MOREE agronomist Kate Lumber has been named the cotton industry’s 2025 Nuffield Farming Scholarship recipient, supported by Cotton Research and Development Corporation and Cotton Australia.
A total of 25 scholarship recipients were announced at the annual Nuffield Farming dinner at the Grand Chancellor Hotel in Launceston on Tuesday.
Alice Jorgensen from Myall Creek, near Bingara, and Jock Barnett from Delungra, were also recipients.
Each recipient received a $40,000 bursary to invest in travel and research. They will visit, learn from, and collaborate with some of the world’s leading agricultural businesses and research institutions.
Ms Lumber will study ways Australia’s cotton industry can use water more efficiently to help strengthen resilience in a changing climate.
“I am incredibly grateful and humbled to be named a 2025 Nuffield Scholar,” Ms Lumber said. “Nuffield is an influential and innovative group of agricultural professionals who are actively engaged, and contribute to the development of Australian Agribusiness.
“Scholars are supported to travel extensively and learn about global farming systems and innovations that can be brought home and implemented in Australian agriculture.
“I am extremely passionate about how we can improve the long-term profitability and resilience of the Australian Cotton industry, and how we can adapt to a changing climate and maintain productivity with fewer inputs,” she said.
“I am really interested in how we can make advances to the semi-irrigated cotton production system to maximise return/ML and maintaining productivity and profitability in low water years.”
Ms Lumber will engage with researchers, industries bodies and growers to observe farming practise, analysing field trials and observing key technologies employed in managing water use efficiency.
“On a personal note, I am excited to embrace this incredible opportunity; to challenge myself, build my networks and leadership capacity and learn from premier agribusinesses globally with the aim to add great value to the Australian cotton Industry, my community, and our client base,” she said.
“Professionally, I am thrilled to be investigating a topic I am passionate about and is greatly aligned with the strategic plan for the cotton industry in limited water systems, an area of great interest in our valley.
“I am very proud of this achievement, and I am incredibly grateful for the support of my sponsors, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and Cotton Australia, Nuffield Australia, my employer Poole Ag Consulting, and my friends and family,” she said.
Tim Poole, from Poole Ag Consulting in Moree, said the team was extremely proud.
“Moree growers will ultimately benefit from Kate’s newfound knowledge and expertise,” Mr Poole said.
“Kate continually goes above and beyond for our Poole Ag clients, and makes it her mission to ensure their crops have the best chance for success.
“This opportunity not only enables Kate to develop personally and professionally, it helps progress our whole cotton industry through increased efficiencies, and we can’t wait to see the global first-hand insights she’ll be able to apply to our cotton growers here in the Gwydir Valley.”
Nuffield CEO and 2013 Scholar, Jodie Redcliffe, expressed pride in the calibre of this year’s scholars.
“Our 2025 scholars represent the future of Australian agriculture,” Ms Redcliffe said.
“Their dedication to improving farming practices and their eagerness to learn from global leaders will undoubtedly lead to significant advancements within our industry.
“We are excited to see how their experiences will shape the future of agriculture in Australia.”
Five scholarships funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund are among those announced. These scholars each have a research topic that will help farmers adopt new ways of managing dry conditions for longer.
“We know droughts have a huge impact on farms, but they also have a significant bearing on the health of rural communities more broadly,” Ms Redcliffe said.
“The Future Drought Fund’s scholars announced tonight will tackle the challenges drought poses across rural Australia.”
