6 | ARABLE » Bayer Decades of ag excellence recognised David Weith. Karen Phelps After nearly 42 years in the industry, David Weith’s outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s arable sector has been acknowledged with the prestigious Agronomist of the Year 2024 award at the annual Arable Awards of New Zealand celebration. The Bayer Regional Business Manager for Mid-South Canterbury, who was nominated by one of his customers, has played a pivotal role in three world-record crop attempts. “I really enjoy agronomy and imparting my knowledge, particularly to younger people in the industry,” says David. Despite his townie origins, Weith’s passion for agriculture was kindled during his youth while working on his uncle’s cropping farm in Mid Canterbury. After completing his studies at Lincoln University, where he earned diplomas in Agriculture and Farm Management, he briefly worked as a stock agent before joining what would eventually become Bayer New Zealand Limited. His expertise has been instrumental in achieving remarkable results, including a Guinness World Record for barley of 13.8 tonnes per hectare in 2015 with Warren and Joy Darling in Timaru. He was part of two successful Guinness World Record wheat yields with Eric and Maxine Watson in Mid Canterbury, first setting a wheat world record of 16.791 tonnes per hectare in 2017, then breaking it again in 2020 with 17.398 tonnes per hectare. “To put this in perspective the world average wheat yield is approximately 4.48 tonnes per hectare while barley is around 2.4 tonnes per hectare. The NZ Agronomist of the Year Award recognises excellence in the ield of agricultural science and innovation, honouring an agronomist who demonstrates exceptional expertise, leadership, and a commitment to sustainable farming practices. Nominees are evaluated based on their contributions to improving agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that bene it the farming community and broader environment. This year’s recipient, David Weith, Bayer Crop Science’s Regional Business Manager for Mid-South Canterbury, works alongside Bayer's merchant customers and some of Canterbury’s top farmers, introducing innovative Bayer crop protection products and new methods and technologies. He has helped push crop quality and productivity to world record levels, providing much of the agronomy advice for the winter barley and two winter wheat world records achieved in Canterbury. He is also heavily involved in training the new generation of young agronomists and farmers. David’s expertise covers cereal crops, herbage, amenity grass seed, clover, high-value vegetable seeds like carrots, radishes, and brassicas, as well as maximising the yield of fodder beet, a valuable feed option. He joined the Bayer team in 1983 and is one of the company’s most experienced and knowledgeable sales managers. 2024 Agronomist of the Year Agronomist of the Year 2024. BAYER CROP SCIENCE NZ The hard work and innovation of New Zealand’s arable industry was celebrated at the annual Arable Awards of New Zealand. We are enormously proud of Bayer Crop Science’s David Weith who was named Agronomist of the Year 2024. David was recognised for his up-tothe-minute knowledge of crop options and agronomy, and the support he offers merchants and growers to help them produce high quality, profitable crops. BAC3230 Proudly sponsored by: We’re with you in the field cropscience.bayer.co.nz FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Bayer New Zealand Crop Science DAVID WEITH Bayer Crop Science - Timaru Bayer’s David Weith pictured with his ‘2024 Agronomist of the Year Award’.
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