Our Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) Course is aimed at business professionals working with individuals and businesses in agriculture and the wider land-based sector but with little or no previous background experience or knowledge of it.
Who is the course suitable for?
- Large organisations
- Land management professionals
- Banking and financial
What you’ll achieve at the end of the course
Delegates will gain a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the complexities and nuances of the agricultural and land-based sectors, enabling them to more effectively perform their professional roles.
How is the course delivered?
We offer our course face-to-face (residentially) and also online (live delivery including a virtual farm visit). A hybrid of face-to-face and online delivery is also available.
We adopt a blended learning approach, combining lecture-delivered theory with discussion of real-life examples and farm visits (physically or remotely), to promote understanding of and engagement with course content amongst delegates.
About the Course Leader
Since 1983, Tom Overbury has lectured within the School of Agriculture at the RAU, including as a Principal Lecturer. He has previously managed the University’s mixed farms and when not lecturing, runs his own 150-hectare beef and arable farm.
He has extensive research experience in the design and development of various machines and systems for scrub and weed control on conservation grazing sites and is a member of the Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgr.E), vice-chairing the Western Branch.
Apply today
We are currently finalising our open course dates for 2026, but will offer:
Spring 2026
- Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) (Online) - taster version length, taking place over 2 mornings
September 2026
- Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) (Online) - taking place over 4 mornings
December 2026
- Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) (Residential) - taking place over 2 days
To register interest, please get in touch via our continuing professional development enquiry form or call +44 (0) 1285 652531.
A 20% discount is available for RAU students.
Scroll down for course content.
If you have any queries or are interested in bespoke, closed courses for your organisation, please also get in touch via our above form.
Funding options
If you are looking at grants to cover the cost of attending our course, you may meet the requirements for Gloucestershire Disability Fund's well-being grants which can fund education and training for adults. For more information, visit the Gloucestershire Disability Fund website here.
You may also meet the requirements for Cotswold District Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding. For more information, visit the Cotswold District Council website here.
Stay with us
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds - we offer comfortable accommodation at our Cirencester campus, with free on-site parking and sustainable catering using local suppliers. Find out more about our accommodation and book here.
Terms and conditions
Read our terms and conditions for short courses and CPD training here.
Please read these carefully before booking.
Course menu
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The farming year |
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Agricultural update and topical issues |
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Farm physical and financial performance |
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Agricultural policy and legislation and farm assurance |
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Arable farming and horticulture |
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Livestock (dairy, beef and sheep) |
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Farm visit |
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Woodland and forestry management - commercial issues |
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Pigs and poultry |
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Farm diversification |
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Ag-environment and farm support |
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Land and property values |
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Challenges and opportunities in the agricultural industry |
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Farm business structure and profitability |
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Agricultural legislation and policies and CAP history |
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Agricultural issues and challenges |
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Agri-environmental schemes and the Sustainable Farming Incentive |
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Subsidies and grants |
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Woodland and forestry management |
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Grassland management |
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Farm business tenancies – grazing licences |
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Health and safety |
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Sustainable Farming Incentive |
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Managing historic features in grassland |
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest |