Supporter Information:
AWI is a not-for-profit enterprise that conducts research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain for Australian wool on behalf of about 60,000 woolgrowers that help fund the company.
Our mission is to make strategically targeted investments to enhance the profitability, international competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian wool industry. To do this, we invests along the global supply chain for Australian wool to deliver outcomes that benefit Australian woolgrowers
Website: https://www.wool.com/about-awi/
Andrew Rolfe
2021 Scholarship winner
Andrew Rolfe from Cooma, New South Wales, receives a Nuffield Scholarship supported by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). Andrew will research intensive management techniques and models for Merino sheep production, exploring how to develop a productive, sustainable and drought resilient farming system.
Andrew is part-owner of family farming business, Kenilworth Grazing, a self-replacing Merino flock enterprise comprising 5,600 ewes across 4,100 hectares. He is also a private agronomy consultant in his local area.
Experiencing the impacts of prolonged drought first-hand, Andrew is particularly focused on how intensified best practice management techniques can be utilised to drive Merino production and drought preparedness.
“Forced to adapt our production system on-farm during the drought, we learnt that it is possible to increase your flock whilst effectively managing ground cover and preparing for dry times,” Andrew said.
“Intensifying production systems during median seasons through confinement feeding, increasing forage crop production and closer stock management for example, offers potential for producers to retain fodder and trade stock opportunely.
“Through my Nuffield Scholarship, I plan to identify and combine global best management practice techniques, to develop an intensive management system that will enhance production and drought preparedness for Australia’s Merino sheep industry.
“I want to research the efficacy of such a system, and also explore other avenues to increasing productivity and preparing for drought.”
Andrew will study global best management practice techniques across the United States, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile.
Phone: 0422 180 753 Email: andrew@kenilworthgrazing.com