Opportunity of a lifetime for Aussie farmers

Australian primary producers wanting to take their business to the next level while experiencing the best agriculture the world has to offer are urged to apply for the next round of prestigious Nuffield scholarships.
This leading program runs for a total of 16 weeks, and starts with six weeks of group travel touring the global powerhouses of agriculture, including China, Brazil, USA, Canada and Europe.
Scholars then focus in on a topic of value to their business and industry, with a further 10 weeks travelling the world investigating their chosen research.
For 2010 scholar and Wanaaring NSW farmer Christine Ferguson, the opportunities unlocked through the Nuffield network have been eye opening.
“This last year I have found myself talking with members of the Committee on Agriculture in the US House of Representatives in Washington DC, researchers at universities across the world, nomadic herders in Mongolia and farmers in India, just to name a few.”
Recent years have seen scholars cover a wide range of subjects including climate change policy, responsible pesticide application, dealing with cheap barramundi imports, hop production, precision agriculture and grain production in low rainfall environments.
Once scholars have finished their research topics, they become part of a valuable alumni network with members in the UK, Ireland, France, Zimbabwe, Canada, New Zealand and recent country aspirant the Netherlands.
For many scholars, the Nuffield program gives them the experience and exposure to go on to further representative positions within industry. As Graeme Nicoll from Fish Creek in Victoria and a 2010 Nuffield Scholar puts it, “A Nuffield scholarship is an investment in yourself and your business that will pay back tenfold.”
Applications close on June 30 and are for travel in 2012.
There will be 23 scholarships available from a range of Australia’s leading agricultural organisations – for more information and selection guidelines please visit www.nuffield.com.au or call Nuffield Australia CEO Jim Geltch on (03) 5480 0755.