The Story behind the cover

Each year we aim to provide a cover picture that embraces some new or modern aspect of British Agriculture linked with a current Nuffield Farming Scholar. Over recent years we have shown: 2013 Dairymaster UK rotating milking parlour, Lye Cross Farm - Alvis Family NSchs 2014 Modular planting of lettuce pioneered by John Green NSch 2015 RSPCS Freedom Food indoor reared broiler chicken – Claire Bragg NSch 2016 Boreal Drone sensor to map soil moisture content by AeroVision B.V. 2017 Harper Adams University ‘Hands Free Hectare project – Jonathan Gill NSch 2018 Osram GmbH GE tuneable Horticulture LED Research Lights –Sarah Hughes NSch 2019 Thetford G’s one spray irrigation application per crop - Tom Ormesher NSch

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUAL REPORT 2019

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Nuffi eld is an organisation that awards individuals with life changing opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. We ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Nuffi eld is an organisation that awards individuals with life changing have funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study, and we’re always looking to attract new candidates. If you are opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view farming yourself, or work in an industry associated to agriculture and NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. We rural industry, then please take the opportunity to explore our website ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Nuffi eld is an organisation that awards individuals with life changing opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view have funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study, and we’re always looking to attract new candidates. If you are and fi nd out what Nuffi eld has to offer. WWW.NUFFIELDSCHOLAR.ORG NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Nuffi eld is an organisation that awards individuals with life changing opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. We have funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study, and we’re always looking to attract new candidates. If you are farming yourself, or work in an industry associated to agriculture and rural industry, then please take the opportunity to explore our website and fi nd out what Nuffi eld has to offer. WWW.NUFFIELDSCHOLAR.ORG ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Nuffi eld is an organisation that awards individuals with life changing opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. We have funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study, and we’re always looking to attract new candidates. If you are farming yourself, or work in an industry associated to agriculture and rural industry, then please take the opportunity to explore our website and fi nd out what Nuffi eld has to offer. WWW.NUFFIELDSCHOLAR.ORG to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. We have funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study, and we’re always looking to attract new candidates. If you are farming yourself, or work in an industry associated to agriculture and rural industry, then please take the opportunity to explore our website and fi nd out what Nuffi eld has to offer. WWW.NUFFIELDSCHOLAR.ORG NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2017 farming yourself, or work in an industry associated to agriculture and rural industry, then please take the opportunity to explore our website and fi nd out what Nuffi eld has to offer. WWW.NUFFIELDSCHOLAR.ORG NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ISBN 978-1-912059-01-0

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2019

ISBN 978-1-909070-81-3

781909 070813

Published by Nuffi eld Farming Scholarship Trust Southill Farm, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA3 5SH. T: 01460 234012 I E: director@nuffi eldscholar.org

ISBN 978-1-909070-90-5

9 781909 070905

Published by Nuffi eld Farming Scholarship Trust Southill Farm, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA3 5SH. T: 01460 234012 I E: director@nuffi eldscholar.org

ISBN 978-1-912059-20-1 9 781912 059010 Published by Nuffi eld Farming Scholarship Trust ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Southill Farm, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA3 5SH. ISBN 978-1-912059-36-2 9 781912 059201 T: 01460 234012 I E: director@nuffi eldscholar.org ‘Leading positive change in agriculture’ Published by Nuffi eld Farming Scholarship Trust ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Southill Farm, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA3 5SH. T: 01460 234012 I E: director@nuffi eldscholar.org ‘Leading positive change in agriculture’ 9 781912 059362 Published by Nuffi eld Farming Scholarship Trust ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Southill Farm, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA3 5SH.

T: 01460 234012 I E: director@nuffi eldscholar.org ‘Leading positive change in agriculture’ ANNUAL REPORT 2016

‘Leading positive change in agriculture’

‘Leading positive change in agriculture’

2020 ANNUAL REPORT COVER PHOTOGRAPH

The latest cover illustrates a trial run by John Yeomans 2006 NSch which stems from a trip to Finland looking at their grass utilisation in 2018 with fellow Nuffield Scholar and his good friend, the late Richard Tudor 2017 NSch. European Innovation Programme funding was obtained for the journey and subsequent trial. Richard was engaged in his Nuffield Farming Scholarship at the time. The enclosed block shown is at 1420 feet at its highest point from which the view encompasses six counties and you can see the native pasture on neighbouring hills. Rotational grazing here is stocked at around 58 sheep per hectare and the flock is predominantly Beuah, which has been closed and performance recorded since the mid 1980s. The trial is exploring varying proportions of timothy within the grass ley and monitored yields so far this year are over ten times the ‘no inputs’ control section! Two different surface treatments have been used, scratching and slot seeding, to minimise carbon loss over 8 different plots. Four different seeds mixtures based on ryegrass, clover and plantain range from, 0% Finnish Timothy rising to 10%, 25% and 40%. Growth, quality and species mix is monitored on the plots and there are plans to monitor carbon as well. John is in the process of installing a solar powered water system to assist the rotational grazing.

Coincidentally, since the trial began, it is believed that much more wildlife has returned and thrived. Species include numerous hare, larks, curlew, lapwing, falcons, red kite, buzzards and many others. The total number of turbines shown in the photograph is 17 x 660 kw spread across five families’ ground and which provides power for around 8000 homes.

RICHARD TUDOR NS ch

Richard was taken from us far too soon doing the job he loved, making grass grow although, his proudest and most important roles would be husband and father to his lovely family, Catrin, Morgan and Lois. Richard hailed from a dynasty of top-notch farmers. His parents won a host of grassland and stock awards. Years ago people would ask Richard, ‘Are you Tom Tudor’s son?’. In recent years they ask Tom, ‘Are you Richard Tudor’s father!’ Richard was forward looking and gained many grassland and stock awards including: HCC Scholar, looking at beef production in South America, Asda Scholar studying suckler cow production in North America, Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year 2016, Nuffield Scholarship 2017 researching ‘Soil Health and Fertility in Grassland’. He was a high achiever, but, also a contributor to the community. He mentored young entrants coming into agriculture and was always willing to support and advise young people generally and the YFC in particular. Richard and his family were often hosting events and innumerable visits as well as welcoming many overseas visitors. He always found time to support his local community, Chairing the Governors of his local school and managing the local Dyfryn Banw football team, playing for COBRA rugby team, and chairing the local community Welsh newspaper Plu’r Gweunydd. The family will carry on the legacy started by Richard, aided and supported by his many friends. He touched so many people’s lives with his modest, unassuming and humorous nature, always willing to share, and always eager to learn. As soon as the temperature rose to near freezing it would be shorts on, boots on, tee shirt with the collar up, beaming smile and a passion for life, that is how we will remember him – a true Nuffield Farming Scholar.