March 24th, 2022Scholarships for young farmers

Young farmers across the state can now apply for the 2022 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships to help their careers grow and support their contribution to Victoria’s vibrant agriculture sector.
Launching this year’s scholarship program today, Agriculture Victoria’s Acting Executive Director of Agriculture Policy, Dr Julie Simons encourages young farmers to apply for the scholarships that will 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,” said Dr Simons.
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 to upskill through training or education, and to invest on-farm or for further professional development.
In 2021, thirteen 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 has 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 under 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.
The Victorian Government is continuing to modernise the agriculture industry, undertaking work to deliver the agriculture skills for the future through initiatives like the Young Farmers Scholarship Program, and the Young Farmer Business Bootcamps, Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program and the Young Farmers Advisory Council.
To find out more about the program and to apply for a scholarship, visit https://go.vic.gov.au/khjYo9
Applications are now open and will close on Monday 18 April.