WOOL growers and sheep meat producers have just two months to apply under the 2017 Nuffield Scholarship program.

Nuffield Australia has announced the largest pool ever of potential farming scholarships in 2017, with up to 30 prestigious opportunities available nationally.

Australian Wool Innovation sponsors the annual AWI Nuffield Woolgrower Scholarship, in collaboration with Nuffield Australia.

The scholarship is a unique opportunity for somebody in the wool industry to study a particular subject of interest, and increase practical farming knowledge and management skills and techniques in the Australian wool industry.

Applications are now open to all primary producers in Victoria for the scholarships, with applications closing on June 30.

The 2016 AWI Nuffield Scholarship winner was Jack England, from Kingston in South Australia, who is investigating the benefits and costs of using variable rate technology (VRT) for fertiliser and trace element prescription use in livestock systems.

Jack manages his family’s 3200-hectare mixed sheep, beef and cropping property, which supports 8000-head of Merino ewes for wool and prime lamb production, 450-head of Murray Grey and Angus cows, and 200 to 400-hectares of barley and pasture. He sees potential for innovative technologies, such as zoning paddocks for VRT fertiliser application, to be used more widely in livestock systems.

Nuffield scholar Michael Craig at Harrow, in south-west Victoria said the scholarship program was a great opportunity for a sheep producer to broaden their perspective and thinking on life. He is general manager of Tuloona Pastoral, a mixed broadacre livestock and cropping operation and researched new supply chain methods by which primary producers could add value for themselves and consumers, in changing environmental, economic and social conditions.

2014 Victorian Scholar, Aubrey Pellett, said the state’s agricultural industries had benefited from strong participation, with 56 scholarships awarded in Victoria.

“Nuffield is the leading program for primary producers in Victoria, identifying our future leaders, and helping to drive excellence in our agricultural industry.

“There are a number of Victoria specific scholarships available, including one for a dairy producer from Victoria, supported by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation, one for a primary producer in Victoria, supported by The William Buckland Foundation and also a grain grower in Victoria, South Australia or Tasmania, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation,” Mr Pellett said.

There are also specific opportunities for dairy, wool, livestock, pork, horticulture, egg and chicken meat producers to apply.

Mr Pellett’s 2014 Nuffield scholarship allowed him to investigate how to improve productivity for Australian pasture based dairy farming.

Successful Scholars take part in the annual Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference as well as one of six Global Focus Programs featuring a six-week intensive itinerary of international travel with fellow scholars to look at international trade, marketing and environmental issues.

The Nuffield Australia National Conference features a unique mix of returning scholar presentations featuring cutting edge research outcomes, highly regarded national and international speakers covering hot industry topics and a wide range of networking functions.

Nuffield Australia provides opportunities to Australian primary producers and managers between the ages of 28 and 40 to travel the globe investigating a research topic important to them and Australian agriculture. Scholars are provided with a $30,000 bursary to embark on a 16-week program consisting of both group and individual travel over a two-year period.

For more information, please head to www.nuffield.com.au