Jubilee Scholarships

I was very fortunate to receive the Jubilee Scholarship Award in 2023, which assisted me to complete my training and examination for Certificate of Competence for Safe Use of Pesticides (PA1).

Having worked and grown up on farms, this course is essential for the storage, handling and application of pesticides and will help me commence with my future career plans to be involved in the agronomy industry.

I completed the course through an online training platform in January which allowed me to learn all the relevant information whilst completing my final year university studies.

The training was split into three modules, which covered a range of topics. Module one included learning about the correct terminology, modes of action, water quality, protecting people and the legislation behind using pesticides.

Module two was a lot more specific to handling the pesticides, teaching us about how to interpret product labels, personal protective equipment, safe storage and transport. To conclude, the final module included the correct record keeping and how to dispose of pesticides.

After completing all the modules, I had to sit a short one-hour exam to test my knowledge from the resources provided. Attaining PA1 qualification is important as it allows me to commence to further courses to be able to apply pesticide chemicals.

I would like to thank the Worshipful Company of Farmers for the grant which enabled me to undertake this course, and I strongly encourage members to apply for this training when applications re-open in the summer.

On August 16–18 I completed training for my course, Felling Trees up to 380mm with a Chainsaw. I met the three other students and our instructor, Adam, at Gawton Woods near Tavistock in Devon.

Everyone got on well as we were all keen on woodland management, and couldn’t wait to get started to learn the correct and safe techniques used for tree felling.

Having recently purchased a new Stihl chainsaw, I was well equipped to undertake the training. The morning of our first day was spent covering the theory behind tree felling.

There are eight different techniques used for felling, some are suited to forward-leaning trees, such as the ‘dog tooth cut’ and some are used for backward-leaning trees, like the ‘split level cut’.

Apart from the conventional cut, it is interesting to learn that the most popular cut with forestry workers is the ‘Danish pie cut’ as it is dual-purpose and gives you greater control of the tree.

In the afternoon, we covered maintenance of the chainsaw and did some cross cutting, too.

On the second day, our instructor gave us several demonstrations of the different cuts and when they should be used.

Once we all got started, we quickly learnt of the importance of getting the felling ‘gob’ correct, as the gob controls the angle and direction of the tree.

We were also shown a demonstration of how to deal with hung-up trees, as this is part of the test requirement. Dealing with hung-up trees is rather dangerous due to their unpredictability.

The safe way to get a hung-up tree on the ground is to cut away at the hinge and then roll the tree out using a felling lever. Other techniques include ‘walking’ the tree back with a long pole.

The final day of training started with a demonstration of ‘snedding’, which is correct way to cut the branches from the tree stem when it is safely on the floor.

It is certainly a difficult technique to master, but once I got the hang of it, it made my working a lot more efficient. We then practiced felling more trees to make sure we had a decent amount of preparation for our test.

We went through the test schedule to make sure we were familiar with the theory, safety, felling, snedding, cross cutting and stacking of the tree.

I must thank my instructor Adam, and Lynher Training, for putting on a very thorough and well run few days of training.

I undertook my assessment on August 21 at Gawton woods. I’m pleased to say that I passed after safely demonstrating the whole tree felling process!

The training covered everything that was required on the test and I received positive comments from the examiner.

In conclusion, I learnt a huge amount about how to safely fell trees and the legislation behind it.

As I am now qualified to do so, I will be able to work for local woodland owners, felling the large amount of Ash trees that have unfortunately died, removing them safely and efficiently.

I will now be able to grow my small business with the woodland work that I can do alongside my agricultural work.

I would like to thank the Worshipful Company of Farmers for the grant to enable to me to undertake this course.

I was delighted to receive the Jubilee Scholarship Award in 2023, which allowed me to complete the Defra-approved ‘DIY’ artificial insemination course on August 23-25 with RAFT Solutions and Bishopton Veterinary Group based at Sunley Reynes, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Having worked on a dairy farm part-time for nearly six years, the DIY AI course felt like the next step to further my understanding of dairy herd management and advance my practical skills.

The first day of training consisted of a mix of classroom and practical learning led by an experienced farm vet named Jonathan. The morning session covered the key legislation, licence rules and regulations associated with DIY AI, which is an essential part of the course.

We then went on to study the key reproductive anatomy of the cow, the oestrus cycle, and watched an informative video on heat detection. It was interesting to note that a cow or heifer should be served 12 hours following a standing heat to ensure that the sperm is in the oviduct at the point of ovum release, to maximise the likelihood of fertilisation and successful pregnancy.

This session was very useful and emphasised the importance of effective heat observation as a dairy stockperson, which is something I have improved when in my role on-farm. I also work with several younger members of staff and I have tried to help them understand why effective heat detection is important.

