Aspiring agricultural journalists are being invited to apply for the 2026 British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (BGAJ) John Deere Training Course – one of the industry’s most prestigious entry points for reporting and communications careers.
Running for its 31st year, the course has helped launch the careers of many of the UK’s leading editors, correspondents, and communications specialists in farming. This year’s course will take place from July 5-7 at John Deere’s UK & Ireland headquarters in Langar, Nottinghamshire.
Ten participants will gain an intensive introduction to journalism, with practical sessions covering news and feature writing, a mock press conference, and hands-on tractor experience. After the course, attendees will undertake a work placement with a national farming publication, an agricultural PR agency, or within a business communications team working with farmers.
Guild chair Ben Pike highlighted the importance of the programme. “It is vital that we attract more talent to agricultural communications, and this training course has been delivering fresh new journalists into the industry for over three decades,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn how journalism works, meet like-minded people, and get a proper insight into the career opportunities that are available. I would urge anyone thinking of a career path in agricultural journalism to apply for this course.”
The training concludes with a competition judged on the best piece of work from each participant. The winner receives the John Deere Training Award and £250, while a runner-up is awarded £100. Both prize-winners are invited to the Guild’s flagship Harvest Lunch in London. Last year’s winner was Tom Ryder, with Mary Perry claiming runner-up honours.
Chris Wiltshire, tactical marketing manager at John Deere, praised the course for supporting the sector: “The agricultural sector is always in need of top-notch journalists to communicate the work our industry undertakes, and that need has arguably never been more important. The John Deere Training Award has been completed by many of the top agricultural journalists in the sector and we are really proud to have played a part in shaping their careers.”
Applications are open to anyone studying or residing in Great Britain, with less than 12 months’ practical experience, and must be submitted by February 26, 2026.
John Deere sponsorship covers training, accommodation, and meals, ensuring financial barriers do not prevent participation, though participants are expected to cover incidental costs.
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