UK’s top farm sprayer operator joins Agrovista

One of the UK’s top farm managers has joined leading agronomy and farm business advisors, Agrovista. Jim Powell, winner of the prestigious Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year (FSOOTY) Award in 2002, has been appointed to help farmers primarily in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire manage their crops more profitably and run their farming operations more efficiently.

Jim has over 15 years experience in farm management, crop agronomy and spray applications, most recently managing the 475 hectares of arable agronomy at Fulford Farm, Culworth near Banbury. His new role will involve agronomy advice, as well as farm business consultancy with the Agrovista business management division, Agrogate.

His farm clients will not only receive highly specialist advice in crop protection and management, but also the extra value of how best to apply products to achieve optimum results. “Choosing the right product and applying at the right timing are crucial to achieve good results, but to get the absolutely best control possible requires careful fine tuning by the sprayer operator; we will be aiming to help them achieve it, and boost their enterprise profitability” said Jim.

Jim’s key advice for Spray Operators includes:

• Identify the main pest or weed target for application;

• Understand how the products being used actually work, and what factors may effect performance;

• Ensure the sprayer is accurately calibrated and in excellent working order;

• Tailor nozzle choice, speed and operating pressure to maximise target coverage and spray retention in the target zone.

• Take care to avoid spillage with filling, drift when spraying and be vigilant with container disposal.

As well as BASIS and FACTS certification to advise on crop protection and fertiliser applications, Jim is qualified in business management and also as a farm trainer, with experience to run workshops on sprayer maintenance and spray application techniques. His skills and experience will be employed throughout the Agrovista business to help farmers and growers across the country achieve better results in crop protection and care for the environment.

Commenting on Jim’s appointment, Agrovista Regional Director, James MacWilliam, added: “Arable farmers across the country have made great strides in achieving the targets of the Voluntary Initiative (VI) to demonstrate the safe and effectively targeted use of crop protection products. We welcome Jim’s knowledge and experience, both in agronomy and practical farm management solutions. These will be essential in helping to implement new farm management practices and delivering the highest levels of profitable crop protection for our growers.”