Tom Ormesher: Report Published

New Nuffield Farming Report published – Tom Ormesher: ‘Farmer Coordination and Water Stewardship

Tom Ormesher NSch 2018, West Sussex-based Environment and Land Use Advisor for the NFU, has published his Nuffield Farming Report, titled ‘Farmer Coordination and Water Stewardship’. It is now available on the Nuffield International website at www.nuffieldinternational.org/live/reports or can be downloaded directly at http://bit.ly/38lntDG

Tom’s presentation of his study findings at the 2019 Nuffield Farming Conference can be viewed at http://bit.ly/3bvrdo3.

Report Title: Farmer Coordination and Water Stewardship 

Sponsor: John Oldacre Foundation

Countries Visite: USA (New York & California), New Zealand, Spain, The Netherlands

Study Objectives

To explore the relationship between commercial farming, water management and wider public interest. Considering how best to coordinate the strategic water management and business development priorities of British farmers and growers.

 

Messages

  • Sustainable water management requires strategic planning and investment; and this goes hand in hand with broader questions of rural economic development.
  • Sustainable development in the rural economy will not be achieved without an enabling framework, providing food production businesses with the support, knowledge and financing arrangements to implement commercially relevant sustainability enhancements.
  • Further investigation should assess the potential for expanding and incentivising formal, farmer led partnerships in England and Wales. These types of organisation could become the backbone of a new and effective working relationship with the regulator, whilst providing farmers with the opportunity for more coordinated commercial positioning.
  • Defra should also review the structure and function of resource management advisory services in England and Wales, which is complex and fragmented. The review should consider the US model of Resource Conservation Districts as a valuable alternative. 
  • Finally, to meet future sustainability challenges, the sector needs better supporting services at regional and sub-regional level, providing company mentoring, mid-career business training and more cohesive business networks.
Farm machinery spraying crops

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Notes to the Editor:

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) is a registered charity (Reg. Charity No. 1098519) that awards approximately 20 scholarships annually in the UK to young people between the ages of 22 and 45 from across the agricultural industry.

There is no need for formal qualifications in order to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship; instead, the Trust looks to unlock an individual’s potential and broaden horizons through study and travel overseas. Scholars are selected with a view to developing tomorrow’s leaders within their individual business and the industry as a whole.

Nuffield Farming member countries span the globe, with established programmes in Australia, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kenya, and Zimbabwe; Associate countries also include Brazil, USA, South Africa, and Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan).

Nuffield Scholarships are only made possible by the generous support of sponsors from across agriculture and the food industry. NFST work with over 100 sponsors to develop individuals who will become tomorrow’s leaders and inspire change in our industry. 

Scholarship Eligibility

  • Applicants must work within the farming, food, horticulture, rural and associated industries or are in a position to influence these industries.
  • Applicants must be aged between 22 and 45 years (the upper age limit is 45 on 31st July in the year of application).
  • There is no requirement for academic qualifications, but applicants will already be well established in their career and demonstrate a passion for the industry they work in and be three years post-tertiary education.
  • Candidates must be resident in the UK and hold a UK passport or be working directly for UK agriculture.
  • Scholarships are not awarded to anyone in full-time education or to further research projects.

For more information, please contact: