70 | RURAL SERVICES »Luisetti Seeds Looking after arable and pastoral farmers Luisetti Seeds’ Agronomist Kerry Thomas Richard Loader The first that Luisetti Seeds’ Agronomist Kerry Thomas knew that he had been nominated for the inaugural Agronomist Of The Year Award at last year’s New Zealand Wheat Awards was when it was suggested he should be attending the awards evening in July. Nominated by his bosses along with some of his clients for the award, which was sponsored by the New Zealand Grain and Seed Trade Association, Kerry was even more surprised when he was announced the winner. “I have based my whole forty year career looking after arable and pastoral farmers and so it was very nice to be recognised, but I also acknowledge there are plenty of other very good agronomists out there. I was definitely surprised that I won the award.” While the definition of an agronomist is an expert in the science of soil management and crop production, Kerry suggests it is really a fancy name for a grain agent. “When I first started I was just there as the grain agent, but I had to learn the science of growing crops, crop husbandry, soil management, helping farmers to maximise their crops using innovations and chemicals that have come to the market.” After leaving school Kerry initially studied science at university but 18 months later decided he wasn’t enjoying it and took a job as a Trainee Maltster with Canterbury Seed and Malting Companies. A life changing experience occurred when one of the reps resigned, and a set of car key were thrown at Kerry who was told that he was now a Grain Agent. “In the old days of shingle rural roads only two people travelled up a farmers drive; the grain agent and the stock agent,” says Kerry. “You were calling on farmers and while it was a sales role you were • to page 74
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