NSA funds New Zealand research journey for younger sheep farmers

The Nationwide Sheep Affiliation (NSA) has chosen two younger sheep farmers to embark on a research journey to New Zealand to discover the appliance of science in sheep manufacturing.

The winners, Lucy Griffiths from Presteigne, Powys, and Perry Parkinson from Dumfries, will obtain a £2,750 journey bursary every to attend the journey.

Griffiths and Parkinson have been chosen because the winners of the NSA’s Samuel Wharry Award for the Subsequent Technology programme, which goals to assist innovation and enthusiasm in younger sheep farmers within the UK.

The funding for the journey is supplied by the NSA alongside the Firm of the Retailers of the Staple of England (the Staple).

NSA chief govt, Phil Stocker, mentioned the award provides younger sheep farmers help and inspiration to journey and uncover the roles that science and know-how play within the enchancment of the worldwide sheep flock.

“After the world of journey was closed off for therefore lengthy as a result of covid pandemic, it’s particularly pleasing to have the ability to award the bursaries to Lucy and Perry this 12 months,” he mentioned.

“All at NSA and the Staple are excited to be a part of their journeys and want them the perfect with their research.”

The method

After being shortlisted from many purposes for the award, Griffiths and Parkinson have been chosen as winners by the panel of judges, which included NSA and business representatives.

The panel was led by Stephen Fell, a Staple consultant and sheep breeder from North Yorkshire.

Talking on behalf of the Staple, Fell mentioned: “The Firm of the Retailers of the Staple of England is as soon as once more delighted to be sponsoring the NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award.

“This can be a nice alternative for the 2 younger folks from our sheep business to journey and broaden their minds in different international locations.

“The profitable recipients this 12 months, Perry and Lucy, each interviewed very nicely and their chosen matters will definitely produce stories of actual topical curiosity,” he mentioned.

Lucy Griffiths

Griffiths is a remaining 12 months agriculture scholar at Harper Adams College in Newport and farms alongside her household on their blended farm in Mid-Wales.

She plans to analyze completely different choices for outwintering of inventory on her NSA-funded research journey.

Her chosen subject is related to her household’s system, which at the moment outwinters breeding ewes and lambs on forage crops as a part of the crop rotation.

Talking on receiving the award, Griffiths mentioned: “It’s a privilege to be chosen as a recipient and to signify younger UK sheep farmers.

“I’m excited to journey, hopefully to each New Zealand and Australia, to see firsthand their sheep methods, with a give attention to outwintering methods.

“I’m positive it can give me additional motivation as I full my remaining 12 months at Harper Adams College,” she mentioned.

Perry Parkinson

Parkinson is a head shepherd on the Scotland’s Rural School’s (SRUC) Barony campus, and is hoping to check anthelmintic resistance in sheep throughout his journey.

He created an egg rely map on the faculty farm, which aids evaluation of excessive and low danger fields and helps in choice on planting of grasses and different crops with a purpose to scale back the chance.

Talking on the award, Parkinson mentioned: “The NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award is a superb alternative for any younger sheep farmer to journey and think about farming in different elements of the world, and having the backing of NSA and the Staple is incredible.

“I’m excited to plan and undertake my journey, hopefully bringing again some attention-grabbing findings to the UK, not solely to utilise myself however to share with others too.”

The award

The NSA’s Samuel Wharry Memorial Award is given within the reminiscence of Samuel Wharry of Carnlough, County Antrim, who was beforehand chairperson of the NSA.

Wharry died out of the blue in Might of 2017, aged 56.

As an advocate of science and know-how, notably in relation to genetics, the bursaries are given in Wharry’s reminiscence.