STUDENT FARMER - JANUARY 2024 by STUDENT FARMER

Low carbon sheep Go behind the scenes of an industry-wide project

Farmer Will Meet TikTok and Love Island star Will Young

Farming for the future From succession to diversification

January 2024

to prepare for a job interview

MENTAL HEALTH

Striking a healthy balance as a new entrant

Forging ahead Daniel's blazing a trail in the ancient art of blacksmithing

CLASS OF 2024

Meet the new Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors 2264377.indd 1

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Contents

14 PUBLISHED BY:

NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TZ

EDITOR:

Beth Wright beth.wright@nfu.org.uk

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE

10 WAYS To prepare for an interview

NEW AMBASSADORS

LOW CARBON SHEEP

MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH

FORGING AHEAD Meet blacksmith Daniel Johnson

LEARNING ON THE JOB Distance learning

OUR MAN IN JAPAN Catch up with Rupert

LONDON CALLING Lord Mayor's Show

THINGS TO DO...

FOR THE LOVE OF FARMING

HELPING LEADERS OF THE FUTURE

WORDS BY:

Beth Wright, Rhys Felton, Sophie Bird, Liz Tree, Tom McVeigh, James Scott, Rhiannon Wilson, Rupert Shinner

John Cottle

COVER IMAGE BY:

John Cottle

TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT:

Alan Brown alan.brown@nfu.org.uk

Scott Keyes scott.keyes@nfu.org.uk

From succession to diversification

Meet the 2024 Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors

Behind the scenes of an industry-wide project Getting the balance right

Meet Farmer Will - aka Will Young

2024 Centenary Award

Happy new year!

Read all past editions of Student Farmer at: issuu.com/studentfarmer

2024. How did that happen? I feel like I blinked, and the past year went by. But here we are with a bright shiny new year ahead of us and all of the opportunities that brings. In this issue we’ll be looking at young people who have done just that – taken life by the horns (see what I did there?) and walked into their future with the courage of their convictions. We meet the new NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors, catch up with Tom McVeigh of last year’s cohort to see how his venture into hazelnuts and walnuts is going, and chat with Daniel Johnson about his journey into blacksmithing. Farmer Will is also grabbing the opportunities Love Island and TikTok fame have thrown his way, speaking to us following the launch of his first book, 'For The Love Of Farming', while young farmer member Rhiannon Wilson explores long-distance learning. Yet while it’s all well and good shouting ‘carpe diem’, we also understand that on some days it’s tough to get out bed, let alone jump up and set the world on fire. New ambassador James Scott shares his experience in getting into dairy farming; how every day brings its own challenges that test both your mental and physical strength. As 2024 gets underway, I wish you a happy and healthy year ahead and look forward to hearing more of your stories during the course of the next 12 months. Beth Wright, Editor, Student Farmer January 2024

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Tom McVeigh

Farming for the future Tom McVeigh from the 2023 NFU

Student & Young Farmer Ambassador cohort shares his experience of planning for the future on his family farm, from succession to diversification and everything in between John Cottle

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Tom McVeigh

tress, frustration, and (sometimes) excitement – succession is a topic that makes your grandfather wince and everyone else in the room turn pink. Having approached the topic three times with three children, my father is worn out but, fortunately, no longer pink in the face. I wanted to write about our journey of succession and the role that diversification has played in removing some of the clashes that otherwise seem to inevitably come to a head for most farming families. Questions of control, freedom and finance, but also knowledge – not just how its shared but how it’s received too. Being the youngest and most abrasive child within my family, this discussion got more difficult for my father rather than easier. As I look back on how we navigated the conversation, here are some of the major recommendations I can make: Firstly, don’t do business round the dinner table. It’s already hard enough for farmers to separate family and working relationships, not just emotionally but also in terms of authority. I think most people would be surprised how much unconscious difference there is between talking to your father, sat at the head of the dinner table in his own home, to speaking with your father and business partner in a neutral, business-centric setting. Besides, if you storm out during a dinner time argument you can rarely go back to finish your food. Secondly, have a mediator. For us, it was two of my sisters who did a remarkable job of interpreting what I would say, and deciphering it into what I meant to say. When I reflect on this period, I often think how unavoidable disagreement is. Me and my father have different values, we are from different generations and we grew up in different countries. What I now find incredible is that we can agree on anything at all. Through discussions with various friends, it seems it’s not uncommon to have a professional mediator either, which apparently helps keep the conversation calm and objective. As I look back on it, it was such a vital point to stop arguments from escalating and reducing stubbornness (whose stubbornness I will not say). Thirdly, the more incremental the transition the better. Progression works better than succession if the steps are clear. It keeps workloads manageable and allows you to learn continuously without being overwhelmed. In our context, it was as simple as entering our farm into environmental schemes which we previously had never been involved with. It worked well because it was something January 2024

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Tom McVeigh

“We’ve moved towards regenerative farming; my father used his knowledge of our soils to strategise exactly what equipment we needed and is excited and driven towards getting results – despite this being the polar opposite methodology he himself has practised with great success over an entire lifetime” my father had no experience or interest in. Despite being a relatively small element, I remember it being the first sense of ownership I felt on the farm and with that responsibility, naturally, follows motivation and pride, a sort of selfperpetuating positivity that was infectious for both me and my father. The progression on my farm moved quite quickly. I undertook the SFI pilot scheme and started to draw up plans to develop redundant farm buildings, but what really galvanised the discussion were my plans to diversify. It was nothing new in our family as my sister had centred her business around rural tourism and opened a glamping site and a cookery school about ten years prior. My motivation was to produce a non-cereal crop, something that I felt had the potential of added value but also in terms of sustainability and in many ways because it was something outside of my family’s existing expertise. I was interested in agroforestry and its supposed benefits, so after much debate over long-term implications, unforeseen consequences, practical difficulties and financial burdening, it was decided I could have one field to trial it in, but the exercise had to be cost neutral from the first year. The SFI pilot facilitated paying for the land that would be out of production to plant the trees into and by planting the maximum amount of hedges around the roadside perimeters of our fields through capital grants, there was enough surplus payment to cover the cost of the 800 walnut and hazelnut trees, with a £47 margin left to spare – enough for not one but two pairs of secateurs. Now, I aim to plant the same number of hedges and trees

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every year using this same structure. The more I learned on the topic, the more I could teach my father. To my surprise, the more he then taught me about our land through his experiences of it. He became increasingly interested in the trees, what they would yield, price per tonne, market size, constraints, and opportunities. Far from being an abrasive argument it became something exciting for us to discuss, it helped me build credibility in his eyes and therefore greater trust between us as I began changing other things on the farm. Three years into the generational transition, we have 1,600 walnut and hazelnut trees and 3,400m of hedges which I had anticipated planting. What I hadn’t anticipated was how many other changes we would be able to make or how harmonious and exciting it would be for our family. We’ve moved towards regenerative farming; my father used his knowledge of our soils to strategise exactly what equipment we needed and is

excited and driven towards getting results – despite this being the polar opposite methodology he himself has practised with great success over an entire lifetime. We have fortnightly meetings to discuss progress on various projects and it seems there is consistently more to talk about after each one. Now we have a much greater understanding of culture that separates our generations. And therefore, a much better understanding of each other’s decision-making processes. Land has changed in the past five years from something that needed to produce food, to something that needs to produce food and biodiversity, and renewable energy, and wellbeing for people and, of course, absorb carbon from the atmosphere. It’s quite a shift. Perhaps embracing these diversified options for land use doesn’t need to be a detraction from the farming business, but a way of building trust and experience before entering into it.

January 2024

15/01/2024 10:39:00

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10 ways to...

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Research the company/ course so you're not caught off guard with any questions from the interviewer.

ASK QUESTIONS

Speak to people who are already in a similar role or on a similar course to gain the best understanding you can possilby get.

DRESS APPROPRIATELY

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Go over your presentation and/or test answers time after time – ask friends and family for feedback.

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT

Might be easier said than done, but try to project confidence and positivity in the interview. A smile goes a long way in appearing cool, calm, and collected.

QUESTION TIME

When researching the firm, make a list of questions to ask at the end of the interview. This is as much an opportunity for you to interview the company/ course as it is for them. Is this right for YOU?

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GET SOME REST

Make sure you're well rested in the run up to the big day, aim for eight hours a night in the week before.

TO PREPARE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW NFU Digital Campaigns Adviser Sophie Bird's top tips on shining in an interview

BE YOURSELF

Honesty and integrity go a long way. While it's good to appear confident, remain true to yourself and don't oversell yourself – it'll catch up with you!

It's always better to be overdressed than under. A smart appearance makes a great first impression.

HYPE YOURSELF UP

Don't be scared to show off. Use the interview as a chance to showcase your skill set and achievements.

DON'T BE LATE

Be on time – and that means at least ten minutes early! Not only will it help to make a good first impression, it will also give you some wiggle room to have a pep talk with yourself in the bathroom.

January 2024

15/01/2024 14:26:01

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January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:16:23

S&YFAP cohort 2024

Meet the new Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors Eleven ambitious young farmers have been named as the NFU’s new Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors for the 2024/25 cohort and are getting ready to

embark upon a year to remember

he new ambassadors beat off tough competition from more than 50 applicants vying for the coveted posts. And with a forthcoming General Election and an ongoing need to keep food and farming front of mind amid a busy political and media agenda, the Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors will play a vital role in telling the story and value of British farming to the public. NFU President Minette Batters said: “Huge congratulations to the successful ambassadors who are taking part in this year’s programme. It is absolutely fantastic to have such a vibrant and enthusiastic group of people wanting to work with the NFU and tell our positive farming story to the public, opinion formers and

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politicians, locally and nationally. “Farming is undergoing huge change, from the complete transition in farming support payments underway and inflationary costs of production impacting farm businesses to the impacts of climate change and more regular adverse weather events, it’s arguably never been a more important time to be able to tell the positive story of British agriculture and showcase the massive show of support we are so fortunate to have from the public. “We have a fantastic range of regions and agricultural roles represented by this cohort and it is remarkable to see how much they have all already achieved. I can’t wait to see what what impact they have in the coming year.”

“We have a fantastic range of regions and agricultural roles represented by this cohort and it is remarkable to see how much they have all already achieved. I can’t wait to see what impact they have in the coming year.” Minette Batters NFU President

January 2024

15/01/2024 10:49:26

S&YFAP cohort 2024 James Scott STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, NORTH James has just started up a new dairy farm this year. He is passionate about showcasing British farming and what he gets up to on the farm. James hopes to meet lots of new people who he can relate to and learn from, to help promote British farming.

Jessica Stewart STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, NORTH Jessica is a solicitor at a rural practice, from a mixed family farm in County Durham. She sells meat from their Belted Galloways directly to the consumer and is chair of her local Young Farmers Club. Jessica is looking forward to having the opportunity and platform to increase the awareness of current agricultural issues to both farmers and the general public.

Ben Chilman STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, NFU CYMRU Ben is a full-time farmer on his mixed family farm on the English/Welsh border. They run a beef, sheep, free range hens and arable farm, so variety is certainly the spice of life. Ben is enthusiastic about promoting what farmers do and is looking forward to meeting influential people from the industry.

“I’m so grateful to be selected with such an inspiring, diverse bunch of young people. I look forward to learning as much as I can from the programme and from my fellow ambassadors” Naomi Williams-Roberts Student & Young Farmer Ambassador

Edward Harrison STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, NORTH Growing up and working on his family dairy farm in North Cumbria gave Edward a passion for agriculture. Since leaving the family farm he has set up his own small regenerative farm alongside his wife where they specialise in rare and native breeds. Edward is looking forward to embracing all the opportunities the programme has to offer and the chance to meet likeminded people.

Hannah Benson STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, MIDLANDS Hannah runs her own British cut flower business which is a diversification from the family’s small vegetable farm based in Lincolnshire. She cuts, packs and supplies wholesale markets, florists, and the public. Hannah is really looking forward to promoting the British cut flower industry as well as production horticulture and educating the next generation about a career in the sector during her time as an ambassador. January 2024

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S&YFAP cohort 2024 Jon Watt STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, EAST Jon grew up farming but pursued a career as a racing driver. In 2020 he returned home to grow the business and has since tenanted and contract farmed land. Jon is excited to take part in the programme to meet new people and learn as much as possible from the farm visits and shows.

Magnus Brown STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, MIDLANDS Growing up working on the family dairy farm in Staffordshire, Magnus is currently in his final year studying law at the University of Birmingham and hopes to qualify as an agricultural solicitor in the future. Magnus endeavours to champion British farming while meeting like-minded people and scrutinising industry decision makers.

Naomi Williams-Roberts STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, NFU CYMRU Born with a passion for animals, it was no surprise that Naomi gravitated towards farming. Hailing from the valleys, a self-proclaimed late comer, it wasn’t obvious she was ‘allowed’ to join the industry – however after joining YFC her feet are firmly under the table. Establishing her farm in 2018 with her partner, Naomi hopes to help others realise their farming dreams can come true.

Sian Grove STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, SOUTH Sian is a first-generation shepherdess from the Isle of Wight. She began her farming career through her local young farmers club, and now has her own flock of sheep. Sian is looking forward to learning more about UK agriculture, networking, and meeting like-minded young farmers.

Molly Mead STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, EAST Molly lives on her family’s livestock and arable farm in Hertfordshire, while working as a farm vet technician and TB tester. She is looking forward to increasing awareness of neurodiversity in the farming community, as well as advocating for improved government strategies to deal with Bovine TB and farmer communication.

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Sophia Ashe STUDENT & YOUNG FARMER AMBASSADOR, SOUTH Not from a farming background, Sophia stumbled into the world of farming. She went to the Royal Agricultural University and has worked on various farms to gain experience. Sophia feels passionately about standing up for farmers and hopes to gain a greater insight into politics through the programme and meeting people along the way.

January 2024

15/01/2024 10:50:40

British Wool – training the next generation of shearers and wool handlers

For over 20 years British Wool has provided four stages of shearing certificates enabling UK shearers to safely and effectively shear British wool. Providing an exclusive training offer to the young farmer movement to help encourage more young farmers into the field. Silver to Platinum courses in shearing and wool handling are now accredited by Highfield – a global leader in work-based and apprenticeship qualifications. Working in partnership with key stakeholders – supporting the UK shearing sector. To find out more call us on 01274 688666 or email shearing@britishwool.org.uk

britishwool.org.uk Together we’re growing something special. January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:16:27

Liz Tree

LOW CARBON SHEEP Liz Tree, NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador

for the 2023 cohort, is part of an industry-wide project aimed at breeding sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint. She goes behind the scenes on farm with NFU member Ian Robertson and South East Livestock Board Chairman Ben Robinson. Jon Browning

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Liz Tree ABOUT INNOVIS:

• • • •

• •

Founded in 2004 Based near Aberystwyth, operating nationwide Employs 28 people across the UK Leading supplier of sheep breeding technologies to the UK livestock industry Specialises in performance recorded forage-bred rams Provides ultrasound fat and muscle depth scanning and genotyping services

he Breed for CH4nge – Breeding Low Methane Sheep project began in July 2023. This industry-wide project aims to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint and contribute to UK agriculture’s journey to net zero. The project is led by Innovis, with funding from Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate. They are partnering with The Sheep Improvement Group (SIG), Breeding the Exlana, Performance Recorded Lleyn Breeders (PRLB) and the Centurion Group of Dorset Sheep Breeders to deliver the research. The methane of around 11,000 sheep across 28 flocks will be measured, alongside ewe performance data from around 35 flocks. This data will be used to develop tools to genetically reduce methane emissions and improve the efficiency of the national flock while using traditional selection approaches. “We are an alliance of forward-thinking sheep farmers and commercially-driven breeders applying genetic science and using performance recording to deliver profitable maternal genetics at significant scale, all of which are designed to make the most efficient use of grass and forage

Sheep stand in the sealed chamber for 50 minutes

to produce sustainable and healthy lamb of high nutritive value. Making use of grasslands by way of sheep grazing also helps sequester carbon into the soil,” says Innovis Chief Executive Dewi Jones. Portable accumulation chambers (PAC) are used to directly measure the methane output of individual sheep. These sealed chambers are mounted on a 10m-long trailer which gets transported from farm to farm. This trailer can accommodate 12 sheep at a time, with individual animals standing in a chamber for 50 minutes. Sheep are all weighed to allow

calculations for methane produced per animal, and fecal egg counts and measurements of IgA levels (immunoglobulin A) within the blood are used to enhance and understand how parasites affect methane levels and assist in breeding for parasite resistance. Tissue samples are also taken to give a comprehensive set of information to understand the genetic control of characteristics and allow relationships with the underlying genome of the sheep to be investigated. Further measurements include taking rumen samples and assessing rumen size to improve understanding of the underlying biology. Trials are also taking place to understand how methane output links to feed efficiency, and sheep will also be going through CT scans to measure rumen-reticulo volume to better understand the relationship of this with both the methane emissions and the ability of ewes to thrive in our production systems. In my role as a sheep technician at Innovis, I visit farms towing the trailer behind me collecting data from individual sheep. I spend a lot of my time on the road, meeting forward-thinking, innovative farmers against the ever-changing beautiful backdrop of the UK countryside. January 2024

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Liz Tree

“Our aim is to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint to help English sheep farmers make a positive contribution to the journey towards Net Zero” Janet Roden, Geneticist at Innovis As a part of my involvement in the project, I visited Ian Robertson’s farm in Hampshire where we measured the methane emissions of 72 sheep. Sheep stand in individual sealed chambers for 50 minutes, with measurements of methane, oxygen and carbon dioxide taken as the sheep enter the chamber, halfway through at 25 minutes, and then a final reading at the 50-minute point where the animal is released and the chambers washed down in preparation for the next group. Ian Robertson volunteered to be part of the project, stating: “I wanted to be involved in the project because science and technology are evolving rapidly and I wanted the chance to work with a team to create the evidence base for the project. I feel it is important to work collaboratively with specialists in the field. Farmers can produce data, but we need the input

Liz Tree with Ian Robertson (centre) and Ben Robinson on Ian's farm in Hampshire

of others to interpret what the data is showing, and then as a team come up with a way to move this forward effectively.” Ben Robinson, South East Livestock Board chairman, supports the work, adding: “The study is a good way of ensuring we can back up the robust climate credentials of British lamb with hard science, thus ensuring access to as many markets as possible for our product.” Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Harper Adams University provide scientific input, technology and genetics expertise for the project, with Signet Breeding Services, part of AHDB, providing performance recording services. Centre

for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL), Pilgrims Price and Waitrose are involved in steering the farm system modelling and carbon calculators, and the National Sheep Association (NSA) provides a direct link to the wider industry and advice regarding policy issues. My favourite part of this job is having the chance to get out on farm, meeting new people and travelling the country. I hope that this project helps to show the work already being done within the sheep industry to produce food in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way, and to further advance UK agriculture towards net zero. The portable accumulation chamber is towed around the country

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January 2024

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Mental health

Managing mental health as a new dairy entrant NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador James Scott is in his first year as a dairy farmer. He explains the challenges he’s faced so far and how he juggles the day-to-day of running the farm and managing his mental health.

