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Lessons on cattle grazing for the UK from a journey of discovery across New Zealand have been set out in a video report by a ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ graduate.

Having completed her BSc (Hons) Agri-Food Marketing with Business degree, Darcy Johnson, from Devizes, Wiltshire, knew she wanted to travel – planning a road trip in Scandinavia followed by a working holiday in the New Zealand summer.

With the support of the Farmers Club Charitable Trust’s Snapshot Studies project, she was able to turn that working holiday into a research trip, too – producing a video report on what she found out for the Trust.

Darcy spent time on both the North and South islands of New Zealand over a six-month period, looking at their livestock systems.

In her video, she analyses the farms she worked on and visited, the ways they differed from UK farms – and underlined what Britain could learn from them.

With the quality of grass central to much of New Zealand’s livestock farming, she examines the use of precision agriculture and technology across the country – and how farmers are ensuring their sheep and cattle get the best grazing possible.

You can watch her report here:

Summing up her experiences, Darcy said: “I think my biggest take-home message is that, if the UK is really serious about improving efficiency and production, it’s not just going to come from pumping more inputs – it’s going to come from better grazing.”

Darcy’s report was funded by a Snapshot Studies grant from the Farmers’ Club Charitable Trust.

The Trust have just announced they have opened up their Snapshot Studies grants to applicants once again this April.

Intended to support innovative agricultural ideas and support exploration and knowledge development, the grants – of up to £2,000 – offer applicants kick-starter funding to get an idea they want to explore off the ground.

Videos should explore innovative ideas within food, farming and related industries

Those interested must provide a one-minute video as part of their application - the Trust has designed the process to be simple and straightforward.

The final report is a three-minute video presentation, which contributes to a video resource bank of valuable industry information.

More information on the scheme can be found in this video by FCCT Ambassador Lisa Turner:

Applications for this year’s scheme close at the end of July.