SHEEP producers will investigate value-adding, nutritional supplements, livestock incorporation into a grain operation and lotfeeding as part of their 2023 Nuffield scholarships announced this week.

Four sheep producers have been awarded scholarships to travel the world and study innovative ideas, techniques and systems that will benefit their businesses and the broader agricultural industry.

Fiona sees more value-adding happening

New South Wales lamb producer Fiona Aveyard from Peak Hill will explore how to incorporate value-add opportunities into the red meat industry.

The fifth generation farmer established Outback Lamb Pty Ltd, making and selling single-origin lamb sausage rolls for retail and food service.

She believes more producers will integrate value-adding components into their businesses and will focus on opportunities for niche marketing, investment and mechanisation, as well as the potential impact on succession, regional population and jobs.

Fiona has been supported by RAS Foundation (NSW). Click here for more information.

Customising feed and supplements to your farm

Livestock nutritionist at Barmedman in NSW, Nicole Logg, will investigate nutritional options for supplementing sheep effectively.

She hopes her research will help create a simple way for farmers to understand what they have in their pastures and feed resources, and what might be deficient during seasonal periods.

Nicole would like to further investigate new and novel supplementation approaches to aid digestion and support immune function. She is supported by Australian Wool Innovation. For more information click here.

Can soil management, plant diversity and livestock mitigate costs?

Western Australian crop and sheep farmer Daniel Dempster at Goomalling will explore the economic implications of adopting farming practices with a focus on total soil cover, minimal soil disturbance, high plant species diversity and livestock incorporation.

He hopes to investigate whether implementing conservative soil management principles might help farmers address pesticide resistance, rising energy prices, forecast peak Phosphorus production and declining terms of trade.

Daniel wants to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of farming enterprises. He is supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation. For more details click here.

 

How to keep those lambs happy in the feedlot

South Australian sheep and lamb producer Sammy McIntyre at Parawa will study how enriching feedlot environments to encourage natural behaviours can benefit the sheep industry.

She is the chief financial officer of the family’s lamb production, finishing and lot feeding business and wants to study the benefits of enriched environments for intensive sheep production and practical implementation. Small studies have shown lambs in ‘enriched’ pens – with ramps, platforms or straw bales for lambs to play – had benefits for animal welfare, eating quality and weight gain. She is supported by Rabobank. Click here for more information.

2023 scholars to study production, mental health and education

Nineteen emerging leaders from Australian agriculture have been awarded Nuffield scholarships in the 2023 cohort, to study topics that encompass productivity, farmer mental health and rural education.

For the first time, Nuffield Australia has awarded scholarships to more women than men this year.

Thanks to generous investors, each 2023 scholar receives a $30,000 bursary to invest in travel and research. They will visit, learn from, and collaborate with some of the world’s leading agricultural businesses and research institutions.

Nuffield Australia chief executive officer and 2013 scholar, Jodie Redcliffe, said the scholarships enable producers to learn about farming systems and innovations that can be game-changers for Australian agriculture.

“Nuffield Australia opens the world up for people in agriculture who are brave enough to be out of their comfort zone.

“A global perspective enables them to learn, be competitive and grow,” she said.

The Nuffield scholars were announced at Nuffield Australia annual awards night and conference at Tamworth in NSW.

“We’re so excited by this cohort of Nuffield Scholars. They’re from a wide range of industries – cropping, fishing, livestock and tree nuts – and we’ve got every state and territory represented,” Jodie said.

The 2023 Nuffield scholars by state

Queensland

• Jarrod Cook from Stamford, has been awarded the Northern Pastoral Scholarship, supported collectively by the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC), Elders and S. Kidman & Co. Jarrod will study the best methods to prepare cattle for feedlot entry to optimise performance.
• Tessa Dimond from St George. Supported by GrainCorp, Tessa will gain a global perspective on how Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) affect Australian grain prices and access to international markets.
• Regan Lynch from Hughenden. Supported by Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia, Regan will explore ways to improve farm biosecurity attitudes and practices in the Northern Australian beef industry.
• Aimee Snowden currently works in Rockhampton, but hails from a family farm in southern NSW. Supported by AgriFutures Australia, she will study agriculture education models that drive immersive experiences and engage curious minds.
• Miriam Villen King from Bargara. Supported by the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), Miriam will study sustainable approaches to growing walnuts in Australia.

NSW

• Fiona Aveyard from Peak Hill. Supported by RAS Foundation (NSW), Fiona will explore how to incorporate value-add opportunities into the red meat industry.
• Tim Houston from Mungindi. Supported by Cotton Australia and the Cotton Research & Development Corporation, Tim will research how to sustainably transition land from grazing to cropping, including cotton.
• Nicole Logg from Barmedman. Supported by Australian Wool Innovation, Nicole will investigate nutritional options for supplementing sheep effectively.
• Jackie Morrison from McLeans Ridges. Supported by AgriFutures Australia, Jackie will study Integrated Pest Management and how it can support the Australian industry’s fight against Varroa destructor mite.

Western Australia

• Daniel Dempster from Goomalling. Supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation, Daniel will explore the economic implications of adopting the agricultural farming practices focused on total soil cover, minimal soil disturbance, high plant species diversity and livestock incorporation.
• Rebecca Kelly from Mingenew. Supported by CBH Group, Rebecca will explore ways to help farmers in negotiations with energy companies, for example if they want to explore or extract resources from their land.
• Alys McKeough from Carnarvon. Supported by Meat & Livestock Australia, Alys will explore emerging technology to improve property-wide connectivity, which could boost efficiency and productivity along with improving rangeland condition in the pastoral industry.

South Australia

• Alexander Copper from Auburn. Supported by Nuffield South Australia, Alexander will study drought tolerant wine varieties that could be introduced to Australia.
• Sammy McIntyre from Parawa. Supported by Rabobank, Sammy will study how enriching feedlot environments to encourage natural behaviours can benefit the sheep industry.

Tasmania

• Iain Field from Copping. Supported by University of Tasmania and JM Roberts Charitable Trust, Iain will study how to increase ecological literacy and biodiversity on farms for sustainability.
• Joana Ferreira Mendes from Geeveston. Supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Joana will visit key aquaculture-producing countries and bring back insights and innovations to help the Australian industry farm fish more sustainably.

Northern Territory

• Jodie Mitchell from Newcastle Waters. Supported by the Northern Territory Government and ANZ Bank, Jodie will explore ways to improve raising young cattle in northern/sub-tropical environments.

Victoria

• Sarah Crosthwaite from Kergunyah South. Supported by the Gardiner Foundation, Sarah will study how different agricultural sectors across the world support their producers’ mental health, especially in a changing climate.

Australian Capital Territory

Nuffield Australia and CSIRO have an established partnership that promotes understanding between Australian scientific research and our agricultural industry. In 2023, Dr Vivien (Viv) Rolland will be the sixth CSIRO scientist to participate in two key components of the Nuffield program: the Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) and the Global Focus Program (GFP).