hy go into dairy farming? This is a question I have been asked over and over as a new entrant into the dairy industry. I will admit I have thrown myself into the deep end of what is an exciting and ever-changing industry. Opportunities like this don’t often come around and luckily it did for me. My father initially bought this farm for us to expand and increase numbers of our sheep and beef, but I asked if we could think about starting dairy farming; with the farm historically being a dairy farm, and with him in his old age he replied “if you think you’re up to it”. There must be something in my blood as my great grandfather was a dairy farmer and met my great grannie at the Cheshire Cheese Show in Nantwich, and with me being the last farmer’s son in a family that has farmed for more than 300 years I didn’t want to let it come to an end. So, what next? I had to go and learn how to dairy farm. This wasn’t a struggle as the industry is full of people who will teach and accept anyone with open arms and give you guidance and assistance wherever you need it. After spending some time ‘learning on the job’ the time had come to transfer these skills onto my own farm – and what a rollercoaster it has been, the best decision of my life. Every day brings new challenges and new lessons and tests both your mental and physical strength. Mental health is such an important topic within farming. At times it can be lonely, and you can sometimes feel as though you are not doing things properly, just like everyone else you have good and bad days. But it is important to remain positive and speak to people about how you feel. Starting this venture has presented many challenges for me. One of the main challenges would be not having as much free time. This was something I was aware of starting the dairy farm, but it can still get you down if you miss out on events or are often working when friends are out. One of the most important things I did to deal with this was making sure I made the most of my evenings by playing sports with my friends and not saying no to socialising with family and friends and seeing them at any free opportunity. My local young farmers’ club has been one of these outlets for me. I have made so many great friendships and found it is a great way to let off some steam with like-minded people who share those same struggles that you do. That is why it is so important to make sure you speak out! As well as young farmers, there are many other

James' top tips for dealing with mental health: 1 Exercise 2 Socialising 3 Communicating 4 A good night’s sleep 5 Starting a hobby

“Mental health is such an important topic within farming. At times it can be lonely, and you can sometimes feel as though you are not doing things properly, just like everyone else you have good and bad days. But it is important to remain positive and speak to people about how you feel.”

Follow James on Instagram: @scottys_farm Tik Tok and YouTube: @scottysfarm

programmes that can offer you support and help with mental health which you can find on the NFU website. Social media can also be a a great place to get support. I use social media to make YouTube, TikTok and Instagram videos showing what I get up to on the farm, including both the ups and downs that I face. When I get a comment showing love and support it reminds me why I am doing this and that there are people out there that do support and appreciate British agriculture. January 2024

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Daniel Johnson

FORGING AHEAD Farmer’s son Daniel Johnson is forging his own path, teaching blacksmithing

classes on farm in Norfolk and producing his own book on the ancient craft as a guide for beginners

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January 2024

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Daniel Johnson

aving grown up in London, Daniel is now based at Thorpe Hall, Haddiscoe, where the farm comprises about 100 acres, split between marshland, grassland, and woods. His father, Chris Johnson, farms a small number of sheep, pigs, and cattle, goats, and poultry, selling produce from the farm gate – including handmade goat’s milk soap – and with a farm shop nearing completion. Chris said the plan was to be as “nature friendly as possible” upon moving in, with the farm now part of the ‘Nature Friendly Farming’ community. Since the move, he and Daniel have removed bracken, ragwort and hemlock from the grasslands with the use of herbicides and have now reduced the use of these herbicides to spot spraying. They never use pesticides. They have a Mid-Tier agri-agreement on their grassland, a Higher Tier agriagreement on their marshland, and are hoping to get their wet woodland into a forestry agreement next year. The marshland is in a reedbed restoration scheme, with Chris noting it is recovering well. The pair have also installed bat and bird boxes around the farm, noting a large increase in bird numbers and species, restored their pond, installed 30KW of solar panels along with a biomass boiler, and planted some 1,000 trees. Plans are afoot to plant more trees and hedgerows around the farm to

January 2024

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Daniel Johnson link up with the wet woodland, creating wildlife corridors around and across the farmland. The move to Norfolk coincided with Daniel undertaking an artistic blacksmithing course at Hereford College of Arts after his interest was piqued during work experience with a local blacksmith when the family were living in Bedfield, near Framlingham, on a smallholding of about six acres after first leaving London. “I was stolen away by blacksmithing,” Daniel said when asked why he didn’t follow his father Chris, a qualified engineer, into farming. The family had been looking to move to somewhere larger, ideally seeking a place with enough room for Daniel to set up his own space in which to work when he finished his training.

“I set up in 2019 with the ambition to do courses and got quite a few going, but then Covid came and that had to stop. I then went into commission work and it’s now striking the balance between commissions and courses.” “We looked at lots of places, but Thorpe Hall was affordable and more than large enough for what we needed. We moved here in 2014,” Chris said. “The idea was to have space for a workshop, merging both worlds,” Daniel noted, adding he has also trained as a welder through the course. “Those skills and having this workshop mean if anything goes wrong on the farm, I can repair it, which is a nice cross-over.” After completing his Artistic Blacksmithing Degree, Daniel then moved on to a Contemporary Craft Master’s, specialising in blacksmithing and metalworks – with a focus on Mokumegane, a Japanese laminating process. “At the end of my degree course, I went to Japan and had the chance to visit Tokyo University of Arts and was shown around their metalworks facility where I got talking to a student who was studying Mokume-gane. When I started my Master’s I knew I wanted to focus on that and learn that process, and my final project was several wall lights showing form folding and Mokume-gane.”

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From student to teacher

Ten years on from when he first started studying blacksmithing, or forging as it is sometimes known, Daniel is now offering day courses to learn the skills of a traditional blacksmith through his business Forgeworks. “It’s been a bit of a journey. I set up in 2019 with the ambition to do courses and got quite a few going, but then Covid came and that had to stop,” he explained. “I then went into commission work and it’s now striking the balance between commissions and courses.” In addition to currently working on a teapot as part of a commission for a tea set, Daniel is also working on something slightly larger – restoring the Guild Hall gates for Norwich City Council. He is also a published author, with his book ‘Blacksmithing: A Guide to Practical Metalworking, Tools, and Techniques’ published last year. The book shares instructions around blacksmithing basics and includes several projects for novices to try their hand at, such as a forged knife, a forged rose, and a bottle opener. The commission for the book came when Daniel was running a stall at Heveningham Country Fair. “Amber Books approached my stand

January 2024

15/01/2024 09:18:51

Daniel Johnson

Daniel and dad Chris

looking for an author for a blacksmithing book. I was away from the stall at the time, looking around at the fair, but my friend Henry spoke to them and passed on the details to me. “They wanted 20,000 words and images which was daunting at the start but once I got into it, it reminded me of dissertations and Master’s reports, which is obviously something I have been doing for a while.” While some might baulk at the thought of writing 20,000 words alone, Daniel was also commissioned to produce all of what he called the ‘process photos’ himself. These are images of the different stages

’Blacksmithing’ by Daniel Johnson is published by Amber Books and can be ordered via Daniel’s website at djohnsonforgeworks.com where you can also book onto his courses.

“I’d like to extend the workshop, perhaps even go into the stables, and have rental space for craft people. Having more crafts here and offering a different range of skills where we could all help each other and also help the farm” of forging and are particularly difficult to capture because the idea is to try and show how hot the metal should be at certain points of the process. “Basically, I wanted to make sure that what I’m talking about in the book is clearly shown in each photo, and as best as possible, show the heat that should be worked at,” he explained. “It was very tough, we had about ten seconds to take the photo and get everything organised. For the first project there was over 2,000 photos to go through. To be fair, it was pretty easy to pick as you get a lot with the hammer in the air so can clear a load of those straight away and then get it down to a few hundred and then, pick about ten for each project. We got there in the end. That was the most tedious bit of it all, but it was still fun.” With regards to what’s next, Daniel is keen to expand the teaching side of the business.

