New BASIS committee members announced

BASIS has set up a new committee to provide its members with an opportunity to influence the organisation’s future membership strategy, with an aim to improve its service, while benefitting associated industries.

Stephen Jacob, BASIS chief executive, explains that this comes following a review of the former committee structure and requests for members to have a direct channel of communication with the BASIS management team and trustees.

“The committee has been carefully selected to represent the broad range of sectors our members work in, including everything from arable and grassland production, to amenity and commercial horticulture, as well as pest control and pesticide store management,” he said.

A total of 35 candidates put themselves forward for a committee position.

“We were delighted to see that our members showed a great interest in this new initiative, with over 1,250 votes cast,” Jacob said.

The newly formed committee will be responsible for ensuring CPD standards are maintained, as well as gathering feedback on all aspects of the organisation from members.

The first meeting will take place in March 2019 when a chairman will be appointed.

The new committee

The elected members and their associated sectors are:

Farming

Tim Beaver is a tenant farmer from South Lincolnshire, he gained his BASIS qualification in 2002, followed by FACTS and the BASIS Diploma. He also sits on the NFU Sugar and Red Tractor boards.

Anne Filkins is farm manager on a South Wiltshire estate, comprising of combinable crops and grassland. Anne is a Nuffield Scholar and has experience in both television media and teaching.

FACTS advisers

Scott Garnett is a FACTS qualified adviser with over 20 years’ experience in the UK and global fertiliser industry. Currently, Scott is head of agronomy in Europe for ICL – a role that includes training new agronomists, setting up trials and speaking about plant nutrition around the continent.

Jeremy Hitcham has spent a lifetime in the fertiliser industry, and for much of his career he has been involved in direct on-farm advice as well as more technical work. In 2017 he helped establish Payne Crop Nutrition and is its technical director. He also co-owns a soil improvement business.

Crop protection

Kelly Hewson-Fisher is a catchment adviser with Anglian Water and previously worked as an ADAS consultant. From a Lincolnshire farming family, Kelly holds an array of BASIS qualifications including: Soil and Water, Plant Protection, Cereals, Crop Protection and FACTS.

Patrick Stephenson currently advises 60 farming clients on over 8,000ha. He also has a role with NIAB TAG assisting in farm research and knowledge transfer. In addition to this, Patrick is a founding member of the Global Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants.

Commercial horticulture

David Hide brings 30 years practical experience, from work in production nurseries as well as his current role as a Fargro agronomist. He is both BASIS and FACTS qualified; more recently he has been an examiner for both crop protection and nutrition.