Fellowship to encourage young farmers
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Encouraging young farmers enhance and develop their on-farm skills is the aim of the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia’s $7000 Peter Olsen Fellowship for Young Farmers.
The Fellowship, now in its eighth year, is for young people aged 18 to 35 involved in farming as their principal activity for the past 12 months.
Agricultural Bureau State President Mark Dennis said the Peter Olsen Fellowship was an opportunity for the new generation of farmer wanting to further their skills and knowledge.
“All our applicants have had innovative, positive ideas to improve primary production in this state and have gone on to put their skills to good use,” he said.
“The reality in agriculture is that we all need to ensure our enterprises are as sustainable as possible if we are going to cope with the demands of a warming climate. Keeping up with innovation and research will assist us to achieve that aim.”
People who are already studying or plan to do so in the future can apply for the fellowship, with the grant to be used for courses, study tours or running special projects.
Past winners have used the funding towards advancing a beekeeping business, upgrading production at a boutique winery, investigating precision agriculture and studying artificial insemination.
Last year’s winner, Gumeracha horticulturalist Steven Newman, production manager of his family’s business Hills Fresh , used the Peter Olsen Fellowship to investigate soil moisture monitoring equipment to place on his property in order to overcome salinity issues.
“Without the Fellowship, not only have we been able to ascertain what we were doing wrong but also to become more sustainable,” he said.
The Fellowship is named in memory of Eyre Peninsula farming identity and Agricultural Bureau member Peter Olsen. Mr Olsen and his wife Wendy were among eight people killed when a Whyalla Airlines plane crashed into Spencer Gulf in 2000.
In addition to the Agricultural Bureau funding, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) is also a sponsor of the Fellowship along with continual support from the Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Recovery and Response Team.
Applications for the 2008 Peter Olsen Fellowship close on 19 September with the winner to be announced at the Spirit of Excellence Awards in Agriculture on 14 October. Copies of the guidelines and applications forms are available from the Agriculture Bureau’s website www.agbureau.com.au or by phoning 1800 652 258 or 8226 0351.
For further information and assistance, please contact Helen Lamont (PIRSA Rural Solutions) on 0409 885 606.
