Winning sprayer operator praises FW tips

STUDYING spraying tips in Farmers Weekly has paid off for Ben Turpin, the winner of this years Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year competition.

Mr Turpin received the prestigious award, which is sponsored by Farmers Weekly and Novartis Crop Protection UK, from junior farm minister Baroness Hayman.

Mr Turpin aims to cover 745ha five times a year with a 24m self-propelled Atlas Airtec 2500 on John Brand and Sons Bellybones Farm, in Suffolk.

Speaking after his victory Mr Turpin said he always read the spraying tips in Farmers Weekly to ensure he was up to date all new developments.

To clinch the title at Sprays and Sprayers 2000 at Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, on Tuesday (27 June), Mr Turpin had to see off seven other strong finalists.

These were; Andrew Bagnall from Ely, Cambridgeshire; Will Butler, Petersfield, Hampshire; Gareth Dickson, Marlborough, Wiltshire; Pat Lewis, Pershore, Worcestershire; Greg Lister, Yokefleet, Yorkshire; William Livingston, Perth; and Richard Palmer, Melton Constable, Norfolk.