Future female agronomist embracing limitless career opportunities

Holly’s Rural Science degree at the University of New England is remarkably well-rounded, offering her a holistic perspective of production systems.

“It’s been good to get exposure to both the livestock and the plant side of production systems because it’s taught me, as an agronomist, to be able to approach a system and consider all of its different aspects,” said Holly.

Already spoiled for choice, her career trajectory is now poised for even greater success after being awarded one of the twenty-two 2023-24 Horizon Scholarships sponsored by AgriFutures Australia. The scholarship, awarded only to a handful of students across Australia, puts their career paths on a fast-track by offering a number of opportunities for industry placement and networking opportunities.

Supported by her sponsor, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Holly has now completed two industry placements, one with an agronomy company in Narrabri and another with a plant pathologist in Tamworth.

“The work experience was initiated from talking to my sponsor who gave me all the contacts I needed to arrange it and pointed me in the right direction,” explained Holly.

As someone without a strong agricultural background, Holly admitted that navigating the intricacies of the industry was initially daunting, but the guidance and support from her sponsor have been invaluable in facilitating her immersion and understanding of the grains industry.

“I feel a bit of pressure for not already having some of those industry connections so it’s been really good to have that person there that’s in the industry that you can talk to,” she said.

GRDC Senior Regional Manager (West), Peter Bird, said GRDC has been a long-term supporter of Horizon Scholarships as part of a broader commitment to building capacity in the grains industry.

“GRDC is committed to investing in the development of the next generation of leaders, who will play an integral role in the future of farming,” said Mr Bird.

“We identified Holly as part of the 2023-24 program and we were impressed by her passion for agriculture and genuine interest in contributing to the development and success of our sector.

“She is a great example of a young person, who didn’t come from a rural background but has worked really hard to understand more about both grains and livestock production systems.

“At GRDC we really value diversity of background, and we know a positive attitude and commitment to learning are critical to success and Holly has exemplified those qualities.”

For an industry beset with hurdles such as a limited workforce, climate fluctuations and changing consumer demands, Holly’s enthusiasm for agronomy promises innovative solutions and a fresh perspective on sustainable agricultural practices. Currently, she is working on an honours project examining if intercropping wheat with vetch protects against rust infection observed in Tamworth in 2021, investigating potential mechanisms like volatile release or root interaction.

“At this stage, I am working with my supervisors to see if we have a viable rust source from the rust collected in 2021, which we will then use to infect the experimental plants to determine if we can replicate what happened in the paddock,” said Holly.

As a future agronomist, Holly sees her role as a decision-making aid for farmers, helping them navigate the complexities of climate challenges and disease and pest pressures.

“By being proactive in decision-making and properly preparing for variations in the climate, I think farmers will be able to manage their risks better – and agronomists play a huge role in this,” she said.

Applications for the 2025 Horizon Scholarship will open on Monday, 18 November 2024.

Find out more about the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship