Local Farmer ‘Boxes Clever’ to Take National Prize

UK - March 11, 2010



A farmer from Linton near Maidstone has won one of the top prizes in a national competition run by Dow AgroSciences. Michael Gilbert won a laptop computer after he entered the competition on a leaflet promoting the company’s Boxer herbicide.  Boxer is designed to treat cleavers and other broadleaved weeds, this product can be used early in the season before weeds start to compete with the crop and, therefore, reduce its yield.  

Michael, who is ill at the present time, said: “I have never won anything in my life before, and coming at a time when I have not been well, this was a lovely surprise.” 

The laptop was accepted on Michael’s behalf by his son Paul, who runs the farm with his father. Together they farm 420 hectares, growing winter wheat, oilseed rape and winter beans. Paul said: “We had issues with cleavers a couple of years ago and we used Boxer. It did an absolutely fantastic job, so I would certainly recommend it.” 

Paul accepted the laptop on behalf of his father from Dow’s Regional Business Manager, Rene Pollak.