The Farm Sprayer Operator Of The Year 2018 awards are now open for entries.

The search is on for the stars among spray operators, and to find where Britain’s got talent for accurate and safe application. It’s the operators’ chance to shine and to put the spotlight on the industry’s best practice.

FSOOTY seeks to reward the country’s top operators - whilst also sharing the practical tips and best practice that can help all operators enhance results and protect the environment. 

Entries for FSOOTY 2018 can be submitted through a simple on-line form and questionnaire.

Syngenta Lead Regional Application Specialist and FSOOTY Champion, Scott Cockburn, urged more operators should get involved and have the chance to win a European study tour.

He highlighted that providing sprayer operators with a community focus to share experiences with others, and to pick-up invaluable tips and advice from their knowledge, is a key element of the FSOOTY awards.

“Every operator has something that will add to the experience and help others,” he enthused. “The awards aim to recognise their professional approach and encourage further improvements. It demonstrates the high standards of skilled sprayer operators.

“It’s not about having the latest kit or biggest machine. If you can demonstrate the ability and ingenuity to consistently achieve safe and accurate application through the whole spraying process, then you are in with a chance of winning.”

Last year’s FSOOTY Winner, Stuart Wood, sprayer operator for G H Dean in Kent added: “I was very surprised, but incredibly pleased, to win the overall FSOOTY Award. It’s great to get the recognition that what we do is important, and that we get the credit for doing it as effectively, accurately and safely as possible. 

“It was a fun experience to be involved with the competition and to meet like-minded sprayer operators to share thoughts and ideas – which we still do though social media. I would recommend all operators to enter.”

This year farmers, managers and agronomists will also be able to nominate sprayer operators for the FSOOTY awards.  “We know that many sprayer operators do an incredible job every day, and have a wealth of knowledge and experience; however they are reticent to put themselves forward for the awards,” reported Scott.

“Now there is the opportunity for others, who value and benefit from their sprayer operator’s work, to recognise and reward their skills through a simple nomination for FSOOTY.”

The overall winner of the FSOOTY 2018 will receive an all-expenses paid study tour to Europe, to see the latest in spraying technology. Six finalists will each receive an expenses paid visit for two to the presentation at Cereals 2018, and there’s 20 tickets for Cereals 2018 for the runners-up.

The Farm Sprayer Operator Of The Year awards are sponsored by Syngenta, in association with The Farming Forum; the Voluntary Initiative and City & Guilds NRoSO. Entries must be completed by November 30 2017.