Origin Fertilisers has added Tom Wells to its team of in-house nutrition agronomists. Tom will cover East and West Midlands providing nutrition advice on the benefits of tailored fertiliser to both livestock and arable farmers.

Tom comes from a farming background after growing up on a mixed family farm near Brigg in Lincolnshire. He quickly developed an understanding and interest of how nutrition directly affects both animals and crops and the importance of getting it correct greatly influences the final product.

He says: “Growing up on a mixed farm showed me the value of an integrated farming system and the benefits of having livestock as part of the arable rotation, but also the importance of nutrition to a productive system. The building blocks for production come from the right nutrition and understanding how to achieve this is essential.”

After leaving Harper Adams with an agriculture degree that included a bias towards agronomy modules, Tom worked on the family farm for six years. During that time, he started the farm’s sheep flock and implemented computer recording through Gatekeeper, along with producing the nutrient management plans alongside the agronomist. Following this, he took a role in the animal nutrition sector, which he says further developed his wider appreciation of the correct nutrition.

“These roles demonstrated how increasing certain nutrients can have direct improvements to the crops we grow or animals we are rearing. Using soil indices, work records and industry guidelines, I produced the farm’s nutrient plans, and this practical experience means I’m well placed to help other farmers tailor their fertiliser to crop or animal requirements.”

Tom joined Origin after being impressed by the genuine nature of the business and the farmer-focussed ethos across a wide range of products.