ALBURY’S Desi Toohey has taken out the smart farmer, fee for service agronomist-of-the-year award conducted by his employer in an area taking in four states.
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Mr Toohey completed a hat-trick of wins in the Elders award for the southern zone which includes southern NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
It is presented to the agronomist who can display the highest business growth in percentage terms.
Mr Toohey has achieved a 100 per cent increase in each of the three years he has been successful with his dedicated patch being the Rutherglen, Corowa, Oaklands, Urana, Rand, Walbundrie, Burrumbuttock and Brocklesby districts.
Seventy agronomists operate for Elders in the southern zone and farmers are given advice on maximizing grain yield potential and weed, insect and disease control among other services.
“It is very rewarding tailoring a management package specific to someone’s needs and then seeing them benefit from really good productivity gains,” Mr Toohey said.
“We’ve been doing fee-for-service agronomy for a number of years and providing a year-round service for a select client group.
“The dynamics of broad acre farming have changed dramatically in recent years including widespread adoption of no till farming and ever increasing and adoption of digital technology.
“You are also getting some new enquiries regarding seasonal conditions and the difficult decisions to make in such a below average rainfall year.”
Mr Toohey has been based at Elders’ Albury office since 2010.
