Scott Harrod wins Syngenta FSOOTY 26!
One of three finalists will be named Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year 2026 on 10th June in the Sprays & Sprayers arena at the Cereals Event being held at Diddly Squat Farm, Chadlington, Oxfordshire.
FSOOTY, which is organised by Syngenta and supported by the Voluntary Initiative and Ei Operator, aims to recognise top operators from across the UK, highlight best practice and share their expertise and ideas.
“Being named FSOOTY champion is a big achievement,” says Iain Lindsay, Syngenta Applications Specialist. “It’s a real accolade that shows they are demonstrating that best practice makes a big difference. The skill, expertise and focus on attention to detail these finalists exhibit is a real credit to them – and a fantastic example for the industry as a whole.”
“It’s important to note we don’t judge the finalists on whether they are using the latest sprayer model and custom-built facilities. We are more interested every aspect of how they approach the spraying operation, from the initial agronomy decisions through to the storage and handling of product to the final point of accurate and, above all, safe application,” adds Iain.
FSOOTY Finalists 2026:
James Cracknell – Hyde Parker Farms, Sudbury, Suffolk
Encouraged by his farm manager to enter FSOOTY, Suffolk-based operator, James Cracknell reached the finals at this first attempt. He operates a Rogator 6450, to which he has added a number of modifications. In the four years he has worked on the farm, James has also updated the sprayer store layout to make filling more convenient, safer and easier.
Jack Williams – Arkstone Court, Hereford
For the second year running Jack Williams made the FSOOTY final. He says he entered again because he really enjoyed the whole experience last year and learned so much, from the judges and also talking to the other finalists. In the past year, following advice from a past winner he has changed his nozzle set-ups as well as made a number of other alterations to his Househam Harrier sprayer and his operations.
