Greenmount student Matthew reflects on his journey in agriculture

AS students enter the final year of their BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture degree at CAFRE's Greenmount Campus, a local man has taken time to reflect on the knowledge, skills and industry experience he has gained throughout his studies.

Growing up on a beef and sheep farm, Matthew Arbuckle, from Kells, developed a strong interest in livestock breeding and is keen to continue the pedigree Blonde d’Aquitaine breeding work established by his late father.

After completing A-levels, Matthew took a gap year before beginning his studies at CAFRE - and it was time well spent.

“The gap year gave me time to think about what I really wanted to do and made me even more determined to pursue a future in agriculture,” he said.

His primary goal has always been to improve the sustainability and profitability of the home farm, and he believes the degree has helped him work towards that ambition.

“The lectures focus on current and relevant agri-food issues, which makes what we're learning highly applicable to challenges within the industry.”

His professional work placement at Mason's Animal Feeds gave him a different perspective on the industry.

“I learned how feed manufacturing works behind the scenes, from operating milling equipment to monitoring production processes.

“It helped me appreciate another important part of the agricultural supply chain.

“Returning to final year and completing a research project has been a highlight so far. It's given me the opportunity to carry out my own research, analyse the results and present my findings.”

If you are interested in a career in the agriculture industry, CAFRE offers many pathways including Ulster University-validated FdSc in Agriculture and Technology and BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture programmes, delivered at Greenmount Campus, Antrim.

Applications are currently being accepted via UCAS. To find out more about our range of programmes, visit www.cafre.ac.uk