Mark Turner Wins Syngenta FSOOTY 2025

13 June 2025, UK: Mark Turner is the winner of the Syngenta Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year 2025. He was presented with the prestigious FSOOTY trophy in the Sprays & Sprayers Arena today (11^th June 2025) at the Cereals Event.

An operator with 25 year’s experience, Mark works at in Rise Farms, East Riding of Yorkshire, where he operates a Bateman RB35. He has made the finals three times before and entered again because he says it’s a good way to learn from, and share knowledge, with other operators.

“Mark has shown amazing determination and strength of character, which has finally paid off after reaching the final for his fourth time,” says judge, Scott Cockburn, Business Manager – Central South for Syngenta, which organises FSOOTY in association with Ei Operator and the Voluntary Initiative.

Learning from experience

The judges were very impressed how Mark has taken on board and acted upon feedback from previous visits to the final arena. “He has adapted his operations to flexibly fit within the constraints afforded by the Rise Farms’ business. He also has a keen eye for detail and has recently completed BASIS to better support his farm manager and agronomist, as well as increasing his job satisfaction,” explains Mr Cockburn.

Mark says he has seen many changes in the sector throughout his 25 years as a sprayer operator, but remains enthusiastic about the job he loves, and as such, he continues to soak-up knowledge to help him improve efficiency and productivity at Rise Farms.

Pride in his work

“Spraying is a very enjoyable job, and I take great pride in everything I do. I’m the lucky one that gets to see how all our crops progress, simply because I spend the most time travelling through them,” he says.

Mark exemplifies the aims of the FSOOTY competition, explains Mr Cockburn. “We don’t judge the finalists on their use of latest, greatest equipment, facilities or undercover filling areas. It is all about operator, and it’s plain to see that Mark is a very dependable character who can be relied on to get the job done to a very high standard.”

FSOOTY Finalists

Syngenta congratulates the two other FSOOTY 25 finalists and thanks them for their commitment and participation in this tough competition.

Jack Williams – W J  Watkins & Son Ltd, Arkstone Court near Hereford

Jack Williams switched roles from being an agronomist to become the main operator for W J  Watkins  & Son Ltd at Arkstone Court near Hereford. Here he looks after all the treatments on 1,000ha crops including 200ha of potatoes as well as winter wheat, barley, oilseed rape and peas – grown for seed.

Jack operates a one-year-old 4,000-litre, Househam Harrier equipped with 30m a boom, with Norac levelling. He added a Techneat V2 Outcast applicator, which he says improves pellet distribution and efficacy.

Twin outlet nozzle bodies offer Jack plenty of choice to optimise the application to the target and product. At the front he has a GuardianAir twin 04, while behind there is an 08 and 03 3D Defy as well as an O5 3D ninety, which is used for all autumn pre-em applications on the wheat.

Phil Knight – Velcourt Fonthill Contracting, Berwick St Leonard, Wiltshire

First time finalist, Phil Knight is the main sprayer operator for Velcourt Fonthill Contracting, operating on six farms covering 3,300ha over the rolling chalk lands of Wiltshire.

Working in a 12 mile radius of his base at Berwick St Leonard, he is responsible for treating a wide range of crops include winter wheat, winter and spring barley, oilseed rape, oats, cereal poppies as well as forage and grain maize.

He operates an 8,000-litre Horsch Leeb PT 8.300 equipped with 36m wide boom equipped with BoomControlPro, 25cm nozzle spacings and 3m sections with AutoSelect nozzle switching.

Also Read: Bayer Launches New Insecticide ‘Bicota’ for Managing Stem Borers in Paddy

📢 Reach Farmers, Share Your Story, and Grow Your Brand!
Got news to share? A company story to highlight? Looking to launch an impactful advertising campaign?  Connect with us at info@krishakjagat.org or nimishgangrade@krishakjagat.org and make your mark!

📢 Connect with 100+ Million Farmers! India’s leading farmers rely on Krishak Jagat’s Hindi website for trusted agriculture news, advisory and insights. Click here to explore!