A STUDY which could help secure the future of Britain's hill farmers has been awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship.

The scholarship given to Chloe Palmer, the northern and west midlands regional director for the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, is sponsored by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

She will visit Bulgaria, France and Switzerland and various parts of the UK and Ireland, before presenting a report to the trust's annual conference in November 2009.

Nuffield Farming Scholarships are recognised around the world. They promote leadership and innovative agricultural practices.

TheYAS, best known as the organiser of the GreatYorkshire Show, works to promote and sustain the agricultural community in the North of England.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive, said Miss Palmer was a worthy recipient. "The challenges faced by the farming industry seem to grow constantly," he said, "Chloe's research will prove extremely valuable in identifying potential solutions to the problems our farmers have to deal with. The society is delighted to support her."

Miss Palmer believes UK hill farming is under greater pressure than ever before.

She said: "I'm very concerned about the future of upland farming - so many factors work against it, such as the low prices paid for animals and increasing environmental regulations.

"I decided I would like to know more about how other countries address these issues and whether what they do could work for us.

"It will also be nice to get back to why I came into the job in the first place - I don't get the chance to be really hands-on' these days."

She will research the support currently available to UK hill farmers before visiting Ireland in June, and Bulgaria in the autumn.Visits to France and Switzerland are scheduled for next summer.