around theworld to assess suitabilityfor Australian growing

conditions, cost efficiency of production andmarket opportunities they may create.

With her family, Tania owns and operates a 140-hectare citrus property south of mildura,producing Navel oranges predominantly forexport and Valencia oranges for the export,domestic and juice markets.

Tania’s key role in the business is in finance andmarketing, with responsibility for the qualityassurance program, maximum Residue limitsand other protocols to ensure that they canexport to as many markets as possible. Currently, mildura Fruit Company exports to 32countries worldwide.

Tania would like to research the varieties grown invarious countries and to see if they are not justsuitable for our growing conditions, but can alsobe produced cost-efficiently, as some varietiesrequire a lot more manual work during theproduction process. In addition, she is keen toidentify counter-seasonal marketingopportunities.

“We provide too much citrus for domesticconsumption and currently our industry has anoversupply in key months of our productionseason. To address this imbalance, we need toidentify and switch to new varieties consumerswant,” Tania says.


NIGel corISh, from

Goondiwindi in

Queensland, receives the

2014 Nuffield australia


by the cotton research

and Development

corporation and cotton

australia.

Nigel will study Fertiliser Use Efficiency (FUE) inirrigated cotton crops.

The family business consists of four mixedfarming properties on the NSW-QlD border, with4,000 hectares of irrigated cotton grown annuallyas the main crop.

They also grow about 4,000 hectares of dry landcultivated crops, including wheat, chickpeas andsorghum, as well as operating a lamb feedlot and

running 130-head of Angus breeder cows.

Nigel’s role in the business is to manage andoperate one of the properties, Yambocully. He isalso part of the Corish Farms managementgroup, which manages the financial decisionsacross the businesses. With fertiliser, and inparticular nitrogen, being one of the biggest farminput costs Nigel is keen to study how to improveboth FUE and Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency (NUE)on both his own farm and across the industry.

“There are a number of different forms of nitrogenand a number of different crop applicationmethods,” says Nigel. “my studies will allow meto find the most efficient type and way to applynitrogen to the crop,” he explains.

Nigel hopes to visit USA, Brazil, China andEurope to complete his studies.


record numberof scholarshipsawarded in 2014

Nuffield australia awarded a record 21 scholarshipsfrom around australia at itsNational Conference inPerth in september, giving a resounding vote ofconfidence in the nextgeneration of agriculturalleaders.

“We are so pleased to be able to

award a record 21 Scholars for

2014,” said [former] Nuffield

Australia Chairman, Terry Hehir.

“Not only do they bring a new

range of experience and

knowledge into our organisation,

but they are also about to have an

experience many alumni have

described as

life-changing.

“Our 2014 Scholars will be

focussing on a wide range of

topics - including global export

opportunities for vegetables,

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the

grains industry, improving crop

germination and yield in a drying

climate, intensive hydroponic

berry production, productivity

gains for dairy farming and

commercial viability of alternative

flower petal products.”

australia 2014 Nuffield scholars

Australia 2014 Cont/d on page 12


colIN De GruSSa, from

esperance in western

australia, receives the

2014 Nuffield Scholarship

supported by cBh Group

and cSBP.

Colin will research howfarmers across the globeinteract with governmentfor the benefit of their industry.

He works in a family-owned and managed 2,100hectare farming enterprise, with a 1,600 hectarecropping program consisting of wheat, barley andcanola. In addition, the operation turns off around1,000 prime lambs a year.

Colin would like to investigate the ways thatprimary producers in other nations are engagingwith policy makers, and the role of government inthe future of agriculture.

“The intention is to identify how farmers andagribusiness can build strong, positiveconnections to ensure informed policy decisionsare made by our politicians. Non-agriculturallobby groups are increasingly influencingpoliticians while farmers appear to have lost theirability to influence policy direction,” he explains.

Colin would also like to examine the way farmersand agribusinesses interact with consumers.

To complete his studies, Colin would like to visitNorth America, the UK and a range of EU nations,to meet with farmers, lobby groups, politicians and advisors.


wayNe DreDGe, fromlakes entrance inVictoria, receives the2014 Nuffield australiaScholarship supported bythe Fisheries researchand Developmentcorporation andwoolworths.

Wayne will researchvarious methods of

fishing for species such as Gummy Shark andalso hopes to assess the environmental outcomes of the techniques on fish stocks andbroader environment.

Wayne is a commercial fisherman working in theCommonwealth Southern Shark Fishery and theTasmanian and Victorian Southern Rock lobster Fisheries.

As owner/operator of the "Opal Star", Waynespends up to eight months a year at sea, withannual harvest averages of around 15 tonnes ofSouthern Rock lobster and 25 tonnes of primarilyGummy Shark. Other catch includes Octopus,some scale-fish and crabs.

Wayne would like to study research methods ofhook-based fishing compared to gill-net fishing for Gummy Shark, taking into accountenvironmental impact.

“In doing so I wish to compare the efficiency,sustainability and impact on marine mammalinteractions of gill-net fishing to hook-fishing aswell as identifying which, if any, hook-fishingsystems are most likely to be the most successful in our unique Southern FishingGrounds,” he explains.


eMMa GerMaNo, fromMirboo North in Victoria,receives the 2014Nuffield australiaScholarship supported byhorticulture australialimited using funds fromthe National Vegetabler&D levy and matchedfunds from the australianGovernment.

Emma will research global export opportunities forvegetables and other primary produce.

Emma is Business Development and Operationsmanager for ‘Germano Produce’, a familybusiness supplying cauliflower and cabbagecrops for the Australian eastern seaboard freshmarket and Woolworths Australia.

The family farm is around 120 hectares, withabout 50 per cent planted to vegetable crops.The business currently grows approximately50,000 cauliflower plants per week for sixmonths of the year and also grows broad beans,cabbage, and Chinese cabbage periodicallyduring the six-month harvest period.

Emma will research how different countriesapproach the issue of export, including whatgovernment programs are available to growers, aswell as the market opportunities for Australianproduce. “I expect this will involve the study oftariffs and free trade agreements, and also howsubsidies have an effect on global trade. Tocomplement this, I would also like to investigatehow Australia is able to compete in the global foodmarket,” she explains.

Emma plans to visit Europe, Israel, Brazil andChina to complete her studies.


GreG GIBSoN, from hagley in tasmania,receives the 2014 Nuffield australiaScholarship supported bythe Sidney Myer Fund.

Greg will study the latestdrainage techniques, with the aim of increasingproduction on non-performing ground throughbetter water management.

