Approved Fertiliser Advisers Certification & Training Scheme (FACTS)
Progressive farmers have long required their fertiliser advisers to be properly FACTS qualified, but with increasing requirements to demonstrate professionalism (whilst gaining a better understanding of fertilisers and plant nutrition) many are now taking the qualification themselves
Assurance Schemes and retailer protocols strongly recommend that suppliers should only source advice from appropriately qualified sources. This translates as advisers who have received training and can demonstrate their competence through having achieved certification by examination.

FACTS training is one of our specialities and our pass-rate remains one of the highest.

Training is delivered in a series of structured modules which provide in-depth understanding and enhance the learning process.

All FACTS courses are taught - Agriculture, Vegetables and Horticulture.

A sample of some of our training modules.

• The Codes of Good Agricultural Practice and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones:
  Water, Soil and Air. Environmental protection and legislation.
  
• The Soil in Relation to Plant Nutrition:
  Major, secondary and trace elements. Soil acidification. Liming materials and making recommendations. The role of plant nutrients.
  
• The Nature and Properties of Fertilisers:
  Manufacturing techniques. Raw materials. Fertiliser categories. Statutory declarations. Terminology and definitions.
  
• Organic Fertilisers (Slurries / FYM):
  Establishing the nutrient content. Using organics in fertiliser programmes.
  Calculating nutrient requirements for a variety of crops. Working with nutrient balance sheets.
  
• The Transport, Storage and Handling of Fertilisers:
  Storage locations, storage constraints.
  Safety criteria. Statutory requirements.
  Notification of stores. Hauling fertilisers on the public highway.
  
• Recognition of Trace Element Deficiencies:
  Visual symptoms. Nutrient interactions. Antagonisms and the law of the minimum.
  
• Application of Fertiliser:
  Solids and Liquids. Application techniques. Problem solving. Safe practice