“I do half-day and day courses at the minute, but I’d like to run more of a workshop where a group of people with a set goal can come and achieve that over the course of a few days from start to finish. I’d also still like to do day courses but teach different levels of blacksmithing because sometimes the abilities are mixed, from complete beginners to people with quite a bit of knowledge of metalworks and it would be nice to offer a bit more of an in-depth guide to blacksmithing for those individuals. “And I don’t know how far into the future this would be, but I’d like to extend the workshop, perhaps even go into the stables, and have rental space for craft people. Having more crafts here and offering a different range of skills where we could all help each other and also help the farm.” Go to thorpehallmanor.co.uk/produce for more information on Chris’ produce. January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:19:28

Distance learning

Learning on the job Young farmer member Rhiannon Wilson explores the benefits of long distance learning and ‘night school’ as an alternative option to college and/or university Tom Finn

full-time university course wasn’t for me. I love living on the farm at Clifford in Herefordshire, had always been keen to be in the workplace, and was mindful there’s a big financial cost to studying for a degree. I’m a great believer in self-development and lifelong learning, however, so always try to keep informed. As a health and safety adviser, I’m aware that guidelines and legislation are constantly changing, and I need to be fully up to speed if I’m to do my job well. Hence, I opted to study by distance learning, in tandem with my full-time role at the CXCS, a firm of agricultural consultants. I completed a NCRQ Level 6 Applied Health and Safety Diploma last year through NCRQ (this body has recently ceased to operate, but for many years was a respected centre delivering AIM health and safety qualifications). It took me more than two years to study this, completing assignments and tutorials online. It was a great grounding on everything from writing risk assessments and understanding COSHH regulations to accident investigations and compiling action plans. I also recently began the NEBOSH national diploma for occupational health and safety management professionals and aim to complete this within 12 months. Although the NCRQ course cost about £2,500 – and the NEBOSH one is over £1,000 – I have avoided acquiring the big debt many students graduate with. Also, my work informs my study, and my study informs my work.

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I believe learning and earning in tandem will become a more common choice for young people who can’t afford to study fulltime and wish to benefit from the synergies of studying and working in parallel. Work is a great environment in which to develop my interpersonal skills and one thing I have learned is that you have to get farmers onside if they’re going to take advice. To do that, you need to be a good judge of people. One client, for example, struggles with his mental health – so I take a ‘softly-softly’ approach with him. But another client’s family were at their wits’ end because the farmer wouldn’t pay any attention to safety issues. I was frank about the risks and said if he carried on the way he was he wouldn’t see his

grandchildren grow up. After my visit, his daughter and wife rang and said it had worked. He completely turned a corner and was soon proudly showing me his diary of machine maintenance and repairs. I have a busy job with a lot of farm visits, so I have to devote some evenings and weekends to studying, although my boss is very supportive and also gives me time and space to do it in ‘office hours’. Reducing the injury and fatality rate in agriculture is one of our top priorities and I like to think I’m playing my own small part in this. I’m doing my dream job in an industry I love, but I can only do it properly if I have the knowledge I need and studying continues to give me that.

January 2024

15/01/2024 09:19:36

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January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:19:38

Our man in Japan Rupert Shinner shares the second of a three-part blog series on his trip to

Japan, after receiving the Devon Farm Benevolent Fund’s travel scholarship

am currently about halfway into my trip and what a time I have had so far. My host families have been amazing and I’ve eaten more raw fish than a fish and chip shop buys weekly. After four flights (I booked from Dublin, don’t ask), I landed safely in Osaka on 12 October. After a few days there, I got the bullet train to Maniwa in Okayama where I spent three weeks with the Emori family on their grape, rice and vegetable farm. Sami, who’s 32, has taken over the running of the farm, which is great to see for two reasons: • Great to see women in agriculture being given the opportunity to take a leading role in a business where it is predominantly men that run the farms here. • Bringing the average age of farmers in Japan down dramatically (the average age of a farmer in Japan is 67). The Emoris grow grapes, rice and salad vegetables. The grape trees are all grown for people much shorter than me so I spent my time in Maniwa bent over with a sore back! Although the grape harvest had finished, we had to fertilise trees and remove old trees ready for new ones. Salad planting is a very precise skill and although it’s not very mechanical, every effort is made to save time and increase yields. The crops are grown under plastic-covered ridges to suppress weeds and holes are cut with a hand-held machine to make accuracy high with minimal cost. This was done standing up, which was a blessing. Seedlings were grown in the farmyard and we transferred them to the field when we laid and cut the plastic. The rice is planted from seedlings in late spring/early summer and harvested in late September/early October. The Emoris had completed their harvest, but left a small quantity for me to do by hand. They take this to a rice merchant who stores, removed the husks and bags the rice ready for sale. Although most farms don’t apply pesticides to their crops, the family told me those that do, do this using drones. My next stop was Miki in Kagawa with the Hirono family, who milk 300 Holstein cows which are loose housed and milked in a rapid exit parlour, with all feed bought in.

The dairy farming that I have seen so far in Japan is very different to the UK for a number of reasons, including:

•

• •

Most farmers have very few acres, and so didn’t seem to grow any crops. The whole farm tends to be built on for cow housing, and all feed is bought in. Very few cows appear to go out to graze. Most farms seem to use tie stalls.

I also went to help a pedigree Wagyu beef farmer for a day. Several of the farms I have visited keep their cows in tie stalls for the majority of the year, but this farm didn’t and also had an ‘exercise field’. I helped out when the vet came to pregnancy diagnose cows and move them into calving groups. The cows don’t rear the calves for very long (or at all on some farms) and they are reared on milk powder until weaning. Growing and finishing cattle are fed a high-cereal diet and olive pulp to get an additional premium. I was expecting a lot of technology to be on the farms as cities like Tokyo are renowned for their robotic waiters, but this doesn’t seem to be the case at all. However, the dairy farm I stayed on has a robotic calf feeder which was incredible to see working! It feeds the calves set quantities at set intervals and disinfects the teat in-between each calf. Finally, I can’t not talk about the weather. If you were wondering, I’ve been about 1,000 miles closer to the equator than in England and it’s been very dry, cold at night and early morning, but very warm during the day – it certainly doesn’t feel like November! Feel free to follow my journey on Instagram: @rupertsramble and slide into my DMs with any suggestions.