Greg manages the family farm in northernTasmania, a 530-hectare intensive farmingoperation with a cropping program consisting ofalkaloid poppies, onions, processing peas,broccoli and potatoes. Also grown are an array ofseed crops including carrot, beet, clover andryegrass seed. The grazing program consists ofan Angus cow herd of 170 head and a 5,000head fat lamb trading operation.

With water logging a significant issue in the district, Greg’s studies will focus on advances indrainage technology.

“We cannot continue to spend resources onground that is not producing. To bring non-performing ground into production through betterwater management and soil health is my goal.

“I would like a better understanding of watermanagement, including Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI),soil moisture monitoring and drainage,” he explains.

Greg is particularly interested in the feasibility offarmers using a rear-mounted drainage machineon their own tractors. He will travel to the USA,Canada and Europe during his travels.


NIcK GIllett, fromBencubbin in westernaustralia, receives the2014 Nuffield Scholarshipsupported by the Grainsresearch andDevelopment corporation.

Nick will study innovativeways of improving cropgermination and yield in adrying climate.

As co-owner and principle manager of the family-owned farming operation in the low-rainfalleastern wheat belt of WA, Nick crops over 5,600hectares of wheat and over 900 hectares ofbarley annually. The Gillett’s also run some sheepon the remainder of their property.

With three of his district’s worst winter rainfallyears on record occurring in the last ten years,Nick would like to study how to improve wheatgermination for better plant establishment inmarginal conditions.

Nick has a wide range of research targets,including investigating soil moisture measuringdevices, mechanical intervention to improve theseedbed and hydro-priming of seed pre-planting.

“I’d also like to look at pre-treatment of seeds with salicylic acid, or similar, to improve theimbibition process, wheat genetics and also soilameliorants for retaining moisture within the rootzone,” he says.

To complete his studies, Nick hopes to visit India, the USA, mexico, North Africa, Iran andSouth Africa.


tIM GuBBINS, from

Moyston in Victoria,

receives the 2014 Nuffield

australia Scholarship

supported by australian

wool Innovation. tim will

study how to achieve the

full potential of the Merino

sheep breed.

Tim is livestock manager on a Western Districts property, with responsibility for a merinoflock consisting of 5,500 commercial ewes and600 stud ewes, 4,000 weaners and 2,000 mixed-age weathers.

The operation also includes a merino stud andhas a winter grazed area of approximately 1,200hectares, as well as an annual cropping programof around 3,000 hectares.

Tim would like to study the merino breed with afocus on the period from conception through to weaning.

“I see lambing losses as one of the biggest issuesrelated to this period, but there are also animalwelfare concerns.

“I would like to explore the use of DNA markersand electronic identification to better understandgenetic traits that could help with lamb survivaland growth rates,” Tim says.

Tim believes the wider industry stands to benefitfrom anyone who can improve the merino's abilityto conceive and raise a lamb that has the ability tosurvive to weaning age.




MIchael lyoNS, from

charters towers in

Queensland, receives the



by Meat and

livestock australia.

michael will study innovativeways of managing naturalresources to create highly

profitable grazing businesses.

With his wife, michael manages the family-ownedNorth Queensland property, ‘Wambiana’, which is23,200 hectares and runs up to 3,500 head ofBrahman cattle. The cattle business includesbreeding bulls for sale, growing out steers and acattle-trading enterprise.

Given the declining terms of trade for beef,michael would like to study innovative ways ofmanaging natural resources to produce ‘more with less’.

“On the production side, I’d like to look atrotational grazing to regenerate bio-diversepastures and investigate selection for cattle thatare adapted to their environment, meaning lowerinput costs,” he explains.

michael also hopes to research complementaryenterprises, such as agri-tourism, on-farmeducation and training, and also ‘stacking’enterprises where the outputs of one enterprisebecome the inputs of the next.


NIcKy MaNN, from

warnervale in New South

wales, receives the 2014

Nuffield australia


horticulture australia

limited using voluntary

contributions from

Nuffield australia and

matched funds from the

australian Government.

Nicky will study intensive hydroponic berryproduction within greenhouses.

Nicky and her husband are hydroponic rosegrowers on the Central Coast of New SouthWales, producing 6,000 square metres of rosesand selling over a million stems a year.

She is in charge of strategic planning andmanagement, plus the sales and marketing of theroses. With a new project underway to growberries in a fully hydroponic and closedgreenhouse system, Nicky would like to furtherinvestigate intensive hydroponic berry productionon a large commercial scale and whether thesystem can be combined with aquaculture.

“There are some Australian aquaponic projectsproducing both fish and leafy greens, like lettuce,herbs and Asian vegetables. However, none tomy knowledge are combining hydroponic berriesor hydroponic flowers with aquaponics and thisprovides huge opportunities for this type ofproduction,” she explains.

Nicky would like to visit the USA, Canada, NewZealand, Brazil, mexico and Europe.


haNNah MarrIott, from

Kalkallo in Victoria,

receives the 2014

Nuffield australia


the william Buckland

Foundation.

Hannah will research theability of ElectronicIdentification Devices (EID)

to deliver production benefits to sheep farmers,with traceability as a bonus.

Hannah is farm manager of a family-owned1,080-hectare prime lamb property, one of threefarms the family operates.

It is a fully integrated business, involving merino,first cross and second cross lamb production. She puts 4,500 first cross ewes to Dorset rams, with lambs grown for the domestic andexport markets.

While traceability may be the underlying benefit forusing EID in sheep, Hannah believes there needsto be significant production benefits that are user-friendly to ensure adoption by the industry.

Hannah believes EIDs could help manageseasonal risk by ensuring excess sheep are soldon poor performance, rather than age, and willalso ensure the increasing cost of inputs are usedmost efficiently.

“The technology can help farmers make informeddecisions, but it needs to be practical andrelevant,” she explains.

Hannah plans to visit New Zealand, the middleEast, America, Europe and Asia to complete her studies.


SIMoN MattSSoN, fromMarian in Queensland,receives the 2014Nuffield australiaScholarship supported by Sugar researchaustralia.

Simon will study soil health,focussing on both thebeneficial and predatorymicrobial activities that are

crucial to sustaining productive soils.

Simon manages his family’s north Queenslandfarm, producing sugar cane, soybeans andchickpeas in rotation, utilising a two-metrecontrolled traffic farming system. He uses asupplementary irrigation system, including centrepivot and hard hose irrigators.

