Agriculture & Land Management

At Askham Bryan College we’re committed to the future of farming.

In the agriculture sector we use our farm and estate to full advantage. Learners get involved in all aspects of farm life, from milking the cows at 4.15am, feeding the calves and helping at lambing time. And that’s only on livestock duties.

We farm over 413 hectares including Westfield Farm on the York campus and Headley Hall Farm in association with the University of Leeds. These farms and the college estate provide many opportunities for a wide range of practical work so you can put the theory you learn in the classroom into practice. They are also used for many of the proficiency tests which we offer.

Westfield Farm is a large fully commercial operation with a variety of enterprises including:

The Dairy Unit

Herd of 250 Holsteins
Rapid exit milking parlour
Robotic milking parlour
The latest milking and herd management technology
Computer based records for use in project work

The National Beef Training Centre

Cattle housing, handling and demonstration area
Cattle sourced from our own dairy herd and from UK Continental breed suckler herds
Programme of beef production research projects

Arable Farming and Sheep

Arable Cropping: cereals (including maize), oilseed rape and potatoes
Grassland
A flock of 250 ewes and 450+ replacements

In the classroom we study a range of environmental and agricultural business themes, that investigate the wider agricultural estate. Agriculture at Askham Bryan farms in a responsible manner, currently we are in the Entry Level Scheme of Countryside Stewardship.

We can also offer part time agriculture courses including work based learning options at our centres and at other locations. Please contact us
for details.

Askham Bryan News

Making Way For Wildlife - Students from Environmental and Countryside Management courses have been working with the Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows and York Natural Environment Trust which manage the 25-acre nature reserve.