Royal Agricultural Society of England

Society; promotes the scientific development of agriculture

Royal Agricultural Society of EnglandMotto| Practice with Science

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Established| 1838 (186 years ago)
Chief Executives| David Grint
Revenue| 623,000 pound sterling (2020)
Employees| 2 (2020)

Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) bookplate.

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 on in 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]

## Shows[edit]

Main article: Royal Show

Dinner at the pavilion of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Shrewsbury, 1845, attended by an estimated 1200 persons Men and women attending the Royal Agricultural Society exhibition at Chelmsford, 1856

From its early days the society has held regular exhibitions around the country (called the Royal Show). The show was held in Stoneleigh Park (previously known as the National Agricultural Centre or NAC) near Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. An early venue for the show was at Park Royal, in north-west London.

The last Royal Show took place in 2009. Since then, the Society has concentrated on transfer of scientific knowledge to agricultural practitioners.

## Journal[edit]

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.[11] 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,[12] who served jointly from 1855-1858. Thompson was assisted by H. M. 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.[11][13]

## Awards[edit]

The society makes a number of regular awards.[14]

Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners, instituted in 1958 by Viscount Bledisloe, is awarded for showing outstanding achievement in the successful land management and development of an English agricultural estate.[8]

The National Agricultural Award, originally established in 1964 as the Massey Ferguson National Agricultural Award and adopted by the society in 1999, is presented to recognise outstanding contributions to the advancement of agriculture in the United Kingdom.

The Research Medal for Research Work of Benefit to Agriculture, introduced in 1954, recognises research work of outstanding merit, carried out in the United Kingdom of benefit to agriculture. The award is offered annually to people engaged in active research.

The Technology Award recognises groups working in a commercial environment, which have applied scientific advance into technology through the development of a product or process.

The Practice with Science Award was created in 2011, to support research work "and innovation that results in practical advances or improvements in technical and economic efficiency on UK farms."[15]

The Science and Technology Award (est. 2022), recognises researchers whose contributions to agricultural science or innovative technology are changing agricultural practice.[16]

The Farm of the Future Award (est. 2023) recognises approaches that balance food production, environmental challenges, and business sustainability.[16]

The Natural Capital Award (est. 2024) will recognise farmers who balance "sustainable agricultural practices, ecological enhancements and financial resilience".[16]

## See also[edit]

* List of agriculture awards

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Hearth, J. D. M. (1 July 1976). "The Royal Agricultural Society of England and the National Agricultural Centre". Agricultural Administration. 3 (3): 203–216. doi:10.1016/0309-586X(76)90015-7. ISSN 0309-586X.
2. ^ "RASE". RASE. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
3. ^ Miskell, Louise (2012). "Putting on a show: the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Victorian town, c.1840—1876". The Agricultural History Review. 60 (1): 37–59. ISSN 0002-1490.
4. ^ McSmith, Andy (7 July 2009). "The Big Question: What is the Royal Show, and why is it coming to an end after 170 years? | The Independent". The Independent. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
5. ^ "Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England". Royal Agricultural Society of England. 1840.
6. ^ W., R. (March 1902). "The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England". Nature. 65 (1691): 483–483. doi:10.1038/065483a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
7. ^ "History". www.rase.org.uk.
8. ^ a b Persad, Mark (5 February 2023). "Bledisloe Gold Medal". Windsor Great Park. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
9. ^ "Royal Agricultural Society of England". The MERL.
10. ^ "Royal Agricultural Society of England Collection". Museum of English Rural Life. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
11. ^ a b Goddard, Nicholas (1983). "The Development and Influence of Agricultural Periodicals and Newspapers, 1780-1880". The Agricultural History Review. 31 (2): 116–131. ISSN 0002-1490.
12. ^ Nicholas Goddard, "Hoskyns, Chandos Wren (1812–1876)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004) Retrieved 30 September 2017. Subscription required
13. ^ "Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England". Nature. 32 (819): 222–222. July 1885. doi:10.1038/032222b0. ISSN 1476-4687.
14. ^ "Awards". RASE.
15. ^ "OFC - Science Award Launched". The Poultry Site. 7 January 2011.
16. ^ a b c Adamson, Janine (8 March 2024). "RASE Awards open for nominations". Crop Production Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

### Bibliography[edit]

* Nicholas Goddard (1988). Harvests of Change: The Royal Agricultural Society of England, 1838–1988. Quiller Press, Limited. ISBN 978-0-907621-96-6.

## External links[edit]

* RASE

Authority control databases

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* ISNI
* VIAF

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