Simon has a keen interest in further understandingsoil health and the properties that improve thestructure and wellbeing of soils in general.

“I’d like to focus on soil biology and the balancesof fungi and bacteria, as well as the beneficial andpredatory-type microbial activities which arecrucial to sustaining soil health.

“my desire is to investigate soil health and thefundamentals that sustain good practices that willprovide the basis of a sustainable productionsystem into the future,” Simon explains.

In addition, Simon would like to investigate value-adding at the farmgate to make the most of thecurrent rotation of soybeans and chickpeas withthe primary crop of sugar cane.

To complete his studies, Simon would like to visitthe UK, the USA, Brazil, India and South Africa.


Paul NIVeN, from Stanley

in tasmania, receives the



Dairy australia.

Paul will research anintegrated dairy farmmanagement system thatincludes the physical andfinancial information to

reduce risk in the business.

Paul is Business manager (Dairy) for the VanDiemen’s land (VDl) company, Australia’s largestdairy farming business.

Paul’s role is to oversee the production andprofitability of the dairy business, which includes25 dairies ranging from 300 to 1,800 cows and aheifer-rearing facility.

Paul has several areas he would like to investigate in researching an integrated dairy farmmanagement system. “I’d like to see how tointegrate commodity pricing into our managementsystem, research environmental recording andmonitoring, and grazing management, as well asto look at stock information and management,” he explains.

With 25 similar, but unique farms, Paul has anongoing challenge in monitoring both the current,in-season performance of the properties, as welladjusting to longer-term factors.

Paul hopes to visit New Zealand, the USA, Brazil,Ireland, China and Saudi Arabia to complete his studies.


BoB NIxoN, fromKalannie in westernaustralia, receives the2014 Nuffield australiaScholarship supported bythe Grains research andDevelopmentcorporation.

Bob will study techniquesand crop rotations to copewith a drying climate.

In partnership with his family, Bob runs abroadacre cropping and livestock property withinthe low rainfall district of the central wheat belt,receiving an annual rainfall of 300mm. This yeartheir cropping program consisted of 9,100hectares wheat, 1,570 hectares canola and 1,000hectares barley. They also run 2,000 merino ewesmated to merino/Samm rams.

Bob is particularly interested in adding low riskdiversity to their crop rotation. He would like toinvestigate making low cost canola profitable inthe local environment.

“I would like to study a range of options, includingmanaging off patent, low cost herbicides for weedcontrol, retaining seed, how to mitigate directheading seed loss, plant densities and rowspacing, as well as the potential for Gm traitssuch as a ‘drought guard gene’,” he says.

Bob would like to visit Canada, the USA and themiddle East to complete his studies.




auBrey Pellett, fromhill end in Victoria,receives the 2014Nuffield Scholarshipsupported by the GeoffreyGardiner DairyFoundation.

Aubrey will study the futureof productivity gain fordairy farming.

He is a dairy farmer, milking 450 cows onapproximately 190 hectares of milking area and40 hectares of support area. Being self-employed, Aubrey is the prime decision maker inthe business, along with his spouse.

Aubrey plans to examine productivityopportunities Australian dairy farmers may havewhen looking out 20 years into the future, with afocus on the major opportunities that will deliver‘more from less’ for the industry.

“I’d like to identify how dairy businesses will profitfrom the opportunity to feed a larger, wealthierpopulation, but with greater scrutiny on inputsand environmental performance in the long-term.

“I see plenty of areas to investigate, including nextgeneration ryegrasses, alternative homegrownfeeds, cow genetic improvement, as well asrobotic milking and feeding,” he says.

Aubrey would like to visit Germany, Holland, NewZealand and the USA on his travels.


BeN ralStoN, fromBatemans Bay in NewSouth wales, receives the2014 Nuffield australiaScholarship supported bythe Fisheries researchand Developmentcorporation.

Ben will study how toeducate Australianrestaurant owners/chefs

and retailers in serving and handling oysters,creating better links through the supply chain tothe benefit of farmers and consumers.

Ben is an oyster farmer on the South Coast ofNew South Wales, where he produces 80,000dozen oysters annually on 10 hectares. He is self-employed and responsible for all aspects of hisbusiness, including marketing, sales, finances,compliance and regulation.

He would like to see Australian restaurants - andthe wider community - order live oysters directfrom farmers, shucking and serving the oystermeat in its own natural juice, a common practice overseas.

Ben believes oysters are at their best when theygo direct from farm to retailer, giving value to theconsumer and more profit for the farmer.

“Using my Nuffield Scholarship, I’d like toexperience first-hand how overseas industrieshandle demand for their product and sell oysterslive. This knowledge can be brought back not justfor the benefit of farmers, but the chefs andrestaurants that sell our oysters,” he explains.

Ben would like to visit Europe, the UK and HongKong on his travels.


chrIS reIchSteIN, fromesperance in westernaustralia, receives the2014 Nuffield Scholarshipsupported by the Grainsresearch andDevelopment corporation.

Chris will study how bestto deliver information tofarmers in order to bringabout practice

change, resulting in improved profitability and/or sustainability.

Chris crops wheat, barley, canola and field peasover an area of 4,000 hectares north-east ofEsperance in the 400 millimetre rainfall zone. Thebusiness is purely grain production with livestockbeing phased out in 2007.

Chris says while a great deal of research anddevelopment work is undertaken in Australia, thepackaging and delivery of the messages bytraditional means is giving a poor return on dollars invested.

“like most, farmers are time-poor, so I’d like toinvestigate the best combination of technology,media, social and scientific means that can beemployed to best disseminate this valuableinformation, and research what role growergroups can play,” Chris explains.

Chris says while his studies may be targetingchange at the research and extension level, thebenefits would encompass all stakeholders.


Sarah SaMMoN, fromSwan hill in Victoria,receives the 2014Nuffield Scholarshipsupported by horticultureaustralia limited usingvoluntary contributionsfrom Nuffield australiaand matched funds fromthe australianGovernment.

Sarah will research the commercial viability ofalternative flower petal products, as well asadvancements in the production, packaging andmarketing of rose petals.

With her mother, Sarah founded Australia's firstrose petal farm nine years ago and now theygrow and freeze-dry the largest colour range ofrose petals in the southern hemisphere.

Sarah grows the rose petals outdoors on thefamily farm, where they have more than 6,000rose plants and a small crop of hydrangeas,which produce from October through to July.

Sarah will research alternative flower petalproducts to ensure the domestic industrycontinues to evolve and thrive.

