Sixth-generation farmer applies agriculture degree to prepare for drought

Growing up on her family’s farm in north-western Victoria, 22-year-old Grace Hosking dreamed of a career in agriculture.

“I’m the sixth generation on our broadacre cropping and livestock farm in Victoria’s Mallee region,” Grace said. “We grow wheat, barley, oats, canola and legumes for hay and grain production. We also breed Merino ewes and run a small herd of cattle for trading.

“I enjoy the practical side of planting something, then watching it grow, and being able to influence that process. I also love working alongside my parents, grandparents, and sisters, and contributing to an enterprise that’s been in my family for so long.

“Agriculture is an incredibly diverse industry, so a Bachelor of Agriculture opens a variety of career avenues.”

Alumna Grace Hosking supports farmers to adopt strategies for sustainable agriculture

At the start of her degree at the University of Melbourne, Grace and her cohort went to Dookie campus near Shepparton for a week.

“The friendships formed there and through the University’s Agricultural and Food Sciences Society provided a strong support network, that I still connect with across the industry,” Grace said. “When you move to the city from a rural area, knowing you can create those networks is appealing.”

“The University of Melbourne allows you to start broad and take time to decide what you want to specialise in, which was a big draw card for me. I went to uni thinking I’d probably major in agricultural science, but then I loved economics, so I ended up majoring in that.”

Dookie campus

In 2023, Grace was employed by Birchip Cropping Group, a research and extension organisation led by farmers from Victoria’s Wimmera, Mallee and North Central regions, and a partner in the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub (Vic Hub). The Vic Hub works to enhance the drought preparedness and resilience of Victorian agriculture and regional communities.

“I empathise with the huge financial, physical, and emotional toll that drought can have on farming families, businesses, and communities,” Grace said. “The Vic Hub is building capabilities in new practices and technologies to boost our drought resilience.

“Through engagement with industry and stakeholders, I develop strategies for farmers and communities to be more informed, prepared, and profitable under variable climatic conditions.

“Our industry is much bigger than what happens on an individual farm, but if our farm businesses can’t thrive, the entire industry suffers.  Understanding that helps me appreciate the value of the work I do to support farmers, and I feel like I’m making a difference.

“I’m contributing to the sustainability of our industry, to ensure that Australia continues to produce some of the world’s highest quality foods and fibres.”