Agrovista has appointed Erin Forsyth as rural consultant for the south west of England to help farmer customers in the region make best use of government schemes to increase their business’s resilience and improve cashflow.
Erin is helping farmers draw up nutrient and soil management plans and offering general advice to comply with current SFI agreements. She will also be involved in implementing new capital grant schemes and FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund) grants.
Erin grew up in rural Oxfordshire and studied for a BSc degree in Geography at Oxford Brookes University. This was followed by an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security at the Royal Agricultural University.
She obtained a harvest placement on farm after leaving Oxford Brookes. “I had decided that agriculture was for me, but I had real difficulty getting a harvest job,” said Erin. “I eventually phoned a local farmer and offered to work for free, just for the experience. He agreed and gave me my first real break.”
For the following three summers she worked on another farm, interspersed with hockey coaching and her time at RAU. She also passed a BASIS foundation course.
“My interest in rural consultancy stemmed from my MSc dissertation about the barriers to adopting regenerative agriculture in British arable farming. I spoke to a lot of farmers about the difficulties involved, and lack of support was the key reason.
“The thought that I might be able to offer that support was really attractive.”
Erin joined Agrovista in September 2024 on a six-month maternity cover contract, which was upgraded to a permanent position at the start of 2025.
“I’m delighted to have been taken on full time,” said Erin. “It’s a big learning curve, but I feel I am very closely aligned to Agrovista’s ethos in evaluating and promoting more sustainable farming systems.
“I also want to gain BASIS and FACTS qualifications so I can add agronomy to my credentials. This, combined with my growing rural consultancy knowledge, means I would be able to offer wide-ranging advice on regenerative techniques that enhance soil health, biodiversity and long-term farm productivity.”
Graeme Barrett, Agrovista’s national precision services and rural consultancy manager, said: “Erin proved early on that she would be a valuable addition to the team.
“Her potential has shone through since the day she joined. I am delighted she has taken on her fully deserved Junior Consultant role with Agrovista.”