“my studies will investigate the production andpackaging of edible rose petals for culinary use,as well as certified organic rose petals and theircommercial viability,” Sarah says.

She will also include research into niche markets,including rose petal oil, crystallized flowers andtourist shops or cafes on flower farms.

Sarah hopes to travel to Ecuador, the UK, France,Bulgaria, Germany and the USA.

email: [email protected]: www.twitter.com/sarahsammonFacebook: www.facebook.com/sarahsammonauBlog: www.sarahsammon.com

KeShaV tIMalSeNa,from armidale in NewSouth wales, receives the2014 Nuffield australiaScholarship supported bywoolworths.

Keshav will research the use of semi-enclosedglasshouses to maximisetomato production while

minimising inputs and waste.

Keshav is employed as senior grower manager ofTomato Exchange, a hydroponic tomato producerwith 20 hectares of production under glass. Thecompany produces over 12 million kilograms oftruss tomatoes and over a million kilograms ofcocktail tomatoes annually for the majorsupermarket chains.

Keshav says there is an opportunity in theAustralian industry to modernise glasshouses,resulting in higher yields while reducingenvironmental impact.

“There is new technology in the US called semi-enclosed module greenhouses, which have a veryclean environmental footprint,” he explains. ‘Inthis system, carbon dioxide produced fromburning natural gas is retained within thegreenhouse. This air is recycled and not released to the atmosphere as in typicalglasshouse operations.”

Once this new technology is established inAustralia, Keshav believes it will help his industry maximise yields while reducingenvironmental impacts.

Keshav’s travel itinerary includes the USA, Europe,mexico, Brazil, Canada and New Zealand.



Daryl chuBB, based atIricana, alberta, is a 2014canadian Nuffield Scholar recipient.

Daryl grew up on a grain and cattle farm in westcentral Canada anddeveloped a passion foragriculture early in life which

he has now coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit.

After completing his Bachelor of Science at theUniversity of Saskatchewan, Daryl went on tomanage a major crop enterprise business, andmost recently, start his own agriculture consultingfirm, DeNovo Ag.

As a Nuffield Scholar, Daryl will continue workingtowards the same goals he has set in hisprofessional career. Agronomically, these goalsinclude studying management techniques thatincrease plant and nutrient efficiency.

Further to that, he will investigate otheragronomic attributes that contribute to yield andquality - such as genetic potential, lodging risk,and the use of growth regulators.

Professionally, he will continue to expand anddiversify his agricultural and business knowledge,utilising that which he learns to create customagronomic solutions in a diversity of managementareas. Follow Daryl at @DarylChubb.


twitter: @Darylchubb

website: www.DeNovoag.com

SteVe wolFGraM, fromStratford, ontario, receives a2014 Nuffield Scholarshipand will be studying factorsthat affect the sustainabilityof food animal agriculture(pork, beef and sheep) in canada.

Steve is a veterinarian atSouth West Ontario

Veterinary Services in Stratford, where he also lives with his wife, leesa, and children Alexandraand Sam.

For the past ten years, Steve has focused onswine herd health and management. Prior to that,he worked in a mixed animal practice, where hedealt primarily with beef and dairy herds.

“The term ‘sustainability’ is sometimes overusedor misunderstood, but to me it encompassesprofitability (while maintaining an affordable foodsource), environmental impact, animal health andwelfare, and food safety,” says Steve.

“I believe that the Canadian food animal industryis at a cross-road when it comes to sustainability.We need to learn from our past and from otherregions that have undergone similar changes,while looking to our future needs, bothdomestically and abroad.”

Steve will visit China, Brazil, Europe and the USAon his travels. During his studies, updates can befound on Twitter (@Steven_Wolfgram), or on hisblog site (www.stevenwolfgram.wordpress.com).

email: [email protected] email: [email protected]: @Steven_wolfgramwww.stevenwolfgram.wordpress.com

cheryl hazeNBerG, fromcalgary, alberta, is arecipient of a 2014 NuffieldScholarship, and will bestudying traceability in beef and ways in whichcanada can adapt itssystems to meet globalconsumer demands.

Cheryl’s passion for the beef industry startedwhen she was a teenager on her family’scommercial beef operation in Central Ontario andcontinued at the University of Guelph where sheobtained an agriculture diploma. She is currentlythe Director of Technical Services for theCanadian Angus Association where she hasworked for seven years.

A proud advocate of the beef industry, Cherylbelieves that presenting the facts to those whodon’t know about food production is the bestway to bridge the gap between the foodproducers and food consumers.

“Consumers are becoming more educated abouthow their food is raised every day. Our industriesneed to be able to provide the information theyare looking for.” says Cheryl.

Cheryl will travel to Australia, China, Uruguay,Ireland, the UK and France to look at differentsystems employed by other countries and tolearn from consumers.

Follow Cheryl’s travels at @CherylHazenberg andwww.havevacationwilltravel.blogspot.ca.Saksatchewan

email: [email protected]: @cherylhazenbergwww.havevacationwilltravel.blogspot.ca.Saksatchewan.

CaNada2014 Nuffield scholars

FraNCe2014 Nuffield scholars

JuStINe DutheIl, fromBrittany in north-westernFrance, is a 2014 NuffieldScholarship recipient,supported by FranceGénétique elevage.

Justine works in horticulturalresearch and is currentlyworking on a program on

cover crops for the GEVES. In a few years, it isher ambition to set up a sheep farm together withher husband.

Justine will study and compare different sheepbreeding systems in the world as part of herscholarship. She will try to understand how theenvironment affects the technical and commercialchoices of sheep breeders. This study will alsoenable her to identify the strengths andweaknesses of each system, in order to help herto make the best choices later in her ownbreeding programme.

To carry out her research, Justine will be visitingAustralia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, theNetherlands, Patagonia, China and India.


lIoNel lauture, fromlauzerte in SouthernFrance, is a 2014scholarship recipient.

lionel works on the familyfarm where he cultivates 110ha of sunflower, wheat andgreen lentils. He also grows60 ha of herbs for sheep and

5 ha of fruit and vegetables - includingasparagus, melon, tomato, squash, chestnut,cabbage. The family business also operates asmall vineyard.

lionel will study quinoa in order to understand thetechnical aspects of growing the crop and to seeif he could develop it on his own farm and in hisregion. He thinks that quinoa could be seen asalternative in the food consumption.

Countries he would to like to visit include South America, and in particular Bolivia, Peru,Écuador, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Chile.He will also carry out his studies in France and the Netherlands.


