Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year - FSOOTY 2016

Chris F

Staff Member
Media
Location
Hammerwich
FSOOTY_720x90_150dpi.jpg

FSOOTY 2016

FSOOTY is back again for 2016, with a slightly different format, but with the same ethos. To find the best Farm Sprayer Operator in the the UK. As always the Award will be presented at the Cereals show in June and there will be an Awards dinner the night before.

This year TFF are helping Syngenta organise and promote the awards and the Farmers themselves who take part in the competition. Last year our very own @Rob Holmes made it to the finals and it was great to see him with his trophy at Cereals 2015. I'm sure many of you saw our coverage on Twitter and TFF.

If you are interested in entering this year please have a read of the below and feel free to ask any questions. You don't need to be a TFF member to enter so we would really appreciate it if everyone would spread the competition on Social Media and to all their friends by email.

FSOOTY Overview

The application of crop protection products is one of the most complex challenges faced on farm. From filling the sprayer, through applying the spray to disposing of the empty containers, the operator is faced with many possible ways of doing the job.

The use of plant protection products is under constant scrutiny, so it is important to use them safely and efficiently in a way that meets crop needs, as well as public, operator and environmental safety.

It’s a tricky balance, but for many operators, it comes as second nature. The Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year award aims to recognise this professional approach and help encourage further improvements.

It’s not about having the latest kit. If you can demonstrate ingenuity and an ability to meet these varying objectives by using agrochemicals sensibly, then you are in with a chance of winning.

If you would like to enter then please click the link below to answer 4 multiple choice questions:

Click Here to Enter FSOOTY 2016

Prizes

Apart from the obvious fame of being involved in FSOOTY like @Rob Holmes

- The Winner receives expenses paid study tour to a European country plus the coveted Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year trophy

- The 6 Finalists receive expenses paid trip for two to Cereals 2016

- 20 runners up receive free ticket to Cereals 2016

Good Luck and we look forward to seeing you at Cereals 2016

Last Years Winner

Last Year John Martin was the overall winner of FSOOTY. John is a farmer at Deverel St Andrew, near Blandford, Dorset. John protects his crops with a 36m 3000l Chafer Sentry trailed sprayer.

johnmartintrophymachinechafer.jpg


Our @Rob Holmes was also a finalist . Rob is the sprayer operator on the Holmes family’s Parkstyle Farm, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. The 260 ha of wheat, rape, beans, and grass are protected with a 24m, 3200l Kuhn Metris sprayer.

robholmestrophymachine.jpg
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Definitely worth having a go! Learnt loads by taking part in 2014

you won didn't you Matt ?

My only regret when my main job was driving a sprayer was never getting round to entering this competition, once upon a time I would have fancied my chances !!!
 

Daniel

Member
These awards are a nonsense. You nominate yourself for a kickoff, then make sure everything is just so on the day so that what, you can get a free ticket to cereals that is tax deductible anyway?!

We all know the winners use just as many shortcuts and 'forget' to record products on the rec sheets just the same as everyone else.
 
Disagree completely Daniel. I am a contractor and that makes me responsible for my clients crops, records, quality assurance etc. Plus I have to have extra insurance in place. So I must do it right. And if i didnt keep records I wouldn't be able to invoice would I. I am constantly looking for ways to help my recording and have decided this year to get gatekeeper on a surface 3 to carry in the sprayer with me. Shortcut!!!! Don't bloody think so. Put your money where your thumb is and enter to see how you do!!!
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
These awards are a nonsense. You nominate yourself for a kickoff, then make sure everything is just so on the day so that what, you can get a free ticket to cereals that is tax deductible anyway?!

We all know the winners use just as many shortcuts and 'forget' to record products on the rec sheets just the same as everyone else.

don't think its easy to win, entering means nothing if the judge's don't like what they see ! but you have to be in it to have a chance of winning it.

Great thing to have on your CV as a operator, I would be impressed by any potential employe or contractor that had shown the initiative to have a go
 

Daniel

Member
don't think its easy to win, entering means nothing if the judge's don't like what they see ! but you have to be in it to have a chance of winning it.

Great thing to have on your CV as a operator, I would be impressed by any potential employe or contractor that had shown the initiative to have a go

I'll bear it in mind if I ever want a job...
 

Daniel

Member
I'm not saying it's easy to win. But do they just rock up unannounced and do the test when you're under pressure on an over cast Tuesday in March with rain on the way and you still have a load to do at 8pm?
 

Martin87

Member
No but do your farm assurance inspectors or hse or anyone else for that matter ? Of course you prepare and put effort in but you do in any competition . If you don't want to enter you don't have to !
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,291
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top