The Farrer Memorial Trust was established in 1911 to perpetuate the memory of William James Farrer, Plant Breeder, and to provide encouragement and inspiration to those engaged in agricultural science in cropping. One of William Farrer’s ideals was “aiming high and making an impact”. He was one of the pioneers of agricultural cropping research and development in Australia.

The Trust provides the following annual awards and scholarships:

• The Farrer Memorial Medal - awarded annually to a person with a distinguished career in agricultural science in Australia in the fields of research, education or administration. The award is presented at an event linked to the award winner's career and research and includes an oration to provide encouragement and inspiration to others in the same fields.

All Farrer medallists and their memorial orations since 1936 are available by clicking here.

• The Farrer Memorial Mid-Career Award - created in 2024, this award recognises exceptional achievements in Australian agricultural science made by a mid-career professional. A mid-career professional is “a professional with the equivalent of 10-20 cumulative years’ experience in agricultural science. Professionals may be in research, development, practice, communication, or policy. The award is $15,000 to continue the education, research and development of the winner.
• Farrer Memorial Travelling Student Scholarships - awarded to support international travel and/or other learning and development by postgraduate students enrolled for a PhD on any aspect of agricultural cropping research. As a guide, travelling scholarships will normally be awarded up to the value $7,500.
  

Scholarship Applications

Farrer Memorial International Travelling Scholarships 2026

These scholarships support postgraduate students enrolled for a PhD in field crop research to undertake international travel and/or learning development between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
Scholarships are normally awarded up to $7,500 and include attendance at an international conference where a paper or poster is presented.

Download the Scholarship Application Form for 2026

Closing Date: 11:59 pm, Sunday 18 October 2026
Submit applications to:
Ms Jacqui Barden, Secretary, Farrer Memorial Trust
Email: farrer.memorialtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Donations to the Trust

The Farrer Memorial Trust welcomes donations from those with a commitment to the Australian rural industry to help it fund:

• the Farrer Memorial Travelling Scholarships
• the Farrer Memorial Research Scholarship postgraduate award for study or research in agriculture
• the annual award of the Farrer Medal.

The Trust is required by an Act of Parliament to fund these activities totally from investment income, and not from capital. Escalating costs, however, are making it difficult to keep the awards at an acceptable level and continue the medal presentations.

Cheques in favour of the Farrer Memorial Trust may be sent to the Secretary, Farrer Memorial Trust, GPO Box 5477, Sydney NSW 2001.

For more information about donating to the Farrer Memorial Trust, contact the Secretary.

Trustees of the Farrer Memorial Trust

• Chair Ms Kate Lorimer-Ward, Chief Executive Officer Local Land Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development
• Professor Alex McBratney, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney
• Dr Michael Robertson, Director of Agriculture & Food Research Unit, CSIRO

Non-Official Trustees

• Geoffrey Mason, AM
• Rohan Wilson
• David Davidson

Secretary

Jacqui Barden, Executive Officer, Boards and Committees

Annual Reports

• Farrer memorial Trust Annual Report 2020 (PDF, 2.3 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2019 (PDF, 3.9 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2018 (PDF, 4.6 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2017 (PDF, 6.4 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2015 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2014 (PDF, 3.0 MB)
  

Older annual reports for the Farrer Memorial Trust can be found on the DPIRD web publication archive.