JeNNIFer le roux is 25years old, and is a 2014French Nuffield Scholarfrom Brittany, in the north-west of France.

Jennifer is a dairy farmer’sdaughter who is passionateabout agriculture and whostudied animal production at university.

Following her studies, she gained valuableexperience on a dairy farm in south-west Victoriain Australia with Glenn and Roma Britnell. Back inFrance, Jennifer now works for BCEl Ouest.

She supports 55 dairy farms, giving advice on arange of subjects - such as feeding systems,nutrition, reproduction and genetics. In the future,she hopes to take over the family farm.

Her Nuffield Scholarship topic is the usage of cornand alfalfa (lucerne) in the dairy industry. She willtravel to Canada, China, the USA and NewZealand on her studies.



lucy cruIcKShaNK, a2014 New zealand Scholar,is an entrepreneur wholives in Masterton whereshe owns sales andmarketing company,Innov8 aotearoa.

lucy completed commerceand physical educationdegrees (marketing andmanagement) at Otago

University. She participated in the FAmEprogramme (Food and Agribusiness marketingExperience) in 2006 and won a JenysysScholarship in 2010.

lucy spent six years as marketing manager for the$250 million Wakatu Incorporation in Nelson andthen became global sales manager for beekeepingand manuka marketing company, Watson & Son in Wairarapa.

Since October 2009, lucy has owned Innov8Aoatearoa and has been assisting NZ companieswith strategically selling and marketing their foodand beverage products, with a focus on exportdevelopment. She spent seven years as a FAmETrustee and is on the masterton licensing Trust.

For her Nuffield Scholarship, lucy is proposing tolook into either: the positioning of manuka andother NZ honey off shore, including marketvalidation, grading criteria, channels to market andcompetition from other countries; or a project onsheep’s milk and related products (powder, milk,cheese, ice-cream and yoghurt).

email: : [email protected]: @innov8aotearoa

JohN MurPhy, a 2014New zealand Scholar, isthe general manager ofMarlborough Garlic ltd,his family’s garlic andshallot operation.

John and wife Jo live inBlenheim with their two-year-old daughter Isabel and their new baby michael.

John has a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) fromCanterbury University and a Bachelor of ArtsHonours (Public Policy) from Victoria University.During his study, he completed an internship atParliament which led to a year as a trainee publicrelations consultant. He worked as a businessanalyst for Capital and Coast District Health Board,did a post graduate paper in applied economics atmassey University in 2005 and also undertook theHorticulture NZ leadership Course in 2011.

With marlborough Garlic, John oversees planting,growing and harvest programmes in the field,alongside drying, packing, processing andmarketing of their products. Recently, he has alsobeen working on the transition to a new companystructure and the processing of new convenienceproducts that he sees as a big part of thecompany’s future.

One of John’s goals for the third-generationcompany is to be the “best garlic and shallotoperation in the world” with a commitment toprofitability, doing things the “right way”, providing

consistency of supply and innovation.

Outside of the business, John would like tocontinue to grow in a leadership and governancecapacity. He is a director of Vegetables NZ andchairman of the Alliums Crop Advisory Group. Thisyear he has been elected chairman of themarlborough Process and Fresh VegetableGrowers Society. John and Jo have also planted a4 ha Sauvignon Blanc vineyard which reachedmaturity in the 2012.

For his scholarship, John is interested in how goodfarming practice can be turned into big businesswithout losing its “essence”, its core focus and itsedge while expanding. He will be exploring if thefamily-based nature of many primary industrybusinesses impedes growth and innovation, or if itcan be an advantage?

Blog: johnmurphy14.wordpress.com

twitter: @NzGarlic

Paul olSeN, a 2014 Newzealand Scholar, is aManawatu-based potatogrower who has alsodiversified into dairyfarming and finishing cattle.

Paul’s Nuffield Scholarshipstudies will concentrate onpotato (cropping)production, delving into howNew Zealand is going to play

its part to help feed the growing global population.

Paul has been involved with the family farm, OlsenPartnership/Okunui Agriculture, since returningfrom lincoln University with a Diploma in Farmmanagement. In 2006, he took over themanagement of operations on the cropping side ofthe business including staff, process contracts andquality assurance. In 2008, he started growingpotatoes himself with seasonal supply going to mrChips. He also finishes cattle and is part of anequity partnership in a dairy farm in the Wairarapa.

Paul has completed a number of leadership andprofessional development courses, includingKellogg Rural leaders. He was the NZ delegate toAsia 4H Network youth conference in Korea in2011 and was a 2012 recipient of a WoolworthsAustralasia Agriculture Scholarship.

Paul was national president of NZ Young Farmers(2011-2013) and is still involved with the organisationas a board member and on the managementcommittee of the Young Farmer Contest.


Mel PoultoN, from theNew zealand North Island,is a 2014 New zealandScholar. She is thewestern North Islandextension manager forBeef and lamb Newzealand.

married to mike, mel alsoplays an active role in their

840ha sheep and beef farm business nearDannevirke – working stock whenever she gets the

chance and adding to tactical and strategicmanagement of the business.

mel’s research topic may look at how New Zealand captures value for New Zealand throughthe sharing of “our brains and technology toleverage access to markets for the sale of our foodand beverages”.

To add value to farmers through the western NorthIsland extension programme for Beef and lambNew Zealand, she works with teams of farmers,collaborates with academics, scientists and ruralprofessionals to ensure relevant information, toolsand technology are delivered.

mel also sits on a number of regional committeesacross the Western North Island, including theSustainable Farming Fund leptospirosis project,Ballance Farm Environment Awards and adverseevents and rural advisory groups.

With a background in event management, she also has an applied science degree from massey University – having majored in agricultureand agribusiness.

email: [email protected]: @MelwNIBlog: poultononthewing.wordpress.com

DaN ShaND is a 2014 Newzealand Scholar whofarms the 7,000 hectareIsland hills Station atculverden in Northcanterbury. he also has abeekeeping and honeyoperation known aseverything Nz ltd.

Island Hills Station runs1,000 lamb supreme ewes,

300 replacements, 180 angus cows, 160 mixedsex rising one and two year olds and 30 R3 steers.

Dan and wife, Amanda, bought the farm fromDan’s parents in 2007, after moving back in 2002.They started the honey business and also a privatewalking track business called the Hurunui HighCountry Track (now closed for a few years toconcentrate on family time with young children,Amalia and Hugh).

