Mr Warburton, who runs a 3000 hectare mixed sheep and cropping business near Kojonup, is one of five growers sponsored by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in this year’s Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship Program.

All 18 scholars leave at the end of February on a compulsory six week Global Focus Program investigating agricultural marketing, trade and environmental issues, before finalising itineraries for their personal study tours later in the year.

Mr Warburton believes there is great potential to increase returns for mixed farming.

“At the moment there’s a significant cost to establish good pasture after a cropping phase, and yet more cost to change back as part of a rotation,” Mr Warburton said.

“I’m already grazing some crops and planting canola over the top of lucerne, but I think we can find a lot more synergy and maximise profits.

“Long term, the ideal is to crop over perennial pasture, so you don’t have to ‘change’ land use, and hopefully during my scholarship I can find other people and places where this is happening and what species allow it to be done,” Mr Warburton said.

His other interest is genomics, and his studies will also delve into better models for increasing genetic gain – getting the best genetics into every flock or herd faster.

Mr Warburton said the benefits of being a Nuffield scholar are already apparent.

“It’s already opening doors, with all kinds of people offering to help put me in touch with experts overseas.

“The tough part will be leaving the farm for so long, especially without brothers or parents involved in the operation.

“However, my wife is very capable and we’ve put on another full time staff member while I’m away. It’s about being really organised and recognising that you can spend time away without everything falling apart,” Mr Warburton said.

Mr Warbuton will blog about his experiences during the trip. He can followed at everlastingfarm.blogspot.com

Each year the GRDC sponsors several Nuffield scholars as part of its vision for a profitable, internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable grains industry.