Mark Jelley has been announced as the overall winner of the Syngenta Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year 2023, presented at Cereals 2023.

Find out more about all of the 3 finalists below

Chris Hosking - FSOOTY 2023 finalist

Chris Hosking - Varfell Farms, Penzance, Cornwall

Cropping: Daffodils, agapanthus, barley, tender stem broccoli

Machine: JCB Fastrac 4220 with Landquip demount and front tank

Top Tips:

Syngenta Cropwise Operations and Telematics Apps are used to check field names and locations as well as map the different varieties being grown in one.
Despite running a paperless spray recs and recording, a notebook provides useful backup and extra information. He uses this create a list of the most efficient way to work the day as well as noting spray rates, products, washouts he can use to quickly cross reference.

Mark Jelley - Brixworth Farming Ltd, Brixworth, Northampton

Cropping: Spring oats and barley, winter wheat and beans, canary seed, oilseed rape.

Machine: Chafer Interceptor, 5,000-litre, 36m booms, PWM, Norac 5

Top Tips:

Enter FSOOTY. It’s a good way to measure and further your knowledge.
Keep learning. We run two sprayers so map fields showing which way to spray the headlands, any hazards and where to start your up and down runs.
Carry a selection of spare parts with you, O-rings, nozzles and spare filters. Being self sufficient is a good way to work.

Peter Dennis - Sternberg Farms, Tenterden, Kent

Cropping: Winter and spring wheat, barley, linseed

Machine: John Deere R962i, 36m booms with 3m sections

Top Tips:

Mudguards prevent the tractor wheels throwing mud over the front of the sprayer and help to maintain a consistent spray pattern.
An additional camera helps reversing the trailed machine into corners.
Regularly rotate nozzles from the centre section, to check they are not blocked.

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