A GREAT Ayton farmer is among the four top-performing candidates nationally in the highly respected Basis certificate in crop protection exams.

Simon Graves, of Angrove North Farm, undertook the Basis qualification, which demands the equivalent of 16 days worth of lectures, plus revision and the time to prepare the project report which forms a key part of the assessment process.

Over the last 12 months, 227 candidates sat the exam, continuing the upward trend of recent years. Many were farmers wishing to understand more about crop protection for discussion with their agronomists.

More than 6,000 have passed the exam and more than 3,500 advisers have signed up to the Basis professional register.