Growing careers of young farmers

Young farmers across the state can now apply for 2022 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships to help their careers grow and support their contribution to Victoria’s vibrant agriculture sector.

Agriculture Victoria acting executive director of agriculture policy Dr Julie Simons encouraged young farmers to apply for the scholarships, that would allow them to take the next steps in their agricultural careers.

“In an industry that is undergoing constant evolution, fostering our young talent and giving them tools to thrive and succeed is vital,” she said.

Under the program, which has awarded 89 scholarships since 2015, eligible young farmers can boost their skills and careers with up to $10,000 each.

In 2021, 13 young farmers were awarded scholarships covering the breadth of Victoria’s agriculture regions and industries including beef, sheep, cropping, horticulture, dairy, viticulture and aquaculture.

The scholarship program supported these farmers to upskill in topics such as agribusiness, livestock management and farm business management.

Following on, scholarship recipients often invest in professional development or business planning, or in on-farm initiatives such as electronic ID tags, digital scales or consultant support.

Applications for this year’s round of scholarships are open to farmers aged 35 or younger who have been working in farm businesses for at least three days a week for the past three months, with at least two years total experience on-farm.

People can visit website, go.vic.gov.au/khjyo9 to find out more about the program and to apply. Applications close on April 18.