Case studies: Agronomist: Laura Buckingham

Laura graduated with a BSc in Agriculture and Countryside Management and now gives expert technical advice on crop production to Frontier’s farmer customers...

I began looking for jobs soon after starting my final year at university. I noticed an advertisement in the farm trade press for a trainee agronomist position with Frontier Agriculture. I was invited to attend interview during my final semester and was offered the job before I finished my course. I took up my role in August 2008.

Frontier is a successful, well known and respected crop inputs and grain marketing business and competition to win a place on their graduate scheme was high. Although the subject I chose for my degree was not vital to securing the role, it certainly helped. The right attitude, an ability to demonstrate my interest in agriculture and the knowledge I'd gained while studying for my degree, meant I was better placed for success than many applicants.

Frontier invests in training for their people and I was delighted when I joined to discover that I would be able to study for BASIS qualifications as part of my career development. My previous studies helped by providing an understanding of the farming systems adopted by my customers. The crop protection and science modules were particularly relevant. Achieving BASIS qualification was challenging, but I had the experience from my degree studies to draw on and when you are studying a topic that you find interesting, hard work doesn't seem so bad.

There is no such thing as a typical day for an agronomist and that's what I love about my job. It is up to me to manage my time and get things done when they need doing. Agronomy is very seasonal, so at certain times of the year I spend all day out in the field, while at other times I am mainly office based and it makes for a varied role.

The greatest challenge to any agronomist is to give the best possible advice to farmers, but it is a really positive challenge because the results are there to see at the end of the season when harvest comes in. It is great when you see that the advice you have given has paid off and your farmers are literally reaping the rewards with a high yielding, high quality crop that meets consumer specifications.

I have been able to gain experience in seed production, crop nutrition, conservation and environmental stewardship. I was also delighted to be invited to join Frontier's development programme for people new to management roles. Through this I have received coaching in a number of valuable skills including presentation, negotiation and communication skills.

Enthusiasm is really important for anyone who would like to get into this career, as is the ability to build relationships with customers and colleagues alike. If agronomy is something which really interests you then you are half way there, especially if you can show a basic understanding of what the job entails, and even better if you have previously sought out some kind of work experience.

AGCAS

Sourced by AGCAS editors

Date: 

September 2010

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