Mar 18, 2019

Applications are now open for this year’s Gen Ag Future Fund, a scholarship that aims to boost the skills of the next generation of people working in the Australian fodder industry.

Sponsored by Lallemand Animal Nutrition in association with the Australian Fodder Industry Association, the $3000 sponsorship can be used to undertake study, work experience or any other project that will benefit the successful applicant and the wider industry.

Last year’s winner was fifth-generation South Australian farmer, Cameron Lowe, who impressed the judges with his vision to gain a better understanding of enterprise diversity and the role of fodder crops in weed control programs.

Cameron grew up on his family’s 1120 hectare Wasleys district property, which produces a range of cereal and pulse crops, as well as 85,000 small square bales of hay and straw each year.

Cameron is using his scholarship to help complete his Bachelor of Business (Agriculture) program at Marcus Oldham College, Geelong, Victoria.

“This scholarship provided me with lots of opportunities to meet new people and experience things that I otherwise would not get to see,” he says.

“I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me.

“For example, I travelled to China as part of a study tour with Marcus Oldham and Hay Australia made sure I caught up with their local sales and marketing manager, which was really interesting.

“The Chinese don’t buy fodder, particularly oaten hay, from Australia because we’re the closest producer – they buy it because it’s the best.

“This is a really big opportunity for Australia.

“The Chinese government is committed to becoming self-sustainable but they are going to reliant on imports for many years to come.

“Every square inch of arable land in China is sown to corn, rice or wheat but it’s still not enough to supply their rapidly-growing livestock industries, which in turn are struggling to meet the needs of their urbanised population.

“I have also spent time with Lallemand Technical Services Manager, Dave Lewis, which has been fascinating.

“I have grown up making hay but I didn’t know anything about silage.”

Cameron is also pursuing work experience opportunities in the fodder industry, including a stint with a hay contractor in Darwin.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition Managing Director – Australia, Alex Turney, says his company is proud to support the scholarship.

“As a global leader in microbial technology used in the livestock industry, Lallemand is committed to working with and supporting the fodder sector,” he says.

“I encourage all young farmers, contractors or university students to consider how they could use this scholarship to further their education or career.”

To enter, individuals must provide a 500-word cover letter describing their proposed study or project and a resume.

Applicants must be an Australian citizen aged 18 to 30 years and a current or eligible AFIA member.

Applications close at 5 pm Monday, 10 June 2019.

Applications will be reviewed by an assessment panel comprising AFIA and Lallemand representatives.

The winner will be announced at the 2019 National Fodder Conference, which will be held in the Hunter Valley on 29–31 July.

For further details, contact John McKew, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Fodder Industry Association on (03) 9670 0523, 0438 182 600 or john@afia.org.au.