Technical know how the backbone of field advice
At PGG Wrightson, our Technical Field Representatives (TFR) work alongside farmers every day providing recommendations that are bolstered by a technical team whose depth of experience will instil confidence in farmers.
With greater regulatory requirements faced by farmers, and the increased technical knowledge needed when choosing quality seed, agricultural chemicals and fertilisers, PGG Wrightson’s land production technical team has expanded to support the company’s TFR network countrywide.
As Milton Munro, PGG Wrightson’s Technical Manager, comments, “Our land production technical team is focused on supporting the company’s TFRs who assist farmers with creating productive and sustainable farming systems, producing crops and pasture to support successful sheep and beef and dairy operations.”
“The relationship between TFR and farmer requires trust. A farmer relies on a TFR’s specialist knowledge to help improve farm productivity. Understanding that TFRs are supported by an experienced technical team helps build that trust.”
The expansion sees the team comprise of four agronomists and two soil specialists who collectively have over 100 years of experience in agriculture, both here in New Zealand and overseas.
Based throughout the country, the team keeps abreast of the latest developments using multiple channels including field trial analysis and imparts their knowledge to the network of over 100 TFRs. This extends to assisting farmers with leaf, plant and soil testing, with analysis of these results forming the basis of a crop-specific fertiliser programme if requested.
Behind the scenes, the land production technical team serves an important role, working alongside suppliers to evaluate the effectiveness of new products registered for use in New Zealand.
By reviewing a product’s independent trial results and understanding its efficacy in New Zealand conditions, the team recommends if a product is suitable to be made available in PGG Wrightson stores.
As a PGG Wrightson customer, you can be assured the recommendations given by your local TFR have been designed to achieve optimal growth of your crops and pasture, having been based on science and research, understood by the land production technical team.
Introducing the land production technical team:
Gary Bosley, Technical Specialist Agronomy (North Island) - Gary has been with PGG Wrightson for seven years having moved to New Zealand from the United Kingdom (UK) where he spent 19 years as a Technical Agronomist. Before that, he managed several large farming operations. This broad experience, spanning 37 years, has provided Gary with experience in maize, arable, pasture, vegetable and brassica agronomy.
Chris Lowe, Technical Specialist Agronomy (Central New Zealand) – Joining PGG Wrightson in 2021, Chris brings 25 years of agronomy experience following seven years at Ravensdown as Technical Manager in Agronomy. Before this, he held agronomy roles in both New Zealand and the UK. Chris holds an Honours degree in Environmental Sciences and a Masters degree in Crop Protection.
Pete McKnight, Technical Specialist Agronomy (South Island) – Pete joined the Ashburton Wrightson store in 2000 working as part of the store team before progressing to TFR based at the Mayfield store. Since 2023, Pete has been in the technical team and is a specialist in pastoral farming systems. He enjoys sharing tools that help farmers, including the latest innovations in seed and chemical technology.
Joesph Watts, Technical Specialist Agronomy (North Island) - Joseph joined PGG Wrightson in 2016, firstly as a TFR before moving into the Technical Team. He has a Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies and was runner-up in the 2019 and 2021 FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
Dr Jay Howes, Technical Specialist Soil Science (North Island) – Jay has enjoyed a career spanning 25 years including 15 years growing vegetables and cereals in Cambridgeshire, UK for England's largest supermarket and, more recently, 10 years as a Soil Scientist here in New Zealand. In 2020, Jay was awarded a PhD in Soil Science from Massey University.
Angela Cottle, Technical Specialist Soil Science (South Island) – In 2020 Angela joined PGG Wrightson having spent 16 years in the fertiliser industry. Angela is a Certified Nutrient Management Advisor and her qualifications include a Bachelor of Farm Management from Sydney University. She has also completed programmes from the Agri-Women’s Development Trust.
PGG Wrightson’s land production team contributes articles monthly in the Rural Diary. For on-farm technical advice and recommendations, contact your local Technical Field Representative.
