Motto | Practice with Science |
---|---|
Established | 1838 (186 years ago) |
Chief Executives | David Grint |
Revenue | 623,000 pound sterling (2020) |
Employees | 2 (2020) |
The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) promotes the scientific development of English agriculture. It was established in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science" [1] and was known as the English Agricultural Society until it received its Royal Charter and present name from Queen Victoria in 1840. [2]
The organization's purpose was to support agricultural research, education and practice, connecting scientists and farmers. [3] The first Royal Agricultural Show was held in 1839. The Royal became an important yearly event in Victorian life. Towns competed to host the week-long national agricultural show, which was held in a different location each year. It was widely reported about by both agricultural and general newspapers. [1] From 1969 until 2009, the Royal Show was held at Stoneleigh Park, near Kenilworth, in Warwickshire. [4]
From 1840 to 2002 the organization published the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England . [5] [6] [7] The society presents a number of awards yearly at its annual Bledisloe Day. [8] Archives of the society are held at the Museum of English Rural Life. [9] [10] Additional materials are held at Stoneleigh. [11]
The Royal Show, also known as the Royal Agricultural Show, was an annual agricultural show held by the Royal Agricultural Society of England every year from 1839 to 2009. [4] The event covered all aspects of farming, food production and rural living, from British livestock to business methods and technology used in the farming industry. Over 1,000 stands, world-class livestock and equine classes attracted visitors from over 100 countries. [12]
During its early years, the show was held in a different location each year, with towns and cities competing for the honor of hosting the event. [3] From 1969 until 2009, the show was held at Stoneleigh Park (also known as the National Agricultural Centre or NAC) near Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. The last Royal Show took place in 2009. [4] Since then, the Society has concentrated on transfer of scientific knowledge to agricultural practitioners.
The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England was sent for free to thousands of society members, with a few hundred copies additionally sold. [13] Philip Pusey, who had also been prominent in founding the society, was the first editor of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England from its founding in 1840 to his death in 1855. The editorship then passed to H. S. Thompson, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet and Chandos Wren-Hoskyns, [14] who served jointly from 1855-1858. Thompson was assisted by Henry Michael Jenkins from 1858-1859. There was some controversy when John Chalmers Morton was passed over for editor in 1860: P. H. Frère served as editor from 1860-1868. H. M. Jenkins returned as joint secretary-editor in 1868, and served as editor until 1887. [13] [15]
The society makes a number of regular awards. [16]
The Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners, instituted in 1958 by Viscount Bledisloe, is awarded for achievement in land management and the development of an English agricultural estate. [8]
The National Agricultural Award, originally established in 1964 as the Massey Ferguson National Award for Services to United Kingdom Agriculture [17] was adopted by the Royal Agricultural Society of England in 1999. It is presented to recognise outstanding contributions to the advancement of agriculture in the United Kingdom. [18]
The Research Medal for Research Work of Benefit to Agriculture was introduced in 1954 to recognise research work of outstanding merit, carried out in the United Kingdom of benefit to agriculture. [19]
The Excellence in Practical Farming Award (est. 1999) recognises practical farmers and farm managers who are sharing their knowledge and inspiring others. [20]
The Practice with Science Award (est. 2011) supports research work "and innovation that results in practical advances or improvements in technical and economic efficiency on UK farms." [21]
The Science and Technology Award (est. 2022), recognises researchers whose contributions to agricultural science or innovative technology are changing agricultural practice. [22]
The Farm of the Future Award (est. 2023) recognises approaches that balance food production, environmental challenges, and business sustainability. [22]
The Natural Capital Award (est. 2024) will recognise farmers who balance "sustainable agricultural practices, ecological enhancements and financial resilience". [22]
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe, was a British Conservative politician and colonial governor. He was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935.
An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show, a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers, animal fanciers, cowboys, and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are synonymous with the North American terms county fair and state fair.
The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC) is a rural youth organisation and in the United Kingdom. The Federation covers various Young Farmers' Clubs (YFCs) throughout England and Wales, helping support young people in agriculture and the countryside. It does not include YFCs from Scotland or Ireland.
The Royal Welsh Show is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904. It takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.
The Royal Show, also known as the Royal Agricultural Show, was an annual agricultural show held by the Royal Agricultural Society of England every year from 1839 to 2009. The event encompassed all aspects of farming, food and rural life - from the best of British livestock to the latest business and technological innovations in the farming industry. Over 1,000 stands, world-class livestock and equine classes attracted visitors from over 100 countries.
Sir John Hammond CBE FRS PhD, was a physiologist, agricultural research scientist, veterinarian known for his pioneering work in artificial insemination. He gives his name to the Sir John Hammond Memorial Prize.
Stoneleigh Park, known between 1963 and 2013 as the National Agricultural Centre, is a business park located south-west of the village of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England. It is home to the NAEC Stoneleigh conference and exhibition centre.
In the United Kingdom, a county show is a summer outdoor agricultural show. The events have competitions, with prizes awarded by judges, allowing farmers and breeders to show off their cattle or crops. There are many trade stands which offer the latest farming machinery, feeds, fertilisers and other farming products. Other trade stands and activities have been added to make the shows more attractive to locals and visitors. Often there are features such as showjumping, funfairs, falconry, military displays and food exhibitions.
Henry Flagg French was an American agriculturalist, inventor, lawyer, judge, postmaster, writer, assistant secretary of the treasury, and the first president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. He was also a prominent figure in many agricultural societies, a vice president of the United States Agricultural Society, and a patent holder. He is perhaps best known for his development and popularization of the French drain, as well as being the father of renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French, who created the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln central to the Lincoln Memorial.
Chandos Wren-Hoskyns BA, JP, DL was an English landowner, agriculturist, politician and author. Not all of his views are shared today.
Clare Sewell Read was a British agriculturist and Conservative politician.
Beekeeping in the United Kingdom is the maintenance of bee colonies by humans within the United Kingdom. It is a significant commercial activity that provides those involved with honey, beeswax, royal jelly, queen bees, propolis, flower pollen and bee pollen. Honeybees also provide pollination services to orchards and a variety of seed crops.
The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia was founded in November 1839 as the South Australian Agricultural Society with the aim of promoting primary industries in the Colony. The Society and its functions were patterned on similar organisations in England, and in its successive incarnations, the organisation has continued to pursue this aim to the current day.
Henry Thompson (MRCVS) (Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; 1836–1920) was a founder member of the Aspatria Agricultural Society, the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society and the Aspatria Agricultural College.
Henry Corbet was an English agricultural writer, and editor of the weekly The Mark Lane Express Agricultural Journal for twenty years. Together with John Morton he is considered one of "the leading agricultural editors during the most prosperous period of Victorian 'high farming' of the 1850s and 1860s."
William Shaw"of the strand" (1797–1853) was a British agricultural writer, editor and translator, first editor of the agricultural journal Mark Lane Express, and of The Farmer's almanac and calendar, and co-founder of the Farmers Club in 1842. He is known for advocating agricultural reforms and improvements.
Professor John Wrightson FCS, MRAC was a British agriculturalist and the founder of Downton Agricultural College (1880–1906) at Downton in Wiltshire. In 1890 he reputedly became the first person in Britain to surf, under the guidance of two Hawaiian princes, David Kawānanakoa and Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, who were studying at his college.
Laura Elizabeth Green is a British epidemiologist and academic who is Pro-vice-chancellor and Head of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. She serves on the council of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The Arthur Rank Centre is an ecumenical national charity which provides resources, training, and advocacy for rural Christians, rural churches and the communities they serve, across England and Wales. It was originally based at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. before moving, and is now to be found in Barford, near Warwick.