The couple won the 2012 Canterbury BalanceFarm Environment Award and Dan attended the2013 Beef and lamb New Zealand leadersEnvironment Forum.

Goals include growing the honey business up to700 hives and increasing Island Hills’ carryingcapacity and production.

For his Nuffield Scholarship studies, Dan willexplore sustainable solutions to secure the long-term economic contribution made by NewZealand’s bee population to agriculture. He willalso study how mobile technology could be usedas a data collection tool in the honey and red meatsectors to deliver a value proposition to farmers.

email: [email protected]: danshand@nzprimarilyBlog: http://danshand.wordpress.com/

NeW ZealaNd2014 Nuffield scholars


SeaN couGhlaN, based inco. Mayo, situated in thewest of Ireland, hasreceived the 2014 NuffieldScholarship sponsored byaurivo. he will study “atransfer to dairying; theknowledge and capitalrequired”.

Sean is currently farming amixture of lowland and mountain grazing. The farmis currently stocked with 50 suckler cows and 300mayo blackface sheep with an emphasis onutilising as much grass as possible. Fragmentationis a particular issue for this farm as the 110 ha isdivided into no less than 13 separate land parcels.

Disillusioned by the lack of profitability and beingreliant on EU subsidies, Sean identified low-costgrass-based dairying as the best way of turninggrass into profit. With the disappearance of dairyquotas in 2015, access to land will become thebiggest barrier to a career in dairying as only0.25% of farmland in Ireland is traded on the openmarket annually.

“The aim is to create a simple, viable, sustainableand enjoyable farm business that is capable ofsurviving without EU supports,” says Sean.“Hopefully, when set up, the farm can be used asa template that can be easily reproduced by otherpeople in the west of Ireland planning a conversionto dairying.

“Profitable dairy farming has the potential tocontribute so much more to Ireland’s ruraleconomy compared to the present system ofsubsistence farming.”

Sean’s intends to study new dairy start-ups in theUK, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and the USA.


Mary DelaNey has beenawarded the 2014 FBD trustNuffield Ireland FarmingScholarship.

mary’s area of study will be‘Sustainability – the carbonchallenge for Irish dairying and beef’.

Originally from Co. monaghan,mary is married to David and together they run aspring calving dairy farm in Co. Kilkenny. They havetwo children, Gerard and Daniel.

mary has an honours degree in agricultural sciencefrom UCD, specialising in Agribusiness and RuralDevelopment. mary is the Sales manager for GAINHorse Feeds which is the equine feed brand ofGlanbia plc. She is also a member of the council forthe Agricultural Science Association (ASA) whichlooks after the professional interests of agriculturalscience graduates.

With the upcoming abolition of milk quotas inEurope, there are exciting and challenging timesahead for both the dairy and beef industries inIreland, mary predicts. She intends to investigatethe impact of the carbon footprint challenge andthe opportunities that exist at farm, milk/meatprocessor and retailer levels in Ireland.

mary plans to carry out her studies in NewZealand, Europe and USA.


JoSePh leoNarD, based atStamullen, co. Meath, northof Dublin, has been awardedthe 2014 Peter Daly trustNuffield Ireland Scholarship,in conjunction withDairymaster and lIc. he ismarried to Mairead and hasfour children.

Joseph is a dairy farmer,currently milking 300 cows. He is also involvedwith his brother in Bellewstown Golf Course, abusiness they set up together 10 years ago.Future expansion plans will see the dairy increaseto 500 cows in 2015.

It is partly as a result of setting up and developingthese businesses that Joseph has chosen hisNuffield topic: To investigate and develop stressmanagement systems in farming in Ireland, withspecific emphasis on the education of youngfarmers and agri-industry personnel.

As an industry, Joseph feels, agriculture needs torecognise that the farmer is the single mostimportant factor in the success of the businessand that, while technical ability/efficiency areimportant, it is crucial that farmers are taught torespect their own limitations and needs, as well astheir ambitions and capabilities.

Joseph plans to travel to New Zealand, Australia,India, the US and Europe to see what educationmodels are in place for farmer welfare.

email: [email protected] twitter:@joesph_leonard

FINola Mccoy, originallyfrom Mullingar, co.westmeath, has beenawarded the 2014 IFJ/IFaScholarship. her area ofstudy is ‘Ní neart go cur lechéile - Building successfulprofessional teams’.

Finola qualified as a veterinarysurgeon at the University

College Dublin in 1997, and after more than adecade working in mixed and dairy practice inIreland, UK and New Zealand, took up a researchposition with Teagasc, the national food andagricultural research and advisory body. In 2010,she was appointed the programme manager forCellCheck, the national udder health programmeco-ordinated and led by Animal Health Ireland.

Finola’s study will look at the benefits andopportunities for providing multi-disciplinarysupport and services for farmers.

“Farmers often seek help and advice, on mastitiscontrol for example, from several areas of theindustry - their farm advisor, vet or milkingmachine technician,” Finola explains. “Yet,communication between these individuals is oftenvery limited. In fact, my experience from practice isthat very often we don’t even know what otherdisciplines are working in the same region!

“Each of these professionals has particularstrengths and skills, and helping them to createnetworks and build multi-disciplinary teams couldmaximise their impact. As resources and timebecome scarce, as local service providers we needto look at how we can work together to provide themost efficient and effective service for farmers.”

Finola plans to look at existing examples of multi-

disciplinary service provision for farmers, in bothresearch and commercial situations, in countriesincluding the UK, Denmark, Australia, NewZealand and the US.


toMMy MoyleS, fromclonakilty in co cork,receives the 2014 MeatIndustry Ireland NuffieldScholarship.

Tommy graduated with aBachelor of Science inAgriculture degree from CIT,Cork in 2005 and currentlymanages a spring calving,

grass-based Simmental beef enterprise on thefamily pig and beef farm.

The topic that he will study is ‘Optimizing returnsfrom suckler production in Ireland, through thedevelopment of a measurement for efficiency’.

He intends to assess the various methods usedthroughout the world to measure the efficiency ofbeef cow production and see what would best suitIrish systems of production. He would also like tosee how beef farmers have adapted their breeds ofcattle to a diverse range of environments.

He believes that suckler farming in Ireland needsto become more efficient if it is to survive. “Aftermilk quotas end in 2015, it is likely that the Irishsuckler herd will contract due to increasedpressures from dairy expansion and technologicaladvances, such as sexed semen.”

Tommy was vice president of macra na Feirme,the Irish YF organisation, from 2011-2013.


