Three specialist horticultural agronomists have been awarded the BASIS Diploma in agronomy, the highest level award that the industry can give.
Jonathan Blackman, Chris Lillywhite and John Chapman, of crop production specialist Hutchinsons, are the recipients.
The trio work in Herefordshire, Kent, and Norfolk, respectively.
Hutchinsons horticulture director, Mike Hutchinson, said: “The diploma is the most advanced award, and candidates already have to hold the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection qualification.
'Candidates then have to study modules including conservation, plant protection, soil and water management, diversification and nutrient management. It requires a real breadth and depth of knowledge. It takes a lot of additional effort and commitment to work and study such a wide curriculum of subject matter. It is a real credit to Jonathan, Chris and John that they have achieved this award. I would like to congratulate them wholeheartedly.”
He added: “Advising fruit growers is a very specialist role and we want all of our agronomists to be the best they can, so that our clients get the best advice. We congratulate our three agronomists on their diploma and we commit to our fruit clients to continue to bring them the most appropriate cultural, chemical and biological solutions to their problems on the farm.
'We also commit to bringing the most innovative and technologically advanced products to this sector so that our clients continue to grow high yielding, high quality crops and make good profits.”
With turnover in excess of £180 million, Hutchinsons is one of the UK's leading national agricultural and horticultural input advice and supply companies.