New arable products manager for RAGT Seeds

RAGT Seeds UK has appointed Jack Holgate as arable products manager to further raise the profile of the company’s combinable crops portfolio.

The seed breeder has launching a series of successful breakthrough varieties in recent years – including Skyfall, a pioneering milling wheat with feed wheat yields, and RGT Planet spring barley, believed to be most widely grown cereal variety in the world.

Technical expertise

Recent developments include Europe’s first and only commercial wheat variety resistant to barley yellow dwarf virus.

Meanwhile, a relaunched oilseed rape programme aims to deliver a range of robust, high yielding varieties.

“It’s a really exciting time to be joining a breeder like RAGT,” said Mr Holgate.

“As well as looking after the existing range of varieties, I’m very much looking forward to working with merchant customers and growers to develop opportunities for the new material emerging from our innovative plant-breeding programmes.”

Mr Holgate built up a wealth of experience in the arable crops sector, having previously  spent three years with Elsoms Seeds, first as a crop manager and then as national sales manager for non-royalty crops.

Before that, he worked for Openfield for four years. He joined as a shipping and compliance officer before taking on responsibility for small seeds across the business. This followed two-years as a shipping agent.

Technical expertise

RAGT Seeds UK managing director Lee Bennett said: “I’ve known Jack for quite a few years, and in that time he has developed into being a very capable operator.

“He has a high level of technical expertise, commercial acumen and is an excellent communicator. His skills will be invaluable in strengthening our relationships with merchant customers and UK growers and building our position in the market.”