Scott Harrod has been crowned the 2026 Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year (Fsooty) at this week’s Cereals event – success at the first attempt for the Norfolk-based farmworker.

The annual competition, organised by Syngenta and supported by the Voluntary Initiative and Ei Operator, aims to recognise top operators from across the UK and highlight best practice.

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Scott Harrod © Mick Roberts

Mr Harrod is responsible for all the spray applications for HDF Farming, Trimingham, including some 1,400ha of winter wheat, winter and spring barley, sugar beet, oilseed rape and vining peas.

The largest workload, however, is 350ha of potatoes, spread across sites about 20 miles apart.

Mr Harrod operates a two-year-old Sands Infinity 6000 with a 36m VG boom equipped with Hypro Duo React Twin nozzle bodies.

He has further personalised the machine with mudflaps, a spill kit, extra worklights and a heater isolation switch to keep the cab cooler.

“I’m really overwhelmed to win,” he said of the award. “I take great pride in my work and have picked up many tips from reading about past finalists and winners.

“I want to thank my wife, Emily, for encouraging me to enter, but I never thought I would win on my first attempt.”

Worthy winner 

Syngenta applications specialist Iain Lindsay praised Mr Harrod as a “really worthy winner”.

“It’s obvious Scott takes immense pride in his work and it’s clear his skill and attention to the fine details make a huge difference to the application’s outcome,” he said.

“His professionalism and expertise have a big impact on the efficiency, safety and effectiveness of the operation – benefiting the business he works for.”

Runners up in the competition were James Cracknell, who operates a Rogator 6450 across 400ha at Hyde Parker Farms, Sudbury, Suffolk; and Jack Williams, who operates a Houseman Harrier 4000 for WJ Watkins at Arkstone Court, Herefordshire.