Rob Ding
I graduated from Askham Bryan College in York in 1989 and after working on-farm, joined ICI in 1989 where I completed my agronomy training. I left to become a dedicated agronomist, working for a national distributor in the early ‘90s before joining an independent farm management and agri-business consultancy as an independent crop consultant.
In 2003 I formed my own, independent agronomy company and now provide detailed agronomic advice on farms in the central region of the country. I advise on all combinable crops, grassland and maize and have a particular interest in soils and cultivations, and their interactions with crop nutrition, crop health and weed populations. By coming together to create Indigro, clients can now enjoy the advantages of independent advice but also benefit from the extra resources and security of a larger team of agronomists.
Roger Davis
I began my agricultural career over 25 years ago as an agrochemical specialist working for a manufacturer, advising both consultants and farmers, and then as an agronomist for a distributor. My passion for agronomy grew and so too did my client base. I was very keen to separate the supply and advice and left to join an independent farm management and agri-business consultancy business in 1994. In 2001 I formed my own independent agronomy company based in the East Midlands, advising on all combinable crops, sugar beet, grass and maize. Having worked closely with Rob Ding through much of my agronomy career we saw an opportunity to join forces and employ and train agronomists. Setting up Indigro Ltd in 2011 we now have 7 agronomists and intend to expand still further. I have been an enthusiastic member of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) for nearly 20 years and have served on its board.
The role of an independent agronomist has changed dramatically over the last 25 years. Initially focusing on agrochemical inputs, the job now demands a more integrated approach and a holistic strategy, advising clients on such issues as mechanisation, cultivations, nutrition, varietal choice and end markets, management plans, through to farm logistics and an ever-increasing emphasis on soil and water management and environmental sustainability. However, despite these changes, I have always been consistent in trying to ensure the maximum return to my clients at every stage in a crop’s development.
Indigro was the logical next step in this evolution, integrating the knowledge and experience of the whole team to provide professional advice to clients and strengthen all our businesses for the challenges ahead.
Damian McAuley
After graduating with an MA (Hons) from Edinburgh University in 1995, I began a career in journalism where I worked for a number of consumer magazines and newspapers as a writer and editor, before moving into scientific publishing at the British Antarctic Survey. However the call of the farm was too great, and I left to work as a farm contractor then manager in and around Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. At the same time I completed an Agriculture degree at Moulton College where I was inspired to pursue a career as an agronomist.
I pride myself on my practical, on-farm experience as much as my academic qualifications, and still maintain current PA certificates and membership of the National Register of Spray Operators. I chose to pursue a career in the independent agronomy sector to ensure I could provide the best and most comprehensive advice to my clients and I still use my critical journalist’s eye to ensure that advice is based on the most accurate scientific data. Because it is independent, Indigro is able to access research from any source and, because of its personnel resources, is able to analyse and disseminate this information to ensure its team is up to date with all the latest agronomic developments
Luke Wheeler
I come from a farming family so have been involved in agriculture all of my life. My particular interest has always been in agronomy, and so I commenced studying Agriculture with Honours in Agronomy at Newcastle University. I went on to graduate from university in 2014, committed to pursuing a career in the independent agronomy sector. I started work with Indigro in September 2014 and subsequently went on to pass my BASIS and FACTS exams.
I work closely with the rest of the Indigro team to deliver the most unbiased and cost-effective independent advice to our clients, focusing on combinable crops, sugar beet, grass and maize and have become a director of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants. I enjoy the everyday challenge of providing the best and most accurate advice to my clients whilst also forming excellent customer relationships.
Maddy Vaughan
After studying Physical Geography at St. Andrews University I did a Masters in Crop Production at the University of Warwick . After graduating I joined a distributor where I undertook BASIS and Facts. After 3 years of building my agronomic knowledge and experience in Norfolk I moved to Northamptonshire and took the opportunity to join Indigro in May 2016.
Using my experience from growing up on a family farm, together with taking every opportunity to further my academic qualifications; from undertaking advanced Basis courses to PA exams I believe I can offer my growers comprehensive and sound advice on farm. Working Independently, but being able to share knowledge and experiences across the Indigro team means my growers can be sure of receiving impartial, but not restricted advice on a range of crops from cereals to oilseed rape, pulses, sugar beet and miscanthus.
David Boulton
I grew up on a family farm in Northamptonshire, where I developed a strong interest in farming and subsequently studied an undergraduate degree in agriculture at the University of Nottingham. My attention turned towards agronomy in my last year at university, and after graduating in 2017 I looked to the independent sector and joined Indigro in May 2018, with intent to working closely with clients, providing them with accurate, impartial advice which aims to maximise profit margins and support overall farm objectives.
Joe Cluley
Undertaking several seasons harvest work prior to leaving school, my developing interest in agriculture stemmed to working across various farms in Australia during a year out, before completing my degree in Agriculture with Crop Management, at Harper Adams University.
With limited exposure to agriculture I took it upon myself to broaden my experience across multiple farm business’ with harvest work, before travelling to Australia working on cotton, vintage grape and fresh produce farms, with various climatic challenges. Returning from abroad, I completed my degree at Harper Adams, where I spent a sandwich year in the crop trials industry.
Once graduated, I started at Indigro in 2019 where I began my career in Agronomy. My previous experiences across a varying portfolio of farm business’ both in the U.K and abroad, will add context to the challenges facing me in my career.
Charlotte Cook
After graduating with a degree in Biology and deciding on a career in agronomy, I undertook an MSc in Sustainable Crop Production, Agronomy for the 21st Century, at the University of Warwick. Having worked in trials, amongst other field experiences, to broaden my knowledge of the practicalities of farming, I initially joined Indigro as a placement student in March 2020. In collaboration with Indigro I completed my MSc research project, on the climate change mitigation potential of agriculture and started a full-time position as an agronomist in June 2020.
I feel passionately about the holistic approach to agronomy focussing on the intrinsic link between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and profitability achievable through independent agronomic advice. My background has given me a high level of academic knowledge which will be the base of continued learning as I develop my agronomy career with Indigro.
Liz Kirk
After growing up in South Africa from the age of 6, I finished college in 1990 and I joined the largest Insurance company in South Africa as a admin clerk and worked myself up to Senior Administrator and training all new staff up to company standards teaching all aspects of the admin side of life insurance. After 10 years at the company I left to work as a Personal Assistant to an Independent Insurance Broker for 4 years at which stage I decided to move back to England in 2005. Here I carried on my career in Administration and have worked in Admin ever since as either an Office Manager or Personal Assistant.
I have been with Indigro since January 2015 as their Office Manager / PA to Directors running the day to day aspects of the office dealing with everything from invoicing and payments too queries and general admin such as insurance, fleet, mobiles etc and designing and developing our database system. I also manage health and safety and data protection for the business.