It was fourth time lucky for East Yorkshire farmworker Mark Turner, who picked up the prestigious Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year 2025 award from Syngenta at this week’s Cereals event in Lincolnshire.

Mr Turner has been a finalist on three previous occasions, but rose to the top of the field this year in recognition of his great attention to detail and his willingness to learn and take on board feedback.

See also: Who picked up the award in 2024? 

Driving a 2019-model Bateman RB35 equipped with a 30m boom for Rise Farms in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Mr Turner operates over 800ha of combinable crops, including cereals, oilseed rape, vining peas and spring beans. The farm also grows miscanthus for energy production.

“Spraying is a very enjoyable job, and I take great pride in everything I do,” he said.

“I’m the lucky one that gets to see how all our crops progress, simply because I spend the most time travelling through them.”

In terms of technology, Mr Turner uses an Ag Leader terminal that delivers automatic control of the 12 boom sections, which helps reduce overlaps.

The cab roof carries an N sensor, which really helps variable-rate control.

Syngenta business manager and judge Scott Cockburn said: “Mark has shown amazing determination and strength of character.

“He is a very dependable character who can be relied on to get the job done to a very high standard.”

The other two finalists were Jack Williams, who operates a 4,000-litre Househam Harrier with 30m boom at Arkstone Court near Hereford, and Phil Knight, who uses a Horsch Leeb PT 8.300 across six farms for Velcourt Fonthill Contracting in Wiltshire.