SeaN o’BrIeN, fromMidleton, co cork, receivesthe 2014 Golden Jubileetrust Nuffield Scholarship.

Sean is married to Bernadetteand has three children. He isa dairy farmer with a 160-cowherd, plus followers.

Sean has a Diploma inCorporate Direction from UCC and a Degree inmutual Business from UCC. He is a member of the General Committee of Dairygold Co-op, and is heavily involved with his local dairydiscussion group, with macra na Feirme and localcharity organisations.

Sean will study ‘How to educate, identify andrecruit new board members for dairy co-operativesin a post quota era’. With the abolition of milkquotas, dairying is increasing in popularity onceagain. Sean believes that this is an opportune timeto identify, educate and recruit possible boardmembers with a proven track record in business.

Sean’s study will look to demonstrate theimportance of enrolling board members with thebusiness acumen to manage the expectedsubstantial growth period within the dairy sector.His research will also build on previous studies onhow co-operatives function.

His study visits will be to Spain (mondragon), NewZealand and Europe.


irelaNd2014 Nuffield scholars


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,roBert alleN, receivesthe NFu Mutual charitabletrust award. his studytopic: turning data intoinformation: how do wemaximise the potential ofdigital technology?

Robert lives in Exeter andworks as a Data Scientist atlandmark Information

Group, which manages one of the UK’s largestenvironmental data holdings. Robert’s personalexperience working with UK and US potatogrowers and processors has led him to want toresearch how the challenges of utilising digitaltechnology in farming can be overcome. His studywill take him across the US, UK and Europe.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,JohNNy alVIS, receivesthe trehane trust andDartington cattle Breedingtrust award. his studytopic: achieving more fromless: maximising dairyfarming profitabilityutilising limited resources.

Johnny is a dairy farmerand chairman of a family

cheese making company in north Somerset. He islooking to study the feasibility and methodsneeded to milk a large number of cows on arelatively small area of land, making use of moderndairy infrastructure. Areas of his study will include stakeholder and management issues,feed and manure movement, and goodenvironmental practices, as well as welfarepractices and social responsibility.

email: [email protected]: www.lyecrossfarm.co.uk

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,JoNathaN BIrNIe,receives the worshipfulcompany of Butchersaward. his study topic:Facilitating change withinthe red meat chainthrough the disseminationof new technology,enhanced cooperation andmutual sustainability.

Jonathan is the Head of Agriculture for Dunbia andlives in Dungannon, Northern Ireland. He plans toresearch the effects of pricing mechanisms,organisational structures and communication on thered meat chain. Jonathan will look to otherproduction sectors, not just within agriculture, whichinvolve complex supply chains to see how theymanage their organisations, as well as theirsuccesses and failures.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,MarK Bowyer, receivesthe royal Norfolkagricultural associationaward. his study topic:technology into practice:how is new technologyconveyed to arable farmersand do they use it?

mark lives near Norwich and has been involved in arable farm managementin the UK for the last 22 years. This has led to hischoice of subject, investigating why UK arablefarmers are not adopting new technology,considering if this is a result of lack of knowledge,or whether there are other underlying issues. Heseeks to find out how other countries aretransferring knowledge, and how they arepreparing for the third agricultural revolution.


2014 Nuffield Scholar,JaMeS DruMMoND,receives the alan andanne Beckett award. hisstudy topic: optimisingewe performance for aproductive sheepenterprise and a highquality finished lamb.

James farms on a family-run mixed livestock farm

near Alnwick, Northumberland. He aims to findtools for creating a more sustainable and profitablesheep sector. James plans to investigate thegenetics and new breed lines being developed intest centres globally, as well as looking at newseed mixes and forage selection aimed atgenerating improvements in resistance and growthrates in livestock. He is also looking to focus onhow grazing strategies and grasslandmanagement can reduce production costs.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar, roBert DrySDale,receives the trehane trustaward. his study topic:the future of beefproduction from the dairyherd: is integration amodel that would work?

Robert is a Consultant Vetand Veterinary manager forBlade Farming. His

experience with batch rearing of dairy-bred beefcalves has prompted him to undertake a NuffieldScholarship. He plans to visit beef markets in theUSA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Australiaand New Zealand to look at how these countriesproduce efficient beef and the extent to which theyutilise dairy bred animals. Robert will also look at theUK and the EU, where some integration of beef,dairy and other agricultural produce sees end userslinked to the farmers.

email: [email protected]: www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,SoPhIe eDeNBorouGh,receives the royal threecounties agriculturalSociety award. her studytopic: on-farm methods toreduce antibiotic usage inbroiler production.

Sophie is from SouthShropshire and works with

poultry producers providing liquid mineral systems.She is interested in investigating the methodsbeing used around the world to reduce antibioticusage. One of her key aims is to find products andpractices that are being used on-farm andproducing the desired results, as opposed toconcepts that work in the lab, but not whenapplied in the field. Sophie hopes to visit Canada,America, Thailand, Netherlands and Denmarkduring her study.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,alex FowlIe, receives theroyal highlandagricultural Societyaward. his study topic:what role can landmanagers play in the emerging "Newenergy" sector.

Alex, who is from a farmingfamily in Aberdeenshire, is a partner in a renewableenergy business which develops sites acrossScotland. He aims to explore the successes andfailures of current on-farm energy production fromwind, biomass and anaerobic digestion, and howthese opportunities can be maximised goingforward in the UK.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,Bruce harNett, receivesthe Studley college trustaward. his study topic:Intensive horticulture:‘man versus machine’.

Bruce lives and works inCornwall, managing hisornamental plant nursery,which supplies 15 millionyoung plants annually. He

will research what the future holds for ornamentalgrowers, not just as a study of mechanisation asan alternative to manual labour, but to alsounderstand the constraints that so manycompanies in the industry work within. Bruce isconfident that whatever the findings, they will berelevant not only to horticulture, but could beapplied to other agricultural sectors.


uNited kiNGdoM2014 Nuffield scholars

UK 2014 Cont/d on page 19

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,JeN huNter, receives thecompany of Merchants ofthe Staple of englandaward. her study topic:Modern wool processing.

Jen is a sheep and beeffarmer, who also runs anaccommodation andeducation centre, includingwool workshops, near

Bristol. From her study, she hopes to find a solutionto selling the annual wool crop, investigating theproduction cycle of wool products with a focus onmethods of creating carbon neutral and regionallyrecognisable products.

email: [email protected]: www.fernhill-farm.co.uk

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,GaIl lewIS, receives theroyal welsh agriculturalSociety award. her studytopic: Sustainable landtenure for the farmer andthe next generation.

