Our Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) Course is aimed at business professionals working with individuals and businesses in agriculture and the wider land-based sector but with little or no previous background experience or knowledge of it.
By the end of the course, delegates should leave with an understanding of the complexities and nuances of the agricultural industry.
Course highlights
Experienced course leader at a leading land-based university
Tom Overbury is a highly esteemed academic in the field of agriculture and agricultural engineering at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), as well as beef and arable farmer, with over 40 years of teaching experience.
The RAU has been at the forefront of agricultural education and a key contributor to the land-based sector for more than 175 years. Over half the research we carry out has been assessed as ‘world-leading and international in quality’ by the Research Excellence Framework (2021).
Farm visit
As part of the course, there will be a farm tour to the university farm and other agricultural establishments, to further support delegates' understanding of course topics.
Convenient course delivery
We offer our course face-to-face (residentially) and also online (live delivery including a virtual farm visit) over typically either two or four days. A hybrid of face-to-face and online delivery is also available.
We adopt a blended learning approach, combining lecture-delivered theory with discussion of real-life examples and site visits (physically or remotely).
Aimed at delegates with little to no previous background experience or knowledge of the sector, our focus is on promoting understanding, with the course pitched at an appropriate level.
More about the Course Leader
Since 1983, Tom Overbury has lectured within the School of Agriculture at the RAU, including as a Principal Lecturer. He has previously managed the University’s mixed farms and when not lecturing, runs his own 150-hectare beef and arable farm.
He has extensive research experience in the design and development of various machines and systems for scrub and weed control on conservation grazing sites and is a member of the Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgr.E), vice-chairing the Western Branch.
Apply now
For more information, to book a place on our next course or to request a call back to talk about your specific requirements, please get in touch via our continued professional development enquiry form.
We will be organising both residential and online courses in 2025 and will publish the dates as soon as they are confirmed.
| The farming year |
| Agricultural update and topical issues |
| Farm physical and financial performance |
| Agricultural policy and legislation and farm assurance |
| Arable farming and horticulture |
| Livestock (dairy, beef and sheep) |
| Farm visit |
| Woodland and forestry management - commercial issues |
| Pigs and poultry |
| Farm diversification |
| Ag-environment and farm support |
| Land and property values |
| Challenges and opportunities in the agricultural industry |
| Farm business structure and profitability |
| Agricultural legislation and policies and CAP history |
| Agricultural issues and challenges |
| Agri-environmental schemes and the Sustainable Farming Incentive |
| Subsidies and grants |
| Woodland and forestry management |
| Grassland management |
| Farm business tenancies – grazing licences |
| Health and safety |
| Sustainable Farming Incentive |
| Managing historic features in grassland |
| Sites of Special Scientific Interest |