New Zealand forage specialist joins British Seed Houses

British Seed Houses is continuing to strengthen its distributor support team with the appointment of New Zealand forage specialist Richard Wilkie as area sales manager for southern England and Wales.

Originating from Featherston in the southeast of New Zealand's north island, Richard gained early experience of unsubsidised sheep and beef production on the family farm, and has a BSc. in Plant and Soil Science from Lincoln University, Christchurch. He also spent time following his graduation working in technical sales roles in the seed and fertiliser industries in his homeland, before moving to the UK in 2005.

The creation of another new position by British Seed Houses is a direct response to business growth, and complements the earlier appointments this year of Helen Mathieu and Scott Mackenzie who will operate in central and northern regions of England.

"We have a very strong forage product offering as a result of our alliances with some of the best plant breeding organisations currently operating, and specialist sales support is becoming increasingly important as a result," explains British Seed Houses' Avonmouth unit director Paul Billings. "Innovations such as Aber High Sugar Grasses, new white and red clovers, and ultra-early forage maize varieties all have a vital role in the post CAP Reform era, as does new thinking on the use of brassica forage crops.

"Richard Wilkie will be ideally suited to a sales support role, given his technical knowledge and background. He has first hand experience of finishing beef cattle and lambs of grass and clover leys in New Zealand, and also has comprehensive knowledge of growing and utilising forage brassicas, so will be a great asset for us in this country."

Richard Wilkie will be based at British Seeds Houses' Avonmouth unit and will report to unit director Paul Billings.