Gail is a member of theRoyal Institute of CharteredSurveyors and a Fellow ofthe Central Association of

Agricultural Valuers. She works as a Paralegal forAgri Advisor Solicitors, Carmarthenshire. Sherecognises that there are existing issues aroundland rentals, lack of council holdings and high landvalues. She plans to identify the types of landtenures used in other countries which areprogressing with agriculture and have a continualbalance of new entrants into farming.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,NeIl MacDoNalD,receives the worshipfulcompany of Fruiterersaward. his study topic:orcharding systems forthe next decade.

Neil is a third generationSomerset farmer with abackground in traditionalmixed farming. With a

business partner, he co-founded ‘Orchard Pig’,the cider and juice maker. He plans to investigatehow cider growers can keep up with changingconsumer tastes, with the knowledge that it cantake seven years from tree planting to fullproduction. Neil hopes to make sure that growersare producing the raw ingredients that producersrequire, and that orcharding systems used are stillfit for purpose.

email: [email protected]: www.orchardpig.co.uk Blog: www.orchardgroundforce.blogspot.com

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,

ruSS McKeNzIe,

receives the hGca

award. his study

topic: Direct drilling:

mastering extreme

weather conditions.

Russ runs a family farm,as well as managing a 750hectare arable farming

enterprise between Cambridgeshire andBedfordshire. He wishes to investigate how directdrilling is used in wet and extreme weatherconditions and consider if climate change willmean contending with more extremes in weatherin the future. Russ is interested in finding out if it ispossible to learn and adopt techniques whichsucceed in other countries for use in the UK.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,MIKe MIller, receivesthe David allen award. his study topic: all winter grazing.

mike farms 110 hectaresof organic grassland inNorth Dorset, running abeef suckler herd and apedigree New ZealandSuffolk flock, in partnership

with his wife, Anna. He also runs a luxury campingenterprise. mike sees a need to look at grasslandmanagement in a much more scientific way toimprove returns. He hopes to travel to farmsaround the world who are practising controlledgrazing, and to meet with industry experts.Knowledge transfer and actual farmer take up willbe another target for his project.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,allISter MItchell,receives the thomashenry Foundation award.his study topic: Marketingpremium beef: e-commerce opportunitiesand business models.

Allister lives in CountyArmagh, Northern Irelandand is involved in banking

and has a suckler cow herd supplying premiumbeef. He wishes to visit organisations that haveundertaken development of e-commercechannels to improve their businesses andevaluate a cross section of those who have beensuccessful within agriculture and in other sectors.Allister plans to assess approaches to branding,communication and consumer engagement, andhow consumer trends are identified. He willexplore a range of approaches to the challenges,their solutions, and how these can be adoptedwith the UK beef market.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,KIt PaPworth, receivesthe Micron Bio Systemsaward. his study topic:From muck to gold: howto manage a farmercontrolled business whenit is successful.

Kit is joint managingDirector of a contract

farming company based in North East Norfolkfarming around 1500 hectares. He is alsoChairman of Anglia Farmers ltd. Kit plans to lookat what can be learned from other industries andat how best to identify and develop the nextgeneration. He intends to visit Australia, NewZealand, America and Europe to meet withfarmers, business leaders, chairmen and CEO’s ofcooperatives and other businesses to discoverwhether current management and successionsystems are fit for a modern industry, and if theyare not, what can be done to make them so.

email: [email protected]: www.lfpapworth.co.uk

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,rIcharD PeNNocK,receives the yorkshireagricultural Societyaward. his study topic:Investigating differentfarming systems toimprove efficiency in theuK beef industry.

Richard runs a beeffinishing unit and arable farm, housing 1,000finishing cattle all-year-round, with 1,100 acres ofarable land and 300 texel-cross and mule ewes.He intends to look for ways to increase theprofitability of beef production through reducingproduction costs, and investigate how large scalefarming systems operate efficiently in othercountries and how such systems could beadapted and implemented in the UK.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,laura SaVaGe, receivesthe horticulturalDevelopment companyaward. her study topic:the edibles sector: labour and education2014 onwards.

laura lives in Warwickshireand works for StafflineAgriculture, a recruitment

and training company working within theagricultural and horticultural sectors. Her studyaim is to find potential recruitment, employmentand training strategies from around the world thatcould enable farms to secure their workforce forthe future, supporting them to harvest theirproduce not just next year, but in five and ten plusyears’ time too.

[email protected]

UK 2014 Cont/d on page 20

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,werNer StryDoM,receives the Poultry MeatGroup: aviagen, cobbeurope and hubbardaward. his study topic:how can we reducecampylobacter in the uKfood chain?

Werner lives in Suffolk andis a Broiler manager for 2Agriculture ltd,supplying chickens to 2 Sisters Food Group. Hisstudy will investigate Campylobacter issuesstarting at farm level, going on to look at thetransportation of birds, and at what interventionsare implemented at factory level. Werner alsowishes to look at what role legislation, genotypingand different breeds of broilers play in reducingincidences of this disease in poultry.


2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,DaVID walStoN, receivesthe worshipful companyof Farmers award. hisstudy topic: Improvingyields and profits byimproving soils.

David farms a family arablefarm near Cambridgeshire,growing wheat, rapeseed,

peas, beans and sugar beet, on an area of about800 hectares. He also has a small herd of Wagyucattle. David plans to investigate how best toimprove the quality of soils, through the use ofdirect drilling, cover cropping, soil nutrition, andbringing back livestock into the arable rotation.This is with a view to using fewer inputs toproduce higher yields, greater sustainability, andlarger profits.

email: [email protected]: www.thriplow-farms.co.uk

2014 uK Nuffield Scholar,MaeVe whyte, receivesthe John oldacreFoundation award. herstudy topic: eat yoursprouts! - tackling thefood waste issue.

maeve works for theBritish Agriculture Bureauin Brussels, which

represents all UK farming unions. She plans tofocus her research on the issues most relevant tothe UK farming industry and look at how todevelop better food waste policies, the potentialtechnological solutions and the impact thatpublic-facing food waste campaigns are havingon farm. maeve would like to see what lessonscan be learned from others and is hoping to travelto New Zealand, the US and India.


nuffield ˆ˚# !˚ #ˆ˜˚ · program (gfp) in 2014 to cater for the additional scholars wishing to...

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