Outstanding in their field: the value of on-farm learning!

From first year to final year, on-farm learning helps our students hone the skills they need for their chosen professions.

The autumn term has proved no different, with our academics taking to LinkedIn to share some of the recent sessions students have enjoyed on the Harper Adams University Future Farm – and at farms up and down the country!

Lecturer in Beef and Sheep Production Dr Sarah Morgan took a group of final year students to ABP’s Bromstead farm.

She said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and witness first-hand several innovative practices that can drive on-farm sustainability and strengthening the wider supply chain.

“Huge thanks to the fantastic team at Bromstead, Andrew Macleod, Megan Beswick and Tom Dracup, for being so welcoming and generous with their time and expertise.

“And as luck would have it, the rain showers held off just long enough for us to enjoy the full visit without getting soggy!”

Meanwhile, Principal Lecturer in agronomy and Course Manager for Agriculture Louisa Dines took second year Agriculture students out to perform a Grassland MOT as part of their Crop Production Systems and Applied Crop and Livestock Production modules. 

She added: “They also looked at our sugar beet crop, our paludiculture site, some intercropping and drone scanning on our Future Farm as an introduction to the module.”

Finally, also on the Harper Adams Future Farm, first year students got the chance to help with some vital research work using the Lleyn sheep herd.

Lecturer in Animal Production and Health Nicky Naylor explained: “As part of their flock management we have been taking blood and faecal samples to monitor worm burden and immune response for the last 10 years, with data feeding into both their signet performance data and as part of the Breed for CH4nge project.

“As it’s a fair task, I invited willing students to come and help, and the first year students really got stuck in!”