Nick Shorter from Velcourt came in to talk to the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture learners about the agricultural business & the graduate training scheme they have to offer our learners.

The talk was in depth about how the company has developed over the years with discussions about what makes a good farm manager.  Learners were able to appreciate how difficult farming is in Eastern Europe & Russia after some of the stories that Nick told.  One story included that one of the staff members had smuggled a live calf off the farm in the back of his car boot!

Feedback from learners was excellent; who knows we may see some of our learners working for Velcourt in the future…

The second year agriculture students started applying chemical to their sugar beet crop this week.  The first application was a pre-emergence tackling broad leaved weeds to help the crop with emergence without competition of weed growth.  The group have planned up to a further three applications through the summer term.

The aim and purpose of this exercise is for the students to see the effects and importance of chemical as one of the contributing factors for optimum yield at harvest.

This week a handful of agriculture students have planted a small area of potatoes. In total there are 11 different varieties that the students have planted. These varieties will be trialed by the group looking at blight issues the crop may have and how each variety will yield given the lack of rain we are having at the moment.

Harry Smith (EDAG 2) said “The lack of moisture is going to be our biggest problem.”

Riseholme College has entered a national agricultural competition entitled “Business Planner of the Year”. 

This high profile challenge is organised by the Institute of Agricultural Management and sponsored by Farmers Weekly and Marks & Spencer’s. 

It is open to further and higher education establishments around the country and the 2012 event will see 13 establishments compete against each other. 

Riseholme College has entered a team of nine second year students who are currently studying the Extended Diploma in Agriculture.

The format requires submission of a business plan for diversification, asset and revenue growth using Farley Hills Estates, near Reading and their 2012 acres as the case study.  The winning plan is selected by the estate owner Lord Bearsted and will be implemented.

The plan submission will be the 21st May with final judging the second week of June.

Team Riseholme participants are: Will Brooks, Andrew Boulton, Courtnery Cotton, Steven Dunnington, Jake Gill, Kirsten Hoggard, Nathan Page, Helena Rushby and Josh Watchorn.