January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:19:51

Our man in Japan

Oyaka-Don

(chicken and egg bowl) Serves 4 people (or one Rupert) You will need: 1 large onion 250g chicken breast 100ml water 3 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons of sweet cherry sauce (or sweet soy sauce) 2 tablespoons sugar 2 eggs 300g white rice (short is preferable) 420ml water Chopped spring onion A few coriander leaves for garnishing

Take a photo of your creation and tag @rupertsramble and @studentfarmer on Instagram with #RupertsRecipes.

Method: (about 20mins) • Cook rice in 420ml water. • Slice onion. • Cut chicken into cubes approx 3cm x 3cm x 3cm. • Stir fry the onion and chicken in a pan. Make sure chicken is cooked properly or else you will get food poisoning. • Add water, soy sauce, sweet cherry sauce and sugar. • Cook for 8-10 minutes until the onion is tender. • Break the eggs into a bowl (and bin the shells). • Beat the eggs. • Add half of the egg mixture to the pan with the sizzling chicken and onion. After 1 minute, add the rest. • To serve, put the cooked rice in bowls and top with the chicken, onion and egg mixture. Garnish with fresh spring onion and coriander.

January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:20:01

Farm Manager Gemma Hooper gives the ambassadors a tour of the farm

A capital effort London was calling as the 2023 Student & Young Farmer Ambassador cohort travelled to the big smoke to participate in the Lord Mayor’s Show and pay a visit to Surrey Docks Farm Jon Browning

Claire Ellis-Elson, Livestock Manager at Surrey Docks Farm

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January 2024

15/01/2024 13:31:14

Surrey Docks

he group once again helped to take the best of British farming to the streets of London as part of the Lord Mayor’s Show in November. They joined the Worshipful Company of Farmers, Surrey Docks Farm, Red Tractor and Case IH at the annual parade, with the latter providing a cutting-edge Quadtrac 620 AFS Connect and a Farmall 120C tractor. Ambassador and Livestock Board cooptee Amanda Watson said the parade was an “amazing experience” – and one that proved that there is strong support for all farming sectors. She said: “Supporters cheered, smiled, and waved and I was really surprised how many shouted in response to the British beef sign I was waving. That was very refreshing in a time where people often fear the worst when speaking up about meat due to the loud opposing voices. “These events are hugely important to remind the public about the importance of British farming and food.” Fellow ambassador Darcy Johnson, who made her TV debut on London Live promoting the NFU’s involvement in the Lord Mayor’s Show, added: “It was the most incredible and unforgettable day promoting British farming in the city of London – arguably the place where we need to be connecting with people most.”

Farming in the city

A day earlier, the ambassadors visited Surrey Docks Farm, a working city

Ambassadors visit Surrey Docks Farm

farm and charity that aims to help the community learn about farming, food production and the natural environment. Established in 1975 on a 1.5-acre site of derelict dockland, the farm has since expanded to a 2.2-acre site on the south bank of the river Thames in Rotherhithe, Southwark. It is home to goats, sheep, cows, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens, donkeys and a pony, in addition to a number of rabbits and guinea pigs. There is also an orchard, herb garden, dye garden, vegetable plots, blacksmith forge, and a wildlife area on site. “The main aim at Surrey Docks Farm is to connect people with farming,” Farm Manager Gemma Hooper told the ambassadors. “We’re not a petting farm, we’re a working farm and we’re keen to educate visitors – adults and children alike – that some of the animals do go for meat.”

FROM FARM TO FOLK “We were delighted to welcome the NFU Student Ambassadors to Surrey Docks Farm before the Lord Mayor’s Show,” Gemma said. “In return, it was a great opportunity for us to hear from the ambassadors and learn more about the range of roles in agriculture and hear about their current farming challenges and achievements. We aim to raise the profile of positive farming stories and the importance Backing farming at the Lord of backing British farmers, as well as educating Mayor's Show young people to grow up knowing where their Photo: Dare & Hier Media Ltd food comes from and, hopefully, inspiring and supporting people from the city into the agricultural industry.” Ambassador Louise Penn added: “Prior to the visit I was very doubtful that a farm in the centre of London would give a true representation of British farming. However, I was proved wrong. “Although small, Surrey Docks Farm is educating an incredible number of people about how their food is grown and where it comes from; giving people the chance to get involved and learn the whole process from farm to folk. It made me realise that the rural farming community could and should be doing a lot more to reach out and educate our local community. “Surrey Docks Farm is an amazing example of this. If they can do it in the centre of London, we have no excuse!”

While all of the animals the farm rears bring in a small income through produce sales and educational activities, a lot of the fruit and veg is given away to those who have helped grow it, including local children and adult volunteers – five of whom are in their eighties. “It’s a real community hub which is important,” Gemma added, noting while the farm is a key resource to educate people about farming, it also serves to demonstrate the benefits of getting out in nature. “The social and wellbeing benefits are equally important, especially in London where there are so few green spaces,” she told the ambassadors. During their visit, the group also met Claire Ellis-Elson who came to Surrey Docks on a work experience placement aged 15 and, after studying at Sparsholt College and continuing to work on the farm as a volunteer, now serves as Livestock Manager. “I’m from Peckham and was very lucky to know and understand where meat came from, but shockingly not every child in the city knows that or has the opportunity to know that. When you see the children’s faces during their visits you realise how important this place is and want to keep it going.” After chatting to Gemma and Claire, the ambassadors were given a tour of the site, which welcomes more than 50,000 people a year and some 150 schools. Gemma and her team also run a youth programme which welcomes the same group of 60 young people aged 8-18 each weekend. “Lots of them stay for the full ten years and see the goats and the lambs born and they understand the purpose of us breeding them for meat. They see that we give them as good a life as we can and it really educates them about not wasting food,” Claire said. Surrey Docks Farm is an interactive, free-to-enter educational farm. Visit surreydocksfarm.org.uk for more. January 2024

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15/01/2024 13:31:25

Things to do...

