FARMERS are to be offered a new cost-saving crop advisory service by leading Cheshire rural management experts Rostons.

Roston’s Agronomy Update service launches in January 2008 to provide cereal and maize farmers with the level of information currently only easily available to large-scale producers.

Rostons director Tony Rimmer said: “Agronomy involves the careful management of crops to ensure they are healthy, disease-free, land use is maximised and consequently yields are higher.

“For most producers though the cost of employing an agronomist to walk the crops regularly is prohibitive, but the demands upon farmers too great to enable smaller farmers to carry out the work themselves.

“While ad hoc information on spraying and fertiliser is available from sales reps, they will naturally encourage people to use their products.

“Our new Agronomy Update will provide farmers with all the current independent information they need to ensure their crops are managed as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

The subscription service will be provided in partnership with agronomy expert Paul Sweeney of Independent Agronomy North West Ltd and will include the provision of regular newsletters to give farmers the information they need to make decisions one what crops to sow where and when.

To encourage farmers to reap the benefit of this new service Rostons is offering it on a three-month free trials basis so farmers interested in trying it out should visit www.rostons.co.uk and complete the enquiry form.

Agronomy Update is the latest in a series of services being offered by Rostons as part of their new Agricultural Administration Services designed to relieve the bureaucratic burden on farmers.

Other services offered include single payment claim forms, entry level stewardship, NVZ agreement and all types of cropping agreements.