Chris Harrold has been promoted to head of crop nutrition at Yara as part of a wider agronomy review within the company’s UK operation.
Yara said it was adapting its agronomy advice to improve crop productivity – and do so sustainably – as more growers moved towards a more regenerative approach to food production.
Mr Harrold said: “The review of how our agronomy team supports our customers will ensure we continue to adapt and provide relevant advice that meets their needs.”
Working together
Yara would achieve more with a collaborative approach, added Mr Harrold. “Farmers are adapting their cropping to deal with changes in the economics of growing certain crops and are considering growing alternatives,” he said.
“They are also looking at how they can best make their crops more resilient to extreme weather. Agriculture is changing, and the support and advice we offer must change with it.”
Recently formed partnerships between Yara and companies such as Simpsons Malt and PepsiCo Europe were good examples of how collaboration could drive meaningful and lasting change, said Mr Harrold.
“Collaboration with ambitious partners like Simpsons Malt and PepsiCo Europe is really important. The agronomy team are already involved in that, and I suspect that this approach to how we do business will only grow.
“As a company, we have it all; the crop nutrition solutions, digital tools, and sound agronomic knowledge. How we exchange knowledge going forward will be through our partnerships.”
New oilseed rape manager for Limagrain
Plant breeder Limagrain has appointed Florentina Petrescu (pictured below) as the company’s new oilseed rape product manager.
Ms Petrescu brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, having held the position of seed specialist with Nickerson for the last eight years. She will oversee the development of Limagrain’s oilseed rape product line.
As a farmer-owned co-operative, Limagrain is at the forefront of developing higher-yielding rape varieties with stronger agronomic characteristics and better disease resistance for growers, said Ms Petrescu.
“Despite recent difficulties, there is much to be positive about with regards to oilseed rape production in the UK. It remains the most profitable break crop, not just in terms of gross output, but also due to the value that sits with oilseed rape meal.
“Growers are constantly learning new ways of establishing the crop, from cultivations through to nutrition and, of course, varietal choice offering traits and vigour to withstand these challenges.”