Things to do… Looking for something to do to kick off 2024? NFU Graduate Rhys Felton has you covered for the first four months of the year. JANUARY 2024 24 January Romesh Ranganathan: The Warm Ups The Great Hall, Exeter Tickets: £30.50 exeternorthcott.co.uk/ 25 January National Theatre Live: Dear England Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury Tickets: £16 theatresevern.co.uk/

FEBRUARY 2024 2-11 February Bristol Light Festival Events across the city Tickets: Free bristollightfestival.org/

7 February Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show York Auction Centre, York Tickets: Free yams.uk.com/ 8 February Lincolnshire Farming Conference Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln Tickets: £15/adult, £6/students lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/ 10-18 February Dark Skies Festival South Downs National Park Tickets: Activities range between £3-£20 darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/ 20-21 February NFU Conference The ICC, Birmingham Tickets: Members NFUonline.com/

2 February-16 March Six Nations Rugby Championship Venues include Cardiff, Edinburgh and London Tickets: £40-150 sixnationsrugby.com/

23 February Bongo’s Bingo '90s Special The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury Tickets: £13 bongosbingo.co.uk/

6 February Norfolk Farming Conference Norfolk Showground, Norfolk Tickets: £45-75 rnaa.org.uk/

24-25 February Tractor World Show Three Counties Showground, Malvern Tickets: £14-16/day, £20-25/weekend tractorworldshow.co.uk/

20-21 Feb NFU Conference 2024

10-18 Feb Dark Skies Festival

MARCH 2024 4-5 March National Equine Show NEC, Birmingham Tickets: £10/day, £18/weekend thenec.co.uk/ 5 March The World According to Kaleb Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge Tickets: £34.50 www.cambridgelive.org.uk/ 6 March Farm Expo 2024 Kent Showground, Maidstone Tickets: Free kcas.org.uk/farm-expo/ 9 March Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club York Barbican, York Tickets: £25.50 www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/ 12-15 March Cheltenham Festival Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham Tickets: From £37 thejockeyclub.co.uk/ 14 March Jonathan Pie: Heroes and Villains Hexagon Theatre, Reading Tickets: From £22 whatsonreading.com/hexagon/ whats-on

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January 2024

15/01/2024 09:20:41

Things to do...

30 March Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race River Thames, London Tickets: Free theboatrace.org/

30 March Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

APRIL 2024 23-24 March National Outdoors Expo

4 April Premier League Darts AO Arena, Manchester Tickets: £33.50 pdc.tv/

19 March NFU Poultry Research Seminar NFU, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire Keep an eye on: NFUonline.com/ sectors/poultry/ for details

5-6 April Gin and Rum Festival Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham Tickets: £13.50-£16/day ginandrumfestival.com/

23-24 March National Outdoors Expo NEC, Birmingham Tickets: £10 thenec.co.uk/

11-13 April The Grand National Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool Tickets: From £35 thejockeyclub.co.uk/

25-27 March International Food and Drink Event ExCel London Tickets: Free ife.co.uk/

29 March UK Garage Fest 2024 Indigo at the O2, London Tickets: From £9.95 theo2.co.uk/

21 April London Marathon London Tickets: Free tcslondonmarathon.com/ January 2024

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Photos: Alamy and Benedict Tufnell/Row360

15 March Fin Taylor: Ask Your Mother City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds Tickets: From £16.50 leedsheritagetheatres.com/cityvarieties-music-hall/

30 March-1 April Chester Food and Drink Festival Chester Racecourse, Cheshire Tickets: £12/day, £24/3-day chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk/

15/01/2024 11:49:36

Farmer Will

For the love of farming Following the release of his first book, Beth Wright catches up with Farmer Will of TikTok and Love Island fame, to see how life has been back on the farm after leaving the villa John Cottle

sixth-generation farmer, Will Young – aka Farmer Will – has been farming full-time since the age of 17. “I’m very much an outdoorsy person. Growing up, I didn’t like sitting in a classroom or at a desk. I would help on the farm, and I’d love it,” Will said. After some encouragement from his dad to explore his options outside of farming, Will tried his hand at several different careers, from accounting to catering. “My dad always encouraged my brother and I to go out and get an education. He said, ‘the farm is always going to be here, you don’t need to rush and make a decision about farming full time, it’s a life-long commitment’.” But when he did try and find a career outside of agriculture, all Will was thinking about was home. “I said, ‘this is so silly, I just want to work on the farm’ so that’s when I came back full time. I got on TikTok about two

2231174.indd 32

COVER

years ago and I guess that’s where STORY everything started to change.” After some encouragement from a friend, Will uploaded a Snapchat video to TikTok during lambing season. “It just blew up and since then, I’ve been trying to promote farming. It’s more for non-farmers than farmers in the way that I speak, so if you don’t understand farming, you’ll be able to watch the videos and have an idea of what’s going on. Then I went on Love Island, which was really random, and here I am today.” Today is living back on the family farm with girlfriend Jessie Wynter who Will found love with in the villa. With almost two million followers on TikTok, Will continues to use the platform to raise awareness about farming, taking this a step further in October of last year with his debut book, ‘For The Love Of Farming’, which he calls “a real pinch me moment”. “I’ve tried to do it in the way of my TikTok videos, where you don’t need to

January 2024

15/01/2024 09:21:14

Farmer Will

January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:21:40

Farmer Will be a farmer or understand farming to be able to read it,” Will said. “Although it is educational, it’s done in a very lighthearted, easy manner and that’s what I wanted the book to be because I wasn’t great at English, I did struggle, so even having a book out still surprises me.” While it’s an easy read, the book also touches on mental health and some of the troubles of the job. “If I write another book, I’d love to go into the issues a lot more,” he said, adding one of the main things that appearing on Love Island has led to is a bigger platform. “I was back lambing a week after leaving the villa which was really so intense, it felt like I’d never worked in my life,” Will laughed. “It humbled me, it was so tough, but Love Island has given me a bigger

platform where I can actually talk about real issues within the farming community and industry, which is the most amazing thing.” He pointed to issues including sustainable farming, getting farmers a fair price, mental health, and diversification, adding he will continue to use his platform to spark conversations and get people talking. Will is also passionate about the future of farming and fostering the next generation: “It is so important because farming feeds the world. Not necessarily just the country, it feeds the world. Without farming you wouldn’t survive.” With the average age of a farmer in the UK at 59 and across the world at 60, Will is a keen advocate for change and is eager to get more young people involved in the industry, using his social media presence to help drive awareness of farming, and the agricultural sector more widely, as a career choice. “There’s such a stereotype around farming but it’s changing so much. You don’t have to be an old man in wellies, you can be young, you can be cool.”

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January 2024

15/01/2024 09:22:09

Farmer Will

“If you’re having a bad day or you’re not feeling great, a walk or just going out and getting fresh air instead of being trapped in a house with four walls where you are a bit uncertain, can do so much good” And it’s the younger farmers, Will thinks, who are key to driving change in the industry. “This generation coming through who are being taught different ways of farming, how to be more sustainable and more environmental, this is where the real change is going to happen and if there’s not enough people to push that, then it just won’t.” Will also would love to see agriculture on the curriculum. “I would love to have a real big push and involvement in agriculture being taught in schools. I think it is so important. “The only reason I work on a farm and I’m in agriculture is because my family farm, and I love it, but if I didn’t come from that sort of background, I probably wouldn’t do it because it wouldn’t have been an option at school and so many people are in that category. “It’s so important that where our food comes from is taught as a lot of people probably just know that food comes from a supermarket and that’s how it is, but there’s so many different things that go on beforehand. “Especially as a young kid, knowing where your food comes from and knowing that it’s a career option because agriculture will always be around, it’s probably the most sustainable job. Just knowing it is an option and that there are so many jobs. There’s a massive stigma around ‘oh if you’re in agriculture you have to be a farmer’, when you don’t. There are many different routes that you can go down.”

‘For the Love of Farming: Farmer Will's Guide to Life in the Fields’ is out now.

Follow Will on social media: @farmerwill_ @farmer_will_

FARMER WILL’S ADVICE FOR STARTING OUT IN AGRICULTURE “Just reach out. I’m quite lucky in that I come from a family farm, but I’ve learned the most on other people’s farms and that’s all just from reaching out and asking if they wanted a hand. “Funnily enough, in the past six months since leaving the villa, I’ve gained more knowledge about farming than I have my whole life, and that’s just because I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Kenya and Scotland to work on different farms. “You see on a lot of family farms; I learned from my dad, and he learned from his dad who learned from his dad. There’s no outside source of getting new information. So reach out and always say yes even if it puts you in an uncomfortable position. You might be a bit nervous, and it might be a bit daunting but I’m so sure that when you do get into it, you won’t regret it – but you will regret saying no.”

January 2024

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15/01/2024 09:22:33

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January 2024

15/01/2024 09:22:36

Advertisment feature

Helping leaders of the future Applications are now open for the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust’s 2024 Centenary Award, which provides bursaries for postgraduate courses in agriculture

he Centenary Award was set up by rural insurer NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010; to support agricultural leaders of the future, and champion research and innovation within the industry. It provides annual bursaries to pay up to 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture and, to date, 52 young people have received help through the Centenary Award to further their education.

Applications for the 2024 award are now open, with applicants required to meet the following initial guidelines:

• •

You have gained (or currently are expected to gain) at least a 2:1 in agriculture or a related degree. You have been offered, or have applied for, a place on a postgraduate agricultural course (Masters or PhD) in the UK commencing during the 2024/2025 academic year.

How the bursaries will be supporting 2023 Centenary Award recipients Three postgraduate agricultural students from across the UK were selected to receive a ‘Centenary Award’ bursary from the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust for the 2023/2024 academic year. Megan Phillips from Herefordshire MSc Sustainable and Efficient Food Production, Aberystwyth University. Peter Reis from Cornwall MSc Ruminant Nutrition, Harper Adams University. Ludo de Falbe from Norfolk MPhil Crop Sciences, University of Cambridge.

Megan is a graduate trainee at Dunbia, and is undertaking her Master’s course to support her career aspirations. She said: “I’ve always been interested in animal genetics and red meat production to help farmers across the UK. The

teaching of this Master’s degree is allowing me to see the financial and physical positives of experimental ideas which bring both farmers’ opinions and business knowledge into the equation.” Peter, who works full time as a ruminant nutritionist at Mole Valley Feed Solutions, is undertaking his Master’s degree to help bring new and novel techniques to the farmers he serves. “I have a real passion to learn about and pioneer new feeding techniques to increase the efficiency of dairy, beef and sheep farms in the region, while also decreasing the carbon footprint of the industry,” he said. “My goal is to become a leader in nutrition within Cornwall and Devon, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge.” Ludo, who is also passionate about UK agriculture and the environment, is undertaking his Master’s to explore techniques to develop resilience of crops to climate change. “My studies include an investigation into gas exchange plants, and how the air spaces in leaves develop, with a view to improving water-use efficiency,” he said. Announcing the award’s recipients for 2023, Jim McLaren MBE, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “Our Centenary Award bursary scheme aims to champion research and innovation for the UK agricultural industry, while also supporting passionate individuals to advance their careers. “We are delighted to be supporting Megan, Peter and Ludo with our Centenary Award bursaries, and wish them all the very best for their postgraduate courses.”

APPLY FOR A CENTENARY AWARD Centenary Award bursaries for 2024 are open now for applications. Recipients for the 2024 award will be announced in October, with the closing date for applications 30 June, ahead of assessments. For more information about the scheme, and an application form, visit NFU Mutual's website (nfumutual.co.uk) and search ‘Centenary Award’, or scan the QR code above. If you have any queries regarding your eligibility, or your application, please contact centenary_ award@nfumutual.co.uk.

The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No.111982). Registered in England. Registered office: Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers.

January 2024

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The Chief Shepherdess Meet Instagram queen, Zoë Colville

IT’S FREE YOU SAY?

NFU Student & Young Farmer membership is free to students and young farmers. It allows you to have a say and to contribute towards the future of agriculture, and you will benefit from access to experts in policy, food and farming, plus bonus perks!

Summer gear guide We take a look at essenti al products for summer

Health and safety Take the time to ensure your safety

May 2023

MENTAL HEALTH

How small changes can make a big difference

Changing the game

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Join the largest and most influential farming association and receive: • Student Farmer magazine and British Farmer & Grower or Farming Wales magazine delivered to your door • The latest news and briefings from our policy experts in NFU Bulletin and sector-specific and regional e-newsletters • Discounted member rates to attend NFU Conference and other events • Access to members-only content on NFUonline and the NFU App with a unique login • 10% saving on B+E Trailer Training • Welfare of Animals in Transport test for £35 (+VAT) • 15% off airport parking and hotels with APH • Huge savings on Merlin Entertainment (Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and more) • Up to 25% off ATV helmets and safety clothing from Spada.

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Tips to help those yourself and around you

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It's open to all students and young farmers, 30 years old and under

Student Farmer and British Farmer & Grower or Farming Wales magazines delivered to your door

Invitations to NFU meetings and discounted rates to NFU Conference

Keep up to date with a unique login to NFUonline.com and NFU newsletters

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January 2024

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Grow your career with a WCUC degree Warwickshire College and University Centre (WCUC) was launched as a new university centre by Warwickshire College Group in 2021. WCUC will expand its degree level provision, which is already delivered across four colleges in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The new university centre follows on from WCG becoming the first college group in the UK to be granted Bachelor degree awarding powers by the Office for Students, alongside the Foundation degree awarding powers already in place. This includes Royal Leamington Spa College, Rugby College, Moreton Morrell College and Pershore College. Degrees taught at Moreton Morrell continue to be awarded by Coventry University. • Sustainable Horticultural Technology (Agri-Tech)

• Equine

• Veterinary Nursing

• Canine

• Animal

• Veterinary Physiotherapy

Book on to an open event to find out more: • Moreton Morrell College // Saturday 20 January 2024, 10am – 1pm • Pershore College // Saturday 27 January 2024, 10am – 1pm • Pershore College // Saturday 16 March 2024, 10am – 1pm

To book your place, visit:

wcuc.ac.uk/degreeopenevents January 2024

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10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Saturday 27th January PRE-REGISTER NOW AT: HADLOW.AC.UK/EVENTS 2186577.indd 40

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