Managing resistant late blight strains, potato cyst nematode, effective storage and weed control, all with the backdrop of the loss of plant protection products and challenging market demands, there is a considerable amount to contend with as a potato agronomist.
To build the skills required to meet the challenge, ten Agrii agronomists achieved the BASIS Advanced Potatoes qualification this winter. The module is only available to candidates with the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection, and at least a few years of practical experience are recommended.
Agronomist Ed Maule was one of the trainers for the course.
He says: “The course covers the whole crop. There’s an element still focused on ag chem, but it covers more in-depth agronomy, like potato cyst nematode control and free-living nematode. We very much focus on cultural controls first within integrated crop management, only using plant protection products where required.
“It prepares agronomists to advise specialist potato growers to confidently give advice and aid growers to produce the best marketable yield.
Congratulations to the newly qualified agronomists:
- Charles Elvidge
- Dan Goodall
- Adam Mann
- Paul Dunham
- Miles Doncaster
- Richard Haacker
- Colin Mitchell
- Neil Drummond
- Tom Kirby
- David Barclay
Winner of the Barrie Orme Shield
Big congratulations to Agrii’s Sustainability & Environmental Services Manager Amy Watkins on winning the Barrie Orme Shield – a prestigious BASIS award for outstanding work in crop production.
“I’ve always believed it’s not food or the environment – it’s both.“
With a strong foundation in Geography and Environmental Management, and a passion for sustainable agriculture, Amy Watkins is leading the way in demonstrating how farming and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand.