This was followed by a practical session, where we learned how to effectively prepare the AI ‘gun’ to ensure maximum sperm survival, before experimenting with AI gun placement in reproductive tracts taken from an abattoir. The purpose of this session was to understand the ‘feel’ of the cervix, which has a gritty sensation, and to find correct placement within the body of the uterus, having passed through the folds of the cervix.

We repeatedly prepared the AI gun to cement our knowledge of the process, and our practical skills were then tested by studying the sperm we had prepared under a microscope to check that the majority were still alive. Aside from correct AI gun placement, sperm survival is essential for a successful pregnancy.

The second and third days of training consisted of on-farm practical training days at Carperby near Leyburn and Moor Monkton near Harrogate, where we started learning how to successfully AI on cull cows. The first attempt was the most difficult, as it was hard to feel through the rectal wall and recognise the anatomy below. Eventually I was able to correctly place the AI gun through the cervix and deposit the gel our AI gun was loaded with; this then enabled the vets training us to scan and confirm that we had deposited the semen in the correct place.

Over the two days my point of improvement was to bring the AI gun back slightly as I tended to end up more toward one horn of the uterus, which could reduce conception rates should ovulation occur in the opposing horn. Therefore, the ideal situation is to deposit the semen just into the uterus body before the horns split into two, to maximise the chance of conception in either horn.

We repeated the practical for several hours and on several cows over the two days and always left with aching arms; being short I also needed a stool to assist with reaching the majority of the cows! I left the course on the third day feeling confident that I could place the AI gun in the correct place and find where I needed to be with the anatomy within the cow – even if it took me a while!

I still have a ‘refresher day’ to use as part of the training, which helps to refine the technique once you have got the hang of it. I plan to complete this in the new year once I have fully got to grips with the technique and can do it fairly quickly – so far I have AI’d several cows and recently had confirmation of a successful pregnancy in a cow so I am hopeful that there will soon be some more, and I am looking forward to seeing some of my calves on the ground!

I would like to re-iterate my thanks to the Worshipful Company of Farmers for its invaluable financial support with the course through the Jubilee Scholarship.

On November 13-15, I completed my level 2 City and Guilds tractor driving and operations course at Bishop Burton Agricultural College near Beverley, East Yorkshire. There was one other boy on the course whom I got on well with; we were both very keen to start our training.

Over the course of three days, I learned about the importance of safety both around and when driving tractors, as well as the legislation that must be complied with when operating tractors. I learned how to use a pick-up hitch and attach/detach and tip a trailer as well as attaching a fertiliser spinner with three-point linkage, PTO and hydraulic pipes.

On the third day I undertook my assessment - I had to do all of my pre-safety checks on the tractor before identifying all the different parts of the tractor and then attaching/detaching, reversing and tipping a trailer. I also had to attach/detach a fertiliser spinner and talk through the different hazards like crush zones and the legislation that must be complied with.

I was very pleased to pass my level 2 qualification after a very informative three days. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I have been given, thanks to the Worshipful Company of Farmers.

The course has helped me to broaden my knowledge on the technicalities of tractor operations, and these are skills that I will build upon going forward into the future. I also want to thank Robert, the course leader, for teaching me.

The below photo is me driving my late Grandad’s vintage tractor - the course really helped my confidence to take it on more tractor runs on the roads and operate it safely and confidently.

The first course I completed was the CPSA (Clay Pigeon Shooting Association) Safety Officers' course; this course is designed to extend the participants' knowledge on the reasons behind certain safety precautions we adhere to when competing. These include such standards as the proofing of our shotgun barrels, prior to us purchasing them, which is designed to ensure that the barrels are able to withstand the pressure that will be created within them when we are competing.

The second course I attended was the Instructors Development Workshop (IDW). This course is designed to show participants the standards which we need to achieve to become CPSA qualified coaches. This included how to fit a gun to an individual, the correct way to give a safety briefing to a beginner and finally how to view and adapt an individual's shooting to help them improve.

Both of these courses have helped me improve my knowledge, leading up towards my instructor's course, which will allow me to become a fully qualified clay pigeon shooting coach. I am hoping to complete this in the coming summer.

Hannah Benson, Jubilee Scholar 2022

“Over the past few years I have had great support from the members of Lincolnshire YFC, by asking me to their club’s wreath classes, gift bouquets for AGMs and also doing the wedding flowers for previous members. All this has given me great confidence to keep expanding my business and this is why I decided to go on the Wedding Course.

I completed the three-day Wedding Course at the Cambridge Flower School. The course was designed to give you the basics of wedding work. Day one, we were taught about creating bridal bouquets, buttonholes and corsages. Day two involved table and floor flowers and how to be sustainable by using different materials such as bio oasis, agra wool and moss. The final day we got to create an egg for an urn and also a flower crown.

The course was very interesting and practical, and should benefit me by putting the skills I learnt over the three days into good use by expanding my flower growing business into wedding work. I would like to encourage anybody to apply for the funding as it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Hannah’s website and progress with her career can be found at www.hannahsflowerslincs.co.uk.

I was very grateful to be selected as a 2019/20 award winner by the Worshipful Company of Farmers Jubilee Awards. I am an active member of Martley Young Farmers and have been for several years now although I have not held any official position.

I have a learning disability and was educated through a special school and have no significant qualifications. My mum and I have written this report between us.

I have found a real vocation working with sheep and work at a local farm where I have learnt much and am always improving my skills. Young Farmers has really helped me with my communication and confidence. I have found everyone at my club and at county to be incredibly friendly and supporting. I really enjoy going to our weekly meetings and entering county competitions where I am able. Last year I was joint first with some butchers lambs that I had raised on the farm that I work at and I have represented the county at Boys cookery.

I work on a local farm helping with their sheep and last year I bought a few sheep of my own to start a small flock of Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep. I entered these in a few agricultural shows and have had some good success, notably Reserve Champion at Burwarton show.

My Dad has helped me with these sheep and has taken me to the shows so far. One of my greatest achievements was passing my driving test and if I could also pass my trailer test it would increase my independence and confidence even further. It would also mean that I could be more useful at my work as I can help moving sheep between different holdings.

We arranged trailer training with a company called MT Training Services. The training was based at Elmley Lovett in Worcestershire and I went for 4 hours training on the 26th February. They supplied the vehicle and trailer.

Before I went I had practiced driving Dad’s truck and our stock trailer around. I also practiced manoeuvring it and reversing it around obstacles.I had also studied some videos on the correct way to hitch up the trailer and had practiced this.

The training went well and the instructor was very helpful. I then had to go the next day for a further 2 hours training followed by the test.

Firstly I had to do some ‘show me, tell me’ questions. These were things like how to load a trailer safely, how to check the brake lights are working etc. I had practiced these at home for some time so I managed these OK despite my speech difficulties.

I then had to do the manoeuvring. I had to reverse into a parking space without knocking any cones. This went well and I was happy with this. We then went out on the roads. Again I thought that this went quite well but unfortunately I managed to get in the wrong lane on a roundabout and this mean that I failed the test.

I am very sorry that I did not pass this test with the Award that you so have so kindly granted me but I am determined that I will pass this trailer test next time. I am continuing to practice at home and we have booked another test at the beginning of May with an additional days training before then. Obviously this is a bit doubtful at the moment because of the coronavirus situation but I will pass this in the end.

When looking for a company to complete the training with I researched a couple of local companies who have supported young farmers in the past and have proven track records and have completed similar training for my friends and the local farming community. David Hartley Transport and Training (picture of trailer used during training and test below) is owned and run by a fellow member of young farmers and he is keen to support clubs and members in offering training as he is aware of how vital it is to have the correct licenses and knowledge when towing trailers and machinery and also vehicle safety.

The day before the test I had a training day with Dave from David Hartley Transport and Training. Dave taught me the manoeuvres that I would be expected to complete on my test. This includes uncoupling and recoupling the trailer and pre start checks. I also had to perform a manoeuver reversing round some cones and into a marked bay. After a couple of hours training I set off into town and drove around some local test routes including on the motorway. This went well and I felt confident. My instructor Dave said that he was happy with my skill level and was confident that I would pass the test.

On the morning of the test I met up with Dave and practiced some manoeuvres again. Happy with my performance, we set off again towards the test centre. The test was carried at Kirkham test centre and completed on one of the practice routes. Unfortunately, I did fail the test due to some driving issues, however this hasn’t put me off retaking the test and I’m sure I would be more confident second time.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic my re test has been cancelled and I am still awaiting a date to retake it.

I did learn many skills from my trailer training and it has given me invaluable skills and more confidence for when I do retake my test. It has also given me more skills when operating on the road with a tractor and trailer as it has made me more aware of my surroundings, other road users and the importance of trailer and vehicle safety checks.

Completing the training has also helped me on the family farm and at work at an animal feeds company as I am now far more aware of what I am doing whilst loading and unloading the trailers either with livestock or produce. I truly believe that the training has made me a lot more safe and aware when securing loads on trailers and it is something I will continue to do outside of the training and test environment.

Once again, please on these comments to the worshipful company of farmers and thank them for the opportunity to complete this training. I would highly recommend this opportunity and further young farmers training incentives and opportunities to my fellow members.