Field Trials Manager - Sam Bousfield

Sam Bousfield

My role at Niab

I deliver the weeds and herbicide field trials that Niab runs in Cambridgeshire, working closely with the Trials Coordinators, Specialists and Regional Agronomists. These can be trials for Niab Members or contract trials for various customers, including manufacturers and breeders. I enjoy showing these customers around trials throughout the season, having that relationship with them, and discussing/seeing how the different treatments have worked. Attention to detail is key – customers appreciate a trial which has been delivered with care. 

As part of the field trials team, I also help with all aspects of trials delivery – design and planning, drilling, netting, spraying, assessments, data handling, harvest, and working in the seed handling unit helping the team there to treat and packet seed at peak periods. Also supporting and helping to train newer members of staff. 

My previous experience

I started at Niab as a trials technician having never done any plot work except a brief summer job many years ago. I was a stockman and general farm worker on a large cattle herd for around 15 years, with some experience of management. I always had farming research in mind as an alternative and took the opportunity to join Niab in 2021.

My qualifications

  • National Diploma in Agriculture

My future

I am interested in growing my technical knowledge and see Niab as an ideal place to make a career – the scope of what we do is very wide and I really enjoy being part of the forefront of helping solving tomorrow’s problems for farmers and industry and talking to others in industry. Food production is a fundamental human need and it is a fulfilling job helping to improve it against ever increasing challenges of climate, economic pressures and policy.