Hartpury University is delighted to announce that its agriculture students have triumphed in the first-ever Ceres Rural Crop Challenge, held at the prestigious Cereals 2025 event last week. Oliver Moore, Callum Doughty and Polly Ryder are all BSc (Hons) Agriculture students, received praise from judges for their industry-readiness.
Run in partnership with AICC (Association of Independent Crop Consultants) and hosted at the Cereals 2025 site, the competition invited student teams from leading agricultural institutions across the UK to manage a real-life trial plot of KWS Zyatt – a milling winter wheat variety.
Six teams took part, including representatives from Reading University, Newcastle University, Harper Adams University, Aberystwyth University, a Young Farmers Club team, and Hartpury University. Each team was responsible for managing a 3x10 metre plot – developing a nutrient management plan, designing a fungicide programme, and even marketing a portion of the grain.
An independent panel of agronomy experts from Ceres Rural and AICC judged each entry, assessing both agronomic performance and strategic thinking.
Excitingly, Hartpury University was crowned the overall winner, with Newcastle University and Harper Adams University finishing in joint second place.
“This win is a testament to the hard work, technical knowledge, and teamwork of our students,” said Patrick Tandy, Lecturer in Agriculture at Hartpury University. “Competitions like this provide invaluable real-world experience, and we’re incredibly proud of how our team rose to the challenge.”
The students proactively demonstrated the knowledge and skills taught to them by Patrick, who himself has been a BASIS and FACTS certified agronomist.
Agriculture and crop production at Hartpury University
Hartpury Agriculture offers a dynamic and forward-thinking environment for students looking to shape the future of farming. With access to a commercial farm and Digital Innovation Farm, students benefit from hands-on experience in crop production, soil and plant science. Crop production is a core part of the curriculum, particularly for those students who wish to specialise, and students are encouraged to explore sustainable approaches to agronomy and business planning. These skills are increasingly vital in today’s evolving agricultural landscape.
Explore Hartpury University’s agriculture degrees here.
