Askham Bryan College’s home farm is all set for a transformation with a ‘digital farm hub’ is to be constructed for student learning and to showcase the future of farming.
The college will install the latest high tech robotic milking parlour and automated calf feeding system, plus a farm information centre with a new digital classroom.
Askham Bryan College specialises in land-based further and higher education courses and apprenticeship provision and has around 5,000 students. The digital hub will be based at Westfield Farm, within the main York campus.
Work on the £670,000 project is expected to begin this autumn with completion anticipated for the start of term in September 2019.
The project will be supported by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding (YNYER) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) via the Skills Capital Local Growth Fund.
Dr. Ruth Smith, chairwoman of the YNYER Skills and Employability Board said: “The LEP investment in the Digital Farm at Askham Bryan is an investment in the future.
Our rural economy will likely face a huge challenge in the coming years as the face of agriculture changes dramatically after funding from the EU is withdrawn.
“Farming will need to innovate and be ready to use the very latest technology that allows them to bring efficiencies into production lines.
“By investing in Askam Bryan’s technology offering, we’re ensuring that the young people of the region will be prepared with the right skills, to not only seek employment in the farming industry but to develop as the next generation of leaders in agriculture.”
Catherine Dixon, the college’s chief executive said: “We want our students to experience the very latest technology as this will equip them to be at the forefront of their chosen industries.
Precision farming technologies are a vital part of improving food productivity and sustainability and for ensuring the very highest welfare standards are met.
“To have support from the LEP is a real endorsement of our vision and we also look forward to welcoming students with a passion for the outdoors and employers working in the rural community.”
The new facilities will be used for applied research projects as well as to train students.
Around 60 of the college’s 200-head dairy herd will be milked using the robot with the rest through the existing rapid exit parlour system.
“Digitalising our farm means that we will be able to collect data, analyse it and compare different milking systems, looking at costs and driving efficiency.
“Monitoring animal health is also vital and again this will inform how we manage the herd. Students will have the opportunity to learn whilst working on our digital farm,” added Ms. Dixon.
“Working with the farming sector is hugely valuable, it enables us to respond to the latest opportunities and requirements of modern agriculture, which informs student learning and supports their growth, development and future career” she added.
The digital farm is complemented by the college’s Agri-Tech Centre which is used by engineering and agricultural students and opened last year; this was also supported by LEP funding.
