David Weith, Territory Sales Manager, Mid - South Canterbury

Being based in New Zealand’s most productive arable region, David Weith also works with some of the country’s most talented arable farmers, many who are pushing their crop quality and productivity to record breaking levels.

In 2014 one of David’s clients, the Darling family, broke a long standing world record for barley production, averaging 13.8t a hectare, well up on the previous record of 12.2t/ha set in 1989.

It was a highlight for someone who has enjoyed introducing and overseeing innovative and effective Bayer crop protection products in the field for many years, and maintaining close contact with exceptional arable operators.

With many dairy conversions completed in the region, David sees those remaining arable farmers in the region as ones at the top of their game, keen to keep trying new methods and technology within sustainable farming systems.

He says Bayer products have helped them achieve this, including leading products like Proline, Aviator and Firebird. Longer term he believes the Mid-South Canterbury region could be best placed to also break the world wheat yield record, presently at 16.5t/ha.

While having a passion for cereal crops, David’s experience has also included a wide variety of small seed crops grown commercially through the region.

These include high value vegetable seeds like parsnips, carrots and radish and brassicas.

More recently the advance in fodder beet as a feed option has also found him advising more farmers about how to maximise yield of the supplement.

David appreciates Bayer Crop Science efforts to become a solutions based company, with managers like himself as the first point of contact